Aquamarine, the Blue Green March Gemstone

Those born in the month of March are lucky because their month is associated with shades of blue, green, and red. As a child, perhaps you heard the phrase, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” March is the moment in which we all are ready to say goodbye to the winter season and say hello to spring. Blue skies and green budding leaves are what March brings. The month brings about life and rebirth, which subtly brings to mind the color red. The question becomes, “why?”

The answer is given by March’s two birthstones – the aquamarine and the bloodstone. Both gems are, at times, close in color when they’re the greener versions of themselves. They are different in their aesthetics – aquamarine is clearer and more elegant while bloodstones are opaque and extravagant. They have different stories, and yet they both represent the preservation and augmentation of one’s health. Let’s take a look at the two March birthstones.

What does aquamarine represent?

The gem’s name is pretty much a giveaway to its color and its origin. It comes with images of deep oceans and crystal-clear lakes. The gemstone symbolizes fidelity, hope, health, and youthfulness. Its blue-green hue has had some people associate it with eternal life. Others have even considered it to bring about a positive aura to marriage and this is why it has been considered an ideal gift for one’s wedding anniversary.

What does bloodstone represent?

Also known as a “heliotrope,” the bloodstone’s name comes from ancient Greek. The phrase means “turning towards the sun.” Some enthusiasts think that the reason why the gem was called this was that of the dark spots of minerals (or “flecks of blood”) in the stone that reflected light, creating a luminary red spectacle. It was believed in ancient times that dropping a bloodstone into water would turn the water into red (Bloodstone – Heliotrope)!

What colors are found in aquamarines?

The gemstone can be seen in multiple shades of blue. It’s like a rainbow that spans from a paler blue to a deep green-blue that brings to mind the deepest depths of the ocean. The darker the gem, the rarer it is, which makes the darkest gems valuable.

Commonly, we see the paler gem used more often and even cut bigger when used in jewelry. In contrast, the darker variety may have a smaller cut to them. This also influences the shades in which they come out. Sometimes, the larger ones can look deeper in color than the smaller cuts.

What colors are found in bloodstones?

Although the gem is usually seen as green with blood-red splashes within it, the color varies more than one would assume. The amphibole or chlorite mineral deposits in the stone are what determine its green color. More often than not, the shades are in uneven tones, with some parts reflecting darker green and in other parts, lighter. Still, other parts will come off blue-gray and dark yellow.

What does “aquamarine” mean?

If you break it down, “aquamarine” means water (“aqua”) and of the sea (“marina”). Initially, that may sound a bit redundant, and you may wonder why it has two words that seem very similar. In the simplest sense, translations tend to sometimes not transition into another language poetically. But there is something interesting to think about when combining the two words.

The gem does have the blue and green color qualities. Aqua, water, is associated with the blue of the sea. Marina or marine suggests green shores. This combination of the blue and the green describes a plethora of aquamarine gems!

What does “bloodstone” mean?

“Turning towards the sun,” as heliotrope stands for, is used to represent the way in which the blood-red droplets are revealed when the gem is turned toward sunlight. The redness stands out even more if you submerge the stone in water. Polished and finished versions of this stone that are put into jewelry are touched-up to emphasize this uniquely beautiful trait.

Aquamarine, the birthstone of combat

One myth says that the birthstone can give you protection against your opponents in combat. The gem makes you a quick thinker, which in turn makes you faster on your feet, and your opponents can’t conquer you when you’re swifter than them.

Bloodstone, the birthstone of purity

For many years, this stone was considered to have strong healing powers. Wearing it on your person helped to detoxify the body of impurities and pull pure energy back into you. Consider it like an energy filter. It was once said that the gem created a positive energy by bringing love within its wearer’s aura. After all, how can you hate when there’s love in the air…literally!

The aquamarine in ancient times

Supposedly, the word “aquamarine” was associated with gemologist Anselmus de Boodt’s work that was compiled into his 1609 publication “Gemmarum et Lapidum Historia.” Perhaps he is the reason the aquamarine was highly sought after in ancient lineages. The blue-green version of the gem was what people in the 19th century had their eyes on.

Nowadays, it’s the bluer variety that we’ve got our eyes on the most.

Fun fact: one of the biggest chunks of the birthstone discovered was found in Brazil. Weighing around 243 pounds, the rock was eventually cut and equaled 200,000 carats in total (Aquamarine Value)!

The bloodstone in ancient times

The symbolism of “blood” in “bloodstone” was emphasized in the gem’s ancient beliefs. At one point, the gem was alleged to have stopped hemorrhaging for those who wore it. Warriors kept the stone close to them because the stone was believed to have stopped the bleeding when they were wounded. During the Medieval period, the stone was powdered and mixed with honey and egg whites and was believed to stop bleeding and cure tumors.

The meaning of aquamarine around the world

Legends and myths about the March birthstone are found all over the world. The Romans created frog-cut figures of the gem and believed that would help them make friends with warring neighboring civilizations and help bring peace. It was also believed that the stone helped to create an aura of young love, thus helping the wearers fall in love. Maybe this is where we get the idea of March and spring being the time of fresh beginnings and new love.

Further associated with love, the gem was given to a bride as a gift the morning after she and her groom had made love for the first time after they’ve been married. The gem was also used for its namesake as something that would help keep sailors from harm while on the high seas. The concept behind the gem shifted a bit during the Medieval era, as the gem was considered to have the power to reignite the love between married couples.

The aquamarine has anti-poison properties

The gem was prided by some important world powers – the Hebrews, the Egyptians, and even the ancient Sumerians. For Christians, the stone was associated with the Apostle, St. Thomas. It helped to make his long journeys via the sea safer according to believers.

The 1377 poem of William Langland, “Piers Plowman,” recorded the stone as being an antidote to poisoning. In Europe, where Langland’s work is associated, there are records of nobility who were poisoned. This made the gem very popular and in high demand among the privileged. It was not crushed into a powder though. It was simply worn on the person.

Aquamarines and the divine

There are some Middle Age authors who made the claim that the stone was very popular and effective when compared to other oracle crystals. It was used as a crystal ball and some people believed that it improved the effectiveness of fortune telling when it was used.

It was used in other connections with the divine such as a hunk of it being tied to a piece of thread and dangled over a water bowl. It was lowered just enough to barely touch the surface of the water. The edges of the inside of the bowl had alphabet characters written on them. The chanter would dangle the thread and allow it to naturally hit the sides of the bowl, which would reveal a divine message.

Another method of talking with the divine was to toss a gem into a bowl of pure water. The ripples would give way to a vision that the chanter would translate. This is maybe why it became associated with finding things that were once lost.

Bloodstones and the divine

Once called the “stone of divine messages,” the gem has a background in divinity. In the western world, it has been called the “Red Jasper” because the stone represents the blood that dripped from Christ when he was nailed to the cross and onto the plants below him. This is perhaps why many people believe that the gem is brimming with life and the power to live on.

The aquamarine stops burps and other sicknesses

Besides helping you win court-based disputes, the aquamarine was also considered a cure for yawning and burping! More specifically, it was said to be effective at relieving teeth, jaw, liver, throat and stomach-based ailments.

Perhaps their color is to blame for this next belief– the gem was also used to help conjure up rain. They were believed to not just bring rain but take it away from enemies.

Pliny, a philosopher from ancient times, couldn’t even resist the allure of the aquamarine.

Damigeron, a writer from the 2nd century, mentioned that the stone was good for stopping pain to your eyes, aided getting rid of all sickness, and can be given as a drink to someone if put in water. This meant that a powdered version of the gem should be placed on your eyes daily to help rid your eyes of an ailment. You would also give the gem a good dunk in the water then use the same to flush your eyes.

The bloodstone is the “stone of Babylon”

The historic icon, Albert the Great, called it the “stone of Babylon.” Scholars believe that he referred to the stone as such because of its many supposed magical assets (Bloodstone Meaning).

Pliny mentioned that the stone was used by magicians for invisibility.

Damigeron wrote that the stone could create rain, bring about solar eclipses, and preserved one’s health and youthfulness.

Aquamarines can keep you hydrated and keeps cavities at bay

Concepts of modern crystal healing believe that the gem helps the body retain fluid, which gives us another allusion to its namesake. They can help those who have glandular issues alongside promoting better eye health, which brings us back to an ancient narrative that has withstood the test of time.

Taken a step further, the gem is associated with keeping oral afflictions such as cavities at bay. Believed to be part of the “throat chakra,” it is also considered to be a promoter of positive singing and public speaking.

There are those who believe that the aquamarine can also help heal mental health issues. It was called an “all-purpose” gem which made it a healer for all-around body issues.

In the tarot reading culture, the gem was placed in conjunction with the Hanged Man card. The combo helped people to recognize when it was time for them to suspend a certain activity in their lives, which helped them turn away from social interactions and contemplate in silence.

Speaking of contemplation, the stone also helps people find serenity, which permeates throughout one’s being.

Aquamarines and mental health

The mental health promotions make the gem ideal for transcending into a higher plane of intellect and communication. According to this process, it makes a clear road between the mind and the divine existence and language that we (the everyday person) don’t usually contact. It is also known for creating a sense of mental and physical balance to the body in a gentle yet effective way.

The gem can help you achieve a greater sense of well-being. It’s known to cure you of your procrastinating nature (don’t we all “need” that cure?). The wearer of the piece of jewelry can think more clearly and be up on their toes. This makes it ideal for those who feel more scatterbrained and lack a sense of focus in life. A caveat, if you’re buying this for someone you love, you may not want to use this information as the pitch line when handing it to them.

What is an aquamarine made of?

Composition-wise, the aquamarine is known as beryl. Its color properties span from a paler blue to a lighter blue to a light blue-green and sometimes greenish hue. Normally clear in its presentation, it can look more clouded when there is a deposit of iron found in it.

In some cases, the gem could even look colorless from an angle! If you’re going to get any shade of aquamarine, chances are, it’ll be the blue-sky tone because this is the most popular shade on the modern market.

What is a bloodstone made of?

It is made of a cryptocrystalline mixture of quartz. This means that the gems are made up of tiny little crystalline that is hard to see even under a microscope. The “blood” in the gem are dots of hematite.

Are aquamarines precious or semi-precious?

The aquamarine is a semi-precious stone. Coming from the mineral beryl, it can be found in, at times, stream gravel deposits, and more commonly in alluvial deposits of gravel, and in granite pegmatite. The crystals grow pretty tall, as tall as thirty feet at times. But it is uncommon for them to be more than three feet tall (A List).

Are bloodstones precious or semi-precious?

This gem is semi-precious and is a form of chalcedony. Its chemical composition is silicon dioxide and the “blood” comes from traces of chemical impurities.

Where are aquamarines found?

A greater amount of the gem is found in Brazil. Crystals weighing a few kilos have been found in this part of the world! They are also found in the U.S., Nigeria, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. Blue-green versions can be found in Madagascar and the Soviet Union.

Where are bloodstones found?

They are similarly found in Brazil, India, and the U.S. They’re also found in Australia.

They are the perfect jewelry gems

The aquamarine is normally cut into an emerald. Pear-shaped and oval-shaped cuts are also pretty popular. Because it measures a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, the aquamarine is easy to cut, which makes it an adaptable stone that can be put in virtually all types of jewelry. Larger pieces can yield a few carats. At times, there have been bigger deposits found that can hold up to a thousand carats. Its availability and price variety make it affordable for all working classes.

The bloodstone has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. This makes it even easier to cut than the aquamarine. It, too, can be put into virtually all types of jewelry. It also makes the gem more delicate.

How to clean and maintain your aquamarine

When cleaning your gem, you’ll want to use ordinary soap and warm water. Using an old toothbrush is fine. Make sure the soap is of the milder variety. After scrubbing it, rinse it with warm water.

It’s important not to expose the gem to different temperatures, such as running it under very cold water and then running it under very hot water. The different temperature extremities can crack and ruin your gem which has already been heat-treated.

Do not use detergents or enzyme cleaners on the gem. Gem enthusiasts strongly advise against cleaning the gem in an ultrasonic tank. Keep them away from common chemical compounds, such as hairspray, various cosmetics, household cleaning chemicals, and perfumes. Do not steam them either.

How to clean and maintain your bloodstone

You must take good care of your gem. Cleaning it with warm water and a mild soap will do the job. Anything harsher, including chemical cleaners, will dull your stone indefinitely. (Isn’t the whole point of having a bloodstone to see it sparkle in the sun?!)

You’ll also want to be careful with how you dust it. Use something with feathery soft bristles to clean it. Anything harsher will damage the luster. Do not clean the gem in an ultrasonic tank. Steaming isn’t recommended.

Both beautiful gemstones

The aquamarine gem is beautiful in its various shades of blue-green. If you were to take several handfuls of the March birthstone and cast them into the sun, you’ll see the perfect imitation of the deep ocean. Depending on how the light catches them, they’ll have different shades and depths to them and make you want to dive into them. Science calls this the “pleochroic effect” (Pleochroism).

Similarly, the bloodstone gem contains a beauty that’s revealed when turning it toward the sunlight. Divine blood, some people once believed, ran through the proverbial veins of the gem. It’s a beautiful reminder of how precious life is.