Aquamarine- March Birthstone

Since it is March, I thought I would start by giving some fun facts and lore about the Aquamarine – the birthstone for March

The name Aquamarine came from the Latin word “Aqua Marina” which means "water of the sea"

FACTS-

Aquamarines are a member of the beryl family (the same family as Emeralds) and ranges in color from an almost colorless pale blue-to-blue-green or teal.

The deeper the blue aqua color is the more desirable and expensive.

Aqua's rate a 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale of hardness

Mohs Scale-

What is the Mohs scale?  A method that relates minerals on the scale of “scratchability”.  Meaning one mineral is “harder” than another is.

The hardness is measured against the scale by finding the hardest or softest mineral each can scratch.  For example if the Aqua is an 8 on the scale it can scratch (is harder than) Quartz which is a 7, but is not as hard as Corundum (Ruby and Sapphire) which are a 9 on the scale.

A Diamond rates the highest, a 10 on this scale. 

LORE-

Many Greek and Roman sailors would wear “sailor’s gems” or aquas as charms because they believed it would ensure protection for them on the high seas and the calming blue color would help to prevent seasickness.