Aquamarine, a member of the beryl family, is a very popular gem that can be found in several parts of the world.

Deriving its name from the two Latin words for “water of the sea”, aquamarine occurs in many shades of blue. It can range from the palest shade of bluish green to darker tones of greenish blue.

This semi-precious stone registers between 7.5-8.0 ratings on the Mohs scale, a fairly durable gem for commercial jewelry. It is best complimented with silver, white or yellow gold and even platinum.

You can discover a wide assortment of aquamarine jewelry pieces from rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants which are artistically cut into both classic and modern styling. They are an affordable luxury item that perfectly suits any occasion, outfit and season.

While most aquamarines come in lighter shades and tend to exhibit more green, irradiation helps in bringing out the dark blue tones. However, this procedure is not permanent as the stone will fade in color over time. On the other hand, heat treatment is more popular on aquamarines because the enhancement is permanent. It improves the color and the clarity of the gem at the same time.

Established as the modern birthstone for the month of March, aquamarine also serves as the gem that represents the 19th year of marriage.

In crystal lore, aquamarine is said to facilitate awareness and communication abilities. It has been believed that when worn as a pendant, the gem unclutters the mind and develops ones intuition. Additionally, aquamarine helps its wearers to clearly express their thoughts and feelings.

Aquamarine is readily found in nature and Brazil holds the largest deposit. Other important sources are Zimbabwe, United States, Russia and Pakistan.