Birthstone series – March
This the first installment in our new series on monthly birthstones. Each month I will be writing about that particular month’s birthstone, some interesting lore behind it and their sources.
March actually has two birthstones, aquamarine and bloodstone. The former is the more popular. Its name is derived from the Latin word “aqua”, meaning water, and “marina”, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. The serene colour of aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and level-headed. Its pale, cool colour beautifully complements spring and summer wardrobes. Aquamarine is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green; the colour usually is more intense in larger gems. This gemstone is mined mainly in Brazil, but is also found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan, and Mozambique.
The second birthstone for March is bloodstone, a dark-green jasper flecked with vivid red spots of iron oxide. This ancient gem was used by the Babylonians to make seals and amulets and was believed to have healing powers – especially for blood disorders. It is sometimes called the “martyr’s stone” as legend tells that it was created when drops of Christ’s blood stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. Generally found embedded in rocks or in riverbeds as pebbles, primary sources for this gem are India, Brazil, and Australia.
Birthstones | Ernest March 6, 2010
