Aquamarine is the official March Birthstone, reminiscent of the of the sea and believed to be a powerfully soothing influence on relationships, hence why it is considered to be such a perfect gift and one of the world’s favorites
“As you would expect from a gemstone whose name means sea water, Aquamarine is reminiscent of the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Conjuring up glorious thoughts of happy, warm, sunny, evenings by the edge of the sea and memorable times”
Its more important significance however, is its designation as the official birthstone for March. People with birthdays that fall in March are especially fortunate as Aquamarine is one of the world’s most beautiful and sought after gemstones.
As well as being the March birthstone, Aquamarine is also considered the perfect gift to celebrate the 19th wedding anniversary as it is said to be a powerfully soothing influence on relationships and ensuring a long and happy marriage.
A very wearable light blue gemstone, that can transition easily from day to evening and can take a few knocks without chipping or scratching (see the Moh’s scale of hardness). They can be set into all forms of jewelry and look stunning combined with Diamonds and an array of other colored gemstones.
AQUAMARINE – REMNANTS OF THE OCEAN
“You are at the beach, staring deeply into the ocean, the waves roughly push against each other engulfing your mind but somehow, it’s calming. You look far deep into the horizon and see the curve of the light blue sky seemingly touch the dark blue sea- It’s breathtaking”
Remnants of the ancient ocean that were scattered across the world in form of gemstones, the Aquamarine, enchanting like the sea, calls out to you. The serene Aquamarine colors match the light blue waters and even a stormy deep greenish blue- hauntingly beautiful.
HOW DOES AQUAMARINE FORM?
Well, the Aquamarine originated from water millions of years ago. Can you believe that a pool of water trapped in an ancient rock would slowly form such a beautiful crystal?
The Rock Cycle
Aquamarine mainly forms in granite pegmatites (coarse-grained igneous rock) and hydrothermal vents. The remaining liquid that is left behind after granitic magma crystallizes is what gives rise to pegmatites. The residual fluids, which are rich in volatile elements and minerals such as silicon, aluminum, and beryllium, concentrate when the magma cools and solidifies.
Beryllium is a necessary component for the production of Aquamarine. Although beryllium is a relatively uncommon element in the crust of the Earth, it can be found in concentrated forms in some geological settings.
The dissolved elements start to precipitate out of the solution and form crystals as the hydrothermal fluids cool. Crystals of beryl, begin to form in pegmatite veins and host rock fissures or cavities and come into contact with the right minerals and circumstances. They are known to change color according to what other minerals they come in contact with as they form.
Emeralds for example, are colored by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Aquamarine is colored by traces of iron.
Aquamarine crystals grow over long periods, which enables them to take on their distinctive hexagonal prismatic shape- crystals/pencils in the host rock. This is a very long process that can take millions of years to form. The settings in which aquamarine forms can vary and may lead to variations in gem quality, size, and color.