We can all use a little help, encouragement, and inspiration sometimes. Whatever you believe about the healing properties of gemstones, it’s undeniable: Jewelry empowers us. That’s the motivation behind our Gemstone Feature series. By sharing the stories of some of the gemstones gracing our latest Bloom pieces, we celebrate the countless ways jewelry brings positive energy to our lives.

Aquamarine is the modern March birthstone and the gemstone for the 19th wedding anniversary. It’s also the official state gemstone of Colorado — which so happens to be Bloom Jewelry’s home state — and is even mined in parts of the Colorado Rockies. We love the clarity and serene appearance of lovely Aquamarine, and it turns out that the gemstone has long enjoyed positive associations with protection, calm, insight, happiness, stress relief, and more. You can view all of our traditional Aquamarine jewelry here, or scroll down to see some of our favorite pieces below. Read on to learn more about the origins, history, meaning, and supposed healing properties of Aquamarine. 

What Is Aquamarine? 

Aquamarine is — like May birthstone Emerald — a variety of the mineral Beryl. But whereas Emerald boasts a deeper green coloring, Aquamarine is its lighter, fresher, and clearer sea-blue to light greenish-blue cousin, getting its coloring from trace amounts of ferrous iron. Aquamarine, according to the American Gem Society (AGS), grows in large six-sided crystals that can be up to a foot long, and the color tends to be darker in larger stones. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) reports that Aquamarine is often heat-treated to give it a more bluish appearance, and that its relatively large, clean, and well-formed crystals make it valuable to mineral specimen collectors. 

As showcased by the International Gem Society (IGS), these facets of Aquamarine’s appearance and structure mean that it has often been honored as art in and of itself, rather than set in jewelry. Remarkable examples include the nearly three-pound dark blue Aquamarine gifted to Eleanor Roosevelt by Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas in 1936 and the striking Dom Pedro, the world’s largest cut Aquamarine, faceted as an elongated obelisk 14” long and 4” wide that weighed nearly 100 pounds. 

Aquamarine has been a beloved gemstone for centuries. As AGS relates, ~2,000 years ago, ancient Greeks engraved designs into Aquamarine gemstones, and Aquamarine beads have been discovered inside Egyption mummies. An Aquamarine of more modern-day fame was the Aquamarine ring that belonged to Princess Diana that her son Harry gave to his wife, Meghan Markle, on their wedding day.

What Is the Meaning of Aquamarine? 

Aquamarine’s meaning, literally speaking, originated from the Latin words for sea, marina, and water, aqua, unsurprisingly named for its resemblance to the color of sea water. Indeed, the meaning of Aquamarine has been linked to water and the seas for thousands of years. AGS reports that Roman fisherman used the gemstone they called “water of the sea” as protection, carrying it with them in the hopes that it would ensure safe travels by boat and luck in catching fish. GIA echoes these meanings, purporting that Aquamarine had the power to calm waves… and that it was also thought to bring happiness in marriage. The Spruce cites that Aquamarine is said to symbolize youth and happiness. All this to say, the meaning of Aquamarine seems to congregate around calm, protection, peacefulness and happiness in marriages, and enhanced well-being. 

What are the Healing Properties of Aquamarine? 

The supposed healing properties of Aquamarine include: 

• Promoting calm, peace, and stress relief, balancing our emotions and calming the waves of our anxiety, nerves, or fears and keeping us modern-day “sailors” safe at sea or elsewhere. The Spruce indicates that, for feng shui purposes, Aquamarine is used to promote calm and balance. 
• Enhancing happiness in marriages and promoting “amiability,” which unsurprisingly seem to go hand in hand. Some believe that the healing properties of March birthstone Aquamarine include promoting tolerance of others, making us less judgmental while encouraging us to be more empathetic and compassionate.  
• Promoting mental clarity and insight, helping to clear away confusion, sharpen perceptions, and tap into intuition. 
• Protection from harm and “unconquerability,” whether in battle or litigation, according to GIA. Aquamarine is thought by many to promote courage and a sense of well-being.

Bloom’s Picks for Alluring Aquamarine Jewelry 

Serene Aquamarine meets our customer-favorite filigree layering necklace in our Aquamarine & 14k Gold Filled Filigree Layering Necklace, wearable at varying lengths from 17” to 18” (but customizable to any length upon request). The light-blue gemstones are hand-wrapped to 14k Gold Filled textured filigree chain. 

These adorable, go-with-anything Aquamarine Stardust Gold Drop Earrings feature Aquamarine teardrops and are available in either 14k Gold Filled or Sterling Silver. 

We don’t know about you, but we think that swimming in seawater goes great with a… a great anklet! Which is why we’ll point you to our Aquamarine & Gold Filigree Anklet (pictured), which can be clasped at any link of the chain to ensure a perfect fit on anyone. Prefer a bracelet? Here you go!

Looking to build out the perfect charm bracelet or charm necklace for yourself or a loved one? Our Aquamarine Birthstone Charm (pictured) makes a perfect addition, whether as a birthstone or simply as a lovely gemstone associated with all sorts of excellent healing properties. Visit Bloom’s revamped Charm Bar to complete your personalized charm bracelet or charm necklace combination. 

Want a look that’s less ethereal, more earthy? Check out our Moss Aquamarine jewelry! In particular, our Moss Aquamarine Mixed Chain Long Necklace mixes rosary, figaro, filigree, and curb chain with Moss Aquamarine gemstones for an XL chain that can be worn long, doubled, or tripled. 

Looking for a different birthstone? Bloom has you covered! Check out our entire Birthstone Collection. Every month has one or more birthstones to choose from — and everyone you know has a birth month. How can you possibly go wrong?