| Every current jewelry culture has birthstones in | | | | the natural oils in your hands can dull the luster |
| their collections. Some are better known than | | | | over time. Don't expose the stones to any |
| others. For example, for those born in July they | | | | household chemicals and shampoos or hair dyes |
| get the beautiful ruby as their lucky birthstone | | | | and don't wear while doing yard work to keep |
| and April's birthstone is the unforgettable diamond. | | | | from breaking the clasp or the gemstone itself. |
| But the one gem that many don't recognize is | | | | Keep aquamarines out of sunlight and extreme |
| aquamarine, March's birthstone. | | | | temperatures. |
| Aquamarine means "water of the sea". It's often | | | | Wash your stones with mild soap and warm |
| a transparent light blue or blue green gem, and is | | | | water. Let it soak for less than 10 minutes. Clean |
| a member of the beryl family. The colors can | | | | the gemstones with a soft cloth. Rinse in clear, |
| range from a very light almost clear tint of blue | | | | warm water and pat dry. Store your aquamarine |
| to the deeper, brighter blue green. It's considered | | | | jewelry in a cool place out of direct sunlight. |
| a semiprecious gem as opposed to the diamond, | | | | Aquamarine is considered a lucky stone, especially |
| emerald, sapphire and rubies, which are precious | | | | in historical times when sailors carried it keep |
| stones. Usually aquamarine is less expensive and | | | | them safe while at sea. It brings peace and |
| easier to find. | | | | calmness to its owner, relieving them of stress |
| Aquamarine jewelry is often heat treated if it is | | | | and enhancing their intuition. Crystal healers use |
| very light in color when it is mined. This gives it a | | | | the stone to balance diseased areas of the body. |
| deeper blue color, which in turn, makes the | | | | Aquamarine is not as delicate as the soft green |
| aquamarine jewelry worth more money. The | | | | beryl known as emerald. It is sturdier and has |
| lighter stones, however, are a beautiful substitute | | | | larger carat weights since the crystals are kept |
| for diamonds, especially in jewelry like stud | | | | fairly large when the stones are mined. It can be |
| earrings and engagement rings. Aquamarine gems | | | | found in many areas of the world from United |
| make beautiful necklaces and other jewelry. Pair a | | | | States to Brazil to parts Africa. The largest |
| gemstone with white gold or silver to complement | | | | aquamarine gem ever found was in Brazil, |
| the cool tones of the gem and the silver. It looks | | | | weighing over 110 kg. |
| equally as well with the warm tones of gold. | | | | Aquamarine may not be the most expensive of |
| When wearing aquamarine jewelry, put it on last | | | | the beryl family gems, but it's still a beautiful |
| and take it off first. This way makeup and other | | | | stone in any jewelry setting. But no other gem |
| chemicals such as hairsprays won't damage the | | | | can come close to its soft transparent blue color |
| stones. Handle them as little as necessary since | | | | in a quality stone and it's unmatched for beauty. |