GEM OF THE MONTH: AQUAMARINE
DERIVED from the Roman word ‘aqua’, meaning water, and
‘mare’, meaning sea, aquamarine is a pale blue gem which resembles
the colour of seawater, especially that of the Mediterranean. Aquamarine
means 'sea water' in Latin. Therefore, besides being a talisman for those
born in March, it is a favourite gemstone of those travelling across
bodies of water and also for surfers. Its first documented use was by the
Greeks between 480-300 BC. They wore aquamarine amulets engraved with the
god Poseidon on a chariot.
The ancient Romans believed that the aquamarine was sacred to Neptune,
the god of the sea, having fallen from the jewel boxes of sirens and
washed ashore. Early Roman sailors wore aquamarine talismans, engraved
with the likeness of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea
believing that it would ensure a safe passage, 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. According to legend, aquamarine originated in a
treasure chest for mermaids.
The aquamarine is a semi-precious translucent stone, a member of the
beryl family which varies in colour from clear to vibrantly coloured
gemstones such as the emerald. Beryl was used as far back as 2,000 years
ago to correct vision. When eyeglasses first began being produced in
Germany, it was a thin sliver of aquamarine that was used as a lens to
correct short sightedness. So widely was this stone used that the German
word for eyeglasses is ‘brille’ which is derived from the word beryl.
Aquamarine is a very hard mineral that is generally flawless and
varies in colour from blue-green to a light sky blue, but gems containing
green are often heat-treated to remove this less desirable colour. It is
iron that gives aquamarine its beautiful blue-green hue. Only diamonds,
sapphires and a few other gemstones are harder than beryl and this has
earned aquamarines the nickname of ‘poor man's diamond’.
It is a relatively abundant gem, the largest deposits being in Brazil,
but other sources of aquamarine are in China, India, Australia, Africa,
and the United States. Some of the finest comes from Russia. Sri Lanka,
Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya also produce
aquamarine.
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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. Madagascar is
the historical source of aquamarine, but is no longer important.
The British Museum of Natural History owns an 879.5 carat
flawless, step-cut aquamarine with a lovely sea-green colour.
The unique blues that the Aquamarine displays are said to represent
eternity and life-giving properties, since it is, after all, the colour
of both the sea and the skies. A gift of aquamarine symbolizes both
safety and security, especially within long standing relationships. Some
people even say that the aquamarine reawakens love in a tired marriage
and that carrying aquamarine is also believed to guarantee a happy
marriage, making the owner not only happy, but wealthy as well. It was
strongly held that aquamarine was used by fortune tellers to read the
future.
Aquamarine has been credited with providing courage, curing laziness
and quickening the intellect. It has had the reputation of providing
happiness and everlasting youth and with harmony and trust. It is a
soothing gemstone that is used in love magic and supposedly a wonderful
gemstone for women and said to evoke feelings of trust, harmony and
sympathy. It is believed to lend strength and confidence.
The healing properties of the March birthstone are reputed to be
effective for health problems relating to the throat, the stomach and
liver, and also stress-related illness. The association with water led
to the belief that the aquamarine was particularly powerful when
immersed in water
Water in which this gemstone had been submerged was used in ancient
times to heal a variety of illnesses of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth
and throat and was believed to cure eye troubles, stoppage of breath and
hiccups. People in the Middle Ages thought that aquamarine could
magically overcome the effects of poison.
During the Middle Ages, it was believed to be an effective antidote
against poison. Aquamarines were thought to be the source of power for
soothsayers, who called it the ‘magic mirror’, and used it for
telling fortunes and answering questions about the future.
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They were a favourite gem for use in the parures (matched sets) of
the 1820s and are still striking for similar modern use.
Is has also been connected with the Christian religion.
GEM OF THE MONTH: BLOODSTONE
The modern birthstone for March is aquamarine. However, the traditional
birthstone for March is bloodstone which has only recently been replaced
by the more valuable aquamarine gems.
Bloodstone is the name given to a dark green/greenish-blue
chalcedony, an opaque quartz with small red blood-like spots, which are
of iron oxide. The main source of bloodstone is India though it is also
found in Russia, Germany, Austria, Australia, China, Brazil and the USA.
The red flecking of this very ancient stone gives rise to many
interesting legends. Babylonians used this stone to make seals and
amulets. The ancient Greeks and Roman believed athletes and gladiators
would gain endurance and courage by wearing bloodstone in dangerous
situations as well as providing protection from their own dangerous
desires.
Medieval Christians often used bloodstone to carve scenes of the
crucifixion and martyrs into cameos and beads. Some sources suggest that
it was worn by early Christians as a symbol of their faith. One
particularly famous carving was done by the Italian Matteo del Nassaro
around 1525. In ‘The Descent from the Cross’, the carving was
carefully crafted so that spots of red on the bloodstone represented the
wounds of Christ and His drops of blood. According to legend, bloodstone
was believed to have formed during the crucifixion of Christ when a
Roman soldier-guard thrust his spear into Christ's side and drops of
blood fell on some pieces of dark green jasper lying at the foot of the
cross. For this reason, too, the stone has been called ‘martyr's
stone’.
In the Middle Ages, bloodstone was believed to hold healing powers,
particularly for stopping nosebleeds. When the stone was powdered and
mixed with honey and white of egg, it was believed to cure blood
poisoning and tumours. It was reputed to stop all types of haemorrhage
as well as draw out the poison from venomous snake bites.
Bloodstone is a form of silica quartz, chalcedony and can be found
embedded in rocks, or as pebbles in riverbeds. |
