I'm back and It's time for the March Birthstone...

I'm back and boy have I missed all my blogging friends.  The past few weeks have been crazy with being ill and the overload of snow that I am really glad spring is now around the corner and I can get started again with my blog and start reading all the great posts I have missed.

This being the first day of March I thought it was time to tell you all about the beautiful birthstone Aquamarine.

Aquamarine, the beautiful stone of March is known for its lovely soft color of the sea. The aquamarine exists in many shades of blue, from the palest shade of water to the wonderful color of the sky and even tinged with green with inclusions of iron has the color of the ocean. Deeper colors of aquamarine have the highest financial value. The March birthstone, aquamarine, is a form of beryl, the same mineral family that Emeralds belongs to. The highest quality of aquamarine is very clear, with fewer inclusions than emerald, but aquamarine that is less clear can be just as beautiful.

Aquamarine is a durable gemstone, and is rated at 7.5 on the Mohs scale (compared to diamond at 10). Much of the world's supply of aquamarine comes from Brazil, with one particularly vivid blue type called Santa Maria because it originates from the country's Santa Maria de Itabira mine. Aquamarines are also found in Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and even the United States.

Like the Santa Maria, other aquamarines are often named for the places where they were mined, but beware of the term Brazilian Aquamarine, because some jewelry sold with that name is actually made with blue topaz. A gemstone called Siam Aquamarine is more than likely a blue zircon that's been heat-treated to intensify its color.

Aquamarine has long been considered a lucky stone, especially by sailors, who carried it to keep them safe at sea. It is said to bring peace and calming to its owner, relieving stress and enhancing intuition. Crystal healers use aquamarine to harmonize diseased areas of the body.

No matter what shade of blue the March baby may wear they are all beautiful and although I am a September child one of my favorite rings is an aquamarine. How about you, are you a March baby?