Birthstones / March
March: Aquamarine
Traditional: Bloodstone · Pale blue to blue-green · Mohs 7.5 to 8
What it is
Blue beryl, the same mineral family as emerald, colored by iron. Mined mainly in Brazil, Nigeria and Madagascar, usually in clean crystals with few inclusions. Most are heated to remove a green tint, which is standard and stable. Bloodstone, the traditional March stone, is a dark green chalcedony with red spots.
In the glossary: Aquamarine.
Care
Soap and water; fine in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Before you buy
Color is pale by nature; a saturated blue in a small stone costs much more than a large pale one. Blue topaz is often sold as an aquamarine look-alike at a fraction of the price; it should be named topaz.
March pieces on the site
All birthstone pieces →Listings that name the month or its stone; whether the stone is natural, lab-grown or simulated is on each product page as the maker states it.
Sources: Jewelers of America modern birthstone list; GIA gem encyclopedia; FTC Jewelry Guides on treatment and lab-growth disclosure. Clasp & Lens does not appraise or grade stones; what a listing says is the supplier's statement.