I was born on the 5th of March and therefore my birthstone is apparently "Aquamarine". I would love to find out more about this particular gemstone, as I don't know anything about it right now.

Aquamarine is indeed the birthstone correlated with the month of March, but for your information it is also the birthstone for the Zodiac sign of Scorpio. Aquamarine is a beautifully colored gemstone, ranging from blue-green to light sky blue color. However, the most popular color that is mostly associated with Aquamarine is pale blue, and that is why green colored Aquamarines are frequently heat treated in order to get rid of this less desirable color. Ancient Romans were the those who named this gemstone, and Aquamarine derives it's name from "Aqua", meaning water, and "Marine", meaning sea. That is simply because Aquamarine very much resembles the seawater color of the Mediterranean waters. Legend has it that due to its strong connection with seawaters, sailors often used to wear Aquamarine gemstone pendants around their necks in order to prevent them from getting seasick. In addition, the association with water led to the belief that the mystical effects of the aquamarine gemstone were heightened when the gemstone was submerged in water. In ancient times aquamarines were believed to heal several types of illnesses that might occur in the body, including the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat.

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Aquamarine is a gemstone which is a member of the Beryl family. Members of this family are minerals which crystallize inside large igneous rocks within the crust, below the earth's surface. The aquamarine gemstone is fairly high in terms of hardness and durability, reaching a value of 7.5 to 8.0 on the Mohs scale [ADD_LINK] of minerals. Therefore this specific gemstone is well-suited for the jewelry industry purposes, which prizes durable gemstones such as aquamarine. The most valuable aquamarine gemstones in terms of color and size are currently mined in Brazil. However, aquamarine deposits could also be found throughout Africa (in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania) and Asia (in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia).

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There are a lot of superstitious beliefs and metaphysical properties attributed to the aquamarine gemstone. Aquamarines were used in fortune telling and were believed to relieve the effects of poisons. I think that its pale blue color which resembles the sea triggered the belief that the aquamarine gemstone could have a soothing effect on its wearer, calming him down and releasing any negative thoughts or angry feelings. Also, wearing this gemstone is believed to attract love and affection and it is considered as the universal symbol of hope, fidelity, youth and health. In Ancient Rome, aquamarine was the gemstone associated with the god of sea, Neptune. Legend has it that Neptune received this beautifully blue colored gemstone as a gift from the mermaids of the sea. It is believed that if you give aquamarine jewelry as a gift, it symbolizes foresight and knowledge. By the way, it is considered tradition to give aquamarine jewelry as a gift on the 16th and 19th wedding anniversary.

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