How to clean it
Warm soapy water. Ultrasonic is usually safe, but not if the stone has visible inclusions.
Pale blue to blue-green
Aquamarine
The birthstone for March.
Properties
Composition
Beryllium aluminium silicate (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) — beryl coloured by iron
Hardness (Mohs)
7.5–8
Crystal system
Hexagonal
Colour
Pale blue to blue-green
Mined in
Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar, Pakistan, Zambia
Worth knowing
Same mineral family as emerald. The difference is the trace element: iron makes aquamarine, chromium makes emerald.
History
Roman sailors carried it as protection at sea; the name means "water of the sea".
Practical
Caring for Aquamarine
How to tell it is real
Blue glass and blue topaz are the common substitutes. Aquamarine is pleochroic — tilt it and the blue shifts between blue and near-colourless. Glass does not.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Matches quartz, so ordinary dust will not scratch it. Fine for rings, though decades of wear will show at the edges.
Traditional associations
Aquamarine is traditionally linked to calm communication and steadiness under pressure. In chakra systems it is placed at the Throat, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Water.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Aquamarine made of?
Beryllium aluminium silicate (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) — beryl coloured by iron, crystallising in the hexagonal system.
Which month is Aquamarine the birthstone for?
March.
Where does Aquamarine come from?
Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar, Pakistan, Zambia.
How do I clean Aquamarine?
Warm soapy water. Ultrasonic is usually safe, but not if the stone has visible inclusions.
How can I tell if Aquamarine is real?
Blue glass and blue topaz are the common substitutes. Aquamarine is pleochroic — tilt it and the blue shifts between blue and near-colourless. Glass does not.
Can I wear it every day?
At 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, yes — it resists everyday scratching.