Aquamarine

• Aquamarine's name comes from two Latin words: Aqua meaning "water" and marina, meaning "of the sea".
• It was said that Aquamarine would calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea.
• Wearing Aquamarine was thought to enhance the happiness of marriages.
• An ideal Aquamarine combines high clarity with limpid transparency and has a blue to slightly greenish hue.
• As well as being the birthstone for March, Aquamarine is also the gemstone for couples 19th wedding anniversary.
• Part of the Beryl family, Aquamarine is a cousin to Emerald and Morganite.
• On the MOHS hardness scale, an Aquamarine rates at 7.5 - 8.0
• Aquamarine is found in many places including: Mozambique, Zambia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Madagascar, Nigeria and Brazil.
• Due to the light color of an Aquamarine, cutting is extrememly important where well-cut gems will show extrememe brilliance.

All information found at: http://www.gia.edu/aquamarine

Photo taken by: Kristin McCabe