March babies, you've got quite the dilemma on your hands! Aquamarine’s freshwater hue is a cool plunge into a refreshing pool, while Bloodstone screams boldness in bloody red!

But fret not! In this blog, we'll take a deep dive into both gemstones, and By the end, we're sure, you'll know which one speaks to your soul!

All About Aquamarine 

Light and lively, aquamarine doesn't go as deep as sapphire. And here's a sizeable tidbit: the bigger the crystal, the deeper the color. So, whether it's your March birthstone or a 19th-anniversary gift, aquamarine always makes a splash!

Benefits of Aquamarine:

• Promotes peace of mind and mental clarity, eases anxiety and aids in healing from past traumas.
• Enhances vitality and physical well-being, with potential benefits for hormone regulation and thyroid health.
• Historically used by Roman doctors to address overeating, bloating, and other ailments.
• Traditionally believed by seafarers to possess calming properties, protecting sailors during maritime voyages.
• Associated with marital bliss, according to traditional birthstone charts.
  
  

Characteristics:

Mineral: Beryl

Chemistry: Be3Al2Si6O18

Crystal Structure: Hexagonal 

Color: Greenish blue, light in tone

Refractive index: 1.577 to 1.583

Birefringence: 0.005 to 0.009

Specific gravity: 2.72

Mohs Hardness: 7.5 to 8.0. This means that it is a strong natural gemstone and you can wear aquamarine jewellery regularly.

Places mined : Brazil is the leading source of aquamarine gemstone with mines spread all across the country. 

This clear blue crystal is also mined in Australia, Myanmar (Burma), China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as the USA.

Zodiac Sign: Aries, Pisces, Scorpio

Planet: Neptune

Element: Water

Symbol: Serenity, Clarity, Harmony

Popular shapes: emerald, round, heart and pear brilliant cuts

The 4 C’s

Colour: 

Just like seawater, aquamarine's color spans from green-blue to pastel hues. Darker shades are pricier, often treated to deepen their intensity for a richer look.

Clarity: 

The best aquamarines are transparent and eye-clean, free from visible inclusions. Some may have liquid or rod-like inclusions common in the beryl family. While rare, aligned inclusions can create unique effects like cat's eye or stars. Clarity ranges from transparent to opaque, with transparent stones preferred for their value. Most market stones are eye-clean.  However, the transparent ones without noticeable inclusions are prized the most.

Carat: 

Aquamarine comes in all sizes, from tiny to towering. While large stones are abundant, using them in jewellery poses a challenge unless they're the center of attention. Surprisingly, large aquamarines weighing over 25 carats often fetch lower values due to low demand. For optimal color, stones should weigh at least five carats, ensuring the most intense blue and green hues.

Cuts: 

This stunning gemstone lends itself to a variety of shapes, from classic to creative. While emerald cuts and ovals reign supreme, the possibilities are endless. With plenty of rough gems available in large sizes, well-cut aquamarines are readily abundant, ready to adorn your jewellery collection with their pastel blue allure.

Treatments:

Aquamarine Heat Treatment:

Aquamarine loves a little heat therapy—it enhances its bright blue hue while toning down any unwanted green, yellow, or brown tints. Typically, aquamarines undergo heating after faceting, transforming their natural greenish-blue tones into a pure, valuable blue. Although naturally bright blue aquamarines command higher prices, treated stones still hold their own in the market. Plus, heat treatment is safe and permanent, ensuring your gem's color stays vibrant for years to come.

Caring for Aquamarine Jewellery:

• Due to its light and transparent nature, aquamarine easily shows dirt and grime on its surface. But don't fret—it's just a bit of external buildup.
• Cleaning your aquamarine jewellery is a breeze. Simply use a soft brush and a mild jewellery cleaning solution or soapy water to gently scrub away any dirt.
• Pay attention to areas behind the stone where dirt can accumulate, ensuring a thorough clean.
• For occasional deep cleaning, you can safely use an ultrasonic machine or steam cleaner, thanks to aquamarine's durability. Just be cautious if your stone has noticeable inclusions or fractures.
  
  

Bloodstone 

Bloodstone is a green variety of chalcedony, a type of microcrystalline quartz, characterized by its deep green color with red to brownish-red speckles or splatters, resembling drops of blood, which give it its name. Opaque yet enchanting, it's cut into cabochons to capture its vividness in every glance.

Benefits: 

• Bloodstone jewellery  offers physical and emotional healing, shielding against negativity, and fostering courage, strength, and vigour. 
• It enhances decision-making, stimulates psychic abilities, and grounds spiritual energy into the physical realm.
• Wearing bloodstone jewellery promotes its benefits, such as dispelling negativity, fostering positive emotions, and connecting with the earth and physical world.
• This stone is available in various styles like pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces, anklets, and chokers.
  
  

Characteristics

Mineral : a green variety of chalcedony, a type of microcrystalline quartz

Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale

Crystal Structure: microcrystalline structure akin to agate, jasper, and onyx

Primary Color: characterized by its deep green color with bright red markings

Mined in : India, Brazil, Australia, and the United States

Zodiac : Aries and Pisces

Planet: Mars

Element: Earth

Symbol: vitality, physical healing properties related to blood circulation, bone marrow, and emotional resilience, strength, and courage

Chakras: realigns the lower chakras

Birthstone : March

Gifting: 19th anniversary 

The 4 C’s

Color: Bloodstone is characterized by its deep green color with red to brownish-red speckles or splatters, resembling drops of blood. No wonder they call it 'bloodstone'—it's a gem that's as bold as it is beautiful!

Cut: Bloodstone is typically cut as a cabochon to best display its striking color and patterns. Among the favored cuts are round, pear, and opal, chosen for their seamless elegance and harmonious integration into jewellery designs.

Carat: Bloodstones exist in abundance and are therefore not very expensive. The price of bloodstone increases in a linear fashion with the carat size.

Clarity: Bloodstones are opaque, so the clarity of the stone does not have an impact on the cost of the gemstone. What matters most is the sheen. The surface of the gem needs to be polished and smooth without pits or cracks on its surface. A bloodstone with a well-polished, shiny surface is considered to be of high quality

Caring Tips:

To care for bloodstone, it is recommended to clean it with a soft, dry cloth and avoid using harsh chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners. It should also be protected from scratches and sharp blows. And for a revitalizing cleanse, rinse under lukewarm water or bury in soil to preserve its potency.

FAQs

1. What are the different varieties of aquamarine, and do they have distinct meanings?
Aquamarine does not have distinct varieties with separate meanings, but it is classified by its color, clarity, and origin, ranging from pale to deep blue with occasional green hints. Symbolizing protection, courage, and friendship, it's often linked to the sea. 

2. What are the popular jewellery styles featuring aquamarine?
Aquamarine is a hit across various jewellery styles like rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. It's usually set in metals like white gold, yellow gold, or platinum, and can be complemented with diamonds or other gems for extra flair.

3. How can one differentiate between genuine aquamarine and imitations or synthetic stones?
To tell if it's real aquamarine, look for its pale blue hue like seawater. Synthetics might be deeper blue with impurities. Check for bubbles, scratches, or use a microscope. For assurance, go for a lab test. All our jewellery comes with a hallmark and a certificate of authenticity.