March's birthstone is AquaMarine

Aquamarine (Lat. aqua marina, "water of the sea") is a gemstone-quality transparent variety of beryl, having a delicate blue or turquoise color, suggestive of the tint of seawater. It is the birthstone for March. 

It is closely related to the gem emerald and is thus, very rare.  Unfortunately, most of the "AquaMarine" sold in finished jewelry isn't actually Aqua Marine at all, but is simply died or treated quartz or Chalcedony. All the Aquamarine jewelry Zanzibar sells is ACTUAL aquamarine.  Prices will vary depending on the quality (and clarity) of the stone.  Cloudy stones are less expensive than clear ones.  The very best Aquamarine is horribly expensive (in the thousands of dollars per gram, similar in price to the finest emeralds). 

Culture and historical/mythical usage:  * Aquamarine (along with bloodstone) is the birthstone associated with March. It is also the gemstone for the 19th Anniversary.

Aquamarine is a stone of courage. It accelerates the intellectual reasoning process and makes one unconquerable thru learning - not only of knowledge passed thru teachers of the past and present, but of oneself.

Aquamarine blue is a divine and eternal color, since it is, after all, the color of the skies. Aquamarine is also the color of water, with its life-giving properties. This stone is attuned to the ocean and helps us to get in touch with the nature spirits of the sea. Take some time, close your eyes, breath deep and remember sitting on the beach at dusk, the water coming in, the cool breeze. This is Aquamarines gift to you.

According to legend it has its origin in the treasure chest of the mermaids, and has for ages been reputed to be a lucky stone for sailors. Very good stone to take on vacations and cruises.

* Promotes safe travel on water.
* Combats depression

* Communication: This stone is excellent to help enhance your communication skills. Couples who are having trouble communicating will find this stone useful for working out differences in a friendly manner. It stimulates, activates, and cleanses the throat Chakra.

* Balance: Aids in becoming more attuned to spiritual levels of awareness and yet remain centered.

* Service: Encourages the ideal of humanitarian service to the world and to the development of humanity. Light-heartedness, creativity.

Focus on Success: Aquamarine gives you strength you need to take responsibility for yourself. Will keep you on track, assisting you in maintaining a persistent path towards your goals, helping to guarantee your success.

Throat, spleen, heart, immune system, thymus, lymph nodes. Especially: mouth, ears, breathing allergies, journeys, sea goddess, seeing through people, protection.
Accentuates:

* People in the Middle Ages thought that aquamarine could magically overcome the effects of poison.
* Ancient sailors traveled with aquamarine crystals, believing that it would ensure a safe voyage, and guarantee a safe return; they often slept with the stones under their pillow to ensure sound sleep. They believed the siren’s (mermaid) fish-like lower body was made of aquamarine.

Zanzibar sells a wide selection of AquaMarine jewelry, including Aqua Marine Earrings, Pendants, AquaMarine Necklaces and Bracelets, starting around $32 and going into the thousands of dollars.  Most earrings range in price from $32 to $150, with several price points in between.  Please note:  we try and buy only good quality Aquamarine and sometimes are selection is limited because of the rareness of this stone. 

Aquamarine is a beryl with a hexagonal crystal structure and a chemical formula of Be3Al2(SiO3)6, a beryllium aluminium silicate mineral. It has a specific gravity of 2.68 to 2.74 and a Mohs hardness of from 7.5 to 8. Aquamarine typically is on the low end of the specific gravity range, normally at less than 2.7. The pink variety exhibits a high specific gravity of around 2.8. Refractive indices range around 1.57 to 1.58.

Aqua Marine occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. The gem-gravel placer deposits of Sri Lanka contain aquamarine. Clear yellow beryl, such as occurs in Brazil, is sometimes called aquamarine chrysolite. When corundum presents the bluish tint of typical aquamarine, it is often termed Oriental aquamarine.

In the United States, aquamarines can be found at the summit of Mt. Antero in the Sawatch Range in central Colorado. In Wyoming, aquamarine has been discovered in the Big Horn mountains, near Powder River Pass. In Brazil, there are mines in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Bahia. Colombia, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya also produce aquamarine.

The biggest aquamarine ever mined was found at the city of Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. It weighed over 110 kg, and its dimensions were 48.5 cm long and 42 cm in diameter.

The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6. The hexagonal crystals of beryl may be very small or range to several meters in size. Terminated crystals are relatively rare. Beryl exhibits conchoidal fracture, has a hardness of 7.5–8, and a specific gravity of 2.63–2.80. It has a vitreous luster and can be transparent or translucent. Its cleavage is poor basal and its habit is dihexagonal bipyramidal. Pure beryl is colorless, but it is frequently tinted by impurities; possible colors are green, blue, yellow, red, and white. The name comes from the Greek beryllos which referred to a precious blue-green color-of-sea-water stone.[1] The term was later adopted for the mineral beryl more exclusively.[2]

   Visit our gallery to see our selection of earrings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces set in sterling silver with varying qualities of AquaMarine stones.