Aquamarine: The Ocean-Colored Birthstone of March
March's birthstone is aquamarine, and if you haven't seen it up close, you're missing out. Its color is somewhere between the palest sky blue and the deep blue-green of open water. It doesn't demand attention the way some stones do. It earns it.
What exactly is aquamarine?
Aquamarine is a variety of beryl, the same mineral family as emerald. The difference is the color. While emerald gets its green from chromium, aquamarine's blue-green tones come from trace amounts of iron. The name literally means "sea water" in Latin, and whoever came up with that had a good eye. The stone really does look like it was pulled from somewhere between the ocean and the horizon.
The color ranges from very light, almost-icy blue all the way to a rich blue-green. Generally, the deeper and more saturated the color, the more prized the stone. But lighter aquamarines have this ethereal, glassy quality that's completely its own thing. Both are stunning. It really comes down to what speaks to you.
One cool detail: aquamarine is often naturally cleaner and more transparent than a lot of other gemstones, which means it tends to have very few visible inclusions. What you're usually getting is a stone that's remarkably clear and bright, which of course translates beautifully in body jewelry.
Is aquamarine a good choice for piercings?
Yes, with a little context. Aquamarine sits at a 7.5–8 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it harder than amethyst and durable enough for everyday wear. It resists scratching well and holds up to the kind of normal daily life your piercing is going to experience.
The same basic care rules apply as with most natural gemstones: avoid harsh chemicals, don’t store it where it could rub up against harder stones that could scratch it (diamonds are the worst offenders), and don't leave it sitting in direct sunlight for extended periods (prolonged UV exposure can fade the color over time). For regular wear in a piercing? It's a solid, reliable choice.
The history, because it's genuinely interesting
Aquamarine has been connected to the sea for as long as people have been writing things down. Ancient sailors carried it as a talisman for safe travel across open water, believing it was the treasure of mermaids and that it would calm waves and protect them from drowning. Whether or not you believe in that kind of thing, you have to admit there's something poetic about wearing a stone the color of the ocean.
The Romans associated aquamarine with Neptune, god of the sea. Medieval Europeans used it in healing practices and believed it could counter the effects of poison. It's been found in everything from ancient Egyptian jewelry to Renaissance-era royal collections.
In more recent history, aquamarine became a popular choice for significant gifts — a large aquamarine was given to Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s as a state gift from Brazil, one of the world's major sources of the stone. It's been considered a symbol of clarity, honesty, and calm for centuries.
Thinking aquamarine is your move?
If you find yourself drawn to it, you're in good company —and tapping into a few thousand years of people who felt the same way. Whether March is your birth month or you just love how that blue-green looks against your skin, we'd love to show you what we have in stock. Book your appointment here and let's find something that works for you.