Read all about Aquamarines — the March birthstone!

 Happy birthday March babies! Your official birthstone is not only beautiful, it’s full of history and mythology.

Here are some interesting facts about your March birthstone, the aquamarine.

• In addition to being the birthstone for March and the Zodiac sign of Pisces, aquamarine is also the gemstone used to celebrate a 19th wedding anniversary.
• The aquamarine is a transparent pale blue variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate) — the same mineral family that emeralds belong to.
• Like many beryls, aquamarine forms large crystals suitable for sizable fashioned gems and carvings.
• The word aquamarine is derived from the Latin phrase “aqua marinus,” meaning “water of the sea” because they are said to resemble the beautiful blue green of ocean water.
• Aquamarines come in a wide range of shades and colors, from pale sky blue to richer blue, and blue-green. The rarest and most valuable aquamarines are those with a deep blue color.
• The best gems combine high clarity with limpid transparency and blue to slightly greenish blue hues.
• The color of aquamarine is due to trace amounts of iron that works its way inside the crystal. Most commercially sold aquamarines are heat treated to produce a more desirable blue-green color.
• Aquamarines have a hexagonal-shaped crystal system. They are pleochroic in nature, meaning they can show three colors, depending on the angle they’re viewed.

History of Aquamarine:

• Aquamarines were once said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. March’s birthstone was also thought to enhance the happiness of marriages.
• Like many gems, aquamarines are said to have metaphysical powers, including the ability to clear and cleanse, refresh and uplift the mind. They are also said to promote courage, calm, compassion, tolerance, love, communication, self expression, reasoning, intellect, and connection to one’s higher self.
• Aquamarines are also said to aid in the healing of sore throats, swollen glands, calming nerves, improving vision, and cooling sunburns and fevers.
• The ancient Romans believed that Neptune, the god of the sea, obtained aquamarines from the jewelry boxes of the Sirens. Legend has it that Neptune gave aquamarines as a gift to the mermaids.
• Because of its bond with the sea, aquamarine is the gemstone of several sea goddesses, including Aphrodite, also known as the Greek goddess of love.
• Aquamarines are also said to bring safety to sailors, who are known to wear aquamarine talismans engraved with the likeness of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea.

Where can aquamarines be found?

• Aquamarines are mined in exotic locations including Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan and Mozambique, but most modern aquamarines come from Brazil.
• One of the largest aquamarines ever mined weighed 110.5 kg (243 lbs). It was found in 1910 in Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• In the United States, the only location where you can mine for aquamarines is Mount Antero in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The elusive gem is said to be found at altitudes of 14,000 feet or more!

Where to shop for aquamarine jewelry?

If you’re looking to buy an estate, vintage or antique jewelry, shop with confidence Adina Jewelers, and for more selections of aquamarine jewelry, shop at Adina’s eBay store where you can rely on the experts at Adina. You’ll find fine a vast selection of fine jewelry at true wholesale prices and deliver a buying experience that’s above your expectations.

Learn About Calming Amethyst

Amethyst, the birthstone for February and the sign of Pisces, is said to have calming qualities

• In addition to being the official birthstone for February, amethyst is also the gemstone for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

• The gorgeous color, amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, occurring naturally as crystals within rocks.

• Amethyst is the most valued member of the quartz family, considered a semiprecious gem for its violet color.

• A quartz must be purple to be amethyst, but can range in shade from light lilac to deep purple.

• Heating amethyst removes the color or changes it to the yellow of citrine. Today, most citrine is made in this manner.

• The word amethyst comes from the Greek word “amethystos,” meaning sober.

• Throughout history, amethyst has been used to protect against drunkenness and to help overcome addiction. Today, amethyst is considered to be a symbol of calm and tranquility, and a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviors.

• The astrologer Camillo Leonardi wrote that amethyst quickens intelligence and gets rid of evil thoughts.

• A gift of amethyst is a symbol of protection, said to strengthen the bonds of love and overcome difficulty.

• The gemstone amethyst was associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. In ancient Greece, people believed wine served in amethyst goblets would protect against drunkenness.

• According to Greek mythology, Amethyst was a young virgin who angered the Greek god, Dionysus, after he became drunk from red wine. When Amethyst called the goddess Diana for help, Diana turned Amethyst into a white quartz. When Dionysus felt remorse, he cried, dripping his tears into his goblet of red wine. When the goblet overturned, the red wine spilled on the white quartz, coloring it purple—the color of amethyst.

• At one time, amethysts were once considered more valuable than diamonds, until deposits were found, increasing the quantity and lowering the value.

• Deposits of amethyst have been found in Brazil, Canada, Australia, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka and in the United States. Today, most amethyst comes from Brazil and Uruguay.

• Did you know … amethyst is the official state gemstone of South Carolina, after world-class amethysts were found at the Ellis-Jones Mine near Due West, SC on June 24, 1969. The South Carolina amethysts are presently on display at the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

• In August 2011, the world’s largest amethyst, called the “Empress of Uruguay,” was vandalized by a tourist while the 2.5-ton geode was on display in Queensland, Australia.

• Known as “the royal beauty,” amethyst has been associated with royalty throughout the ages, in part because of its royal purple color. A large amethyst is among the closely guarded gemstones in the British Crown Jewels, and it is said that amethyst was a favorite of Queen Catherine the Great of Russia.

• Also, amethyst has much religious history and symbolism. In the Bible, it was one of the 12 stones that adorned the high priest Aaron’s breastplate in Exodus 39. As a symbol of spirituality and piety, amethyst has also been used to decorate churches and crosses, and worn in rings and on rosaries by religious clergy.

Where to shop for Amethyst affordable jewelry?

If you’re looking for a calming amethyst, see the Adina Jeweler’s Amethyst Section, and for even more choices, visit Adina by Empire Jewelers eBay store. You’ll find exquisite fine jewelry, at wholesale prices.