This is What Your March Birthstone Represents (And How to Incorporate It Into Your Ring)

Understanding the March Birthstone: Aquamarine

During the Middle Ages in Europe, the practice of aligning specific gemstones with each month gained popularity. Super smart scholars and mystics began attributing certain gemstones to each month, based on astrological and mystical properties. As time went on, the birthstone list standardized. Some gemstones gained universal recognition as the birthstone for each month. And in 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers released a list of official birthstones, driven by contemporary customs and commercial interests.

March’s birthstone is the aquamarine. It’s a captivating gem with a serene, watery blue color. You know, like the ocean. In fact, the name “aquamarine” springs from the Latin ‘aqua’ for water, and ‘marina’ for sea. Pretty apt for capturing the essence of this stunning gem that ranges from pale blue to deep blue-green. Kind of like the various shades of those waves its name conjures.

Linked to the water element, aquamarine embodies purity, clarity, and tranquility. It’s believed to carry calming effects and is cherished for both its breathtaking allure and resilience. As part of the beryl mineral family, aquamarine stands out for its exceptional clarity and transparency, letting light dance through to produce its signature sparkle.

Characteristics of Aquamarine

Aquamarine is most prized for its enchantingly clear blue color, this is thanks to trace amounts of iron in its crystal structure. While most of the aquamarines you’ll see on the market will be relatively pale sky blue, they can actually range to greenish-blue or be quite vivid. These vivid blue aquamarines will be quite rare, however, and more expensive. Aquamarines have excellent transparency and display a wide range of clarity and inclusions. Just like diamond clarity, the more clear from inclusions, the more expensive the aquamarine. 

So wait, is aquamarine suitable for your engagement ring? Yes and no. Aquamarine is a semi-precious gemstone with a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. So it’s a bit softer than we’d typically recommend for regular daily wear in a ring as your main stone. This is because rings take the most wear of any jewelry, as we are pretty active these days doing literally all the things. And as a center stone on an engagement ring, that gem will take a lot of wear. Aquamarine isn’t quite hard enough to withstand all the dings and scratches it would likely be subjected to, and that will show over time in chips and dull surfaces of the stone.

Creative Ways to Incorporate The March Birthstone Into Your Ring

All that said, if you simply must have an aquamarine center stone for your ring, you do you. Just do it with care and warning that over time your stone will likely show wear or need to be replaced. If you want a more durable blue stone for your ring, we love sapphires, which are much harder. Sapphires are also available in a wide range of hues, including gorgeous light blues and greens in the same color range as an aquamarine. You could also go for a blue diamond if you want to up your engagement ring game.

Aquamarine accent stones in a ring setting

There are other ways to include your aquamarine birthstone into your engagement ring, though! For instance, we love a gemstone side stone, where it’s a little more protected and less impact on your budget. You could swap out the tapered baguette diamonds in this Breezy Engagement Ring setting for aquamarines, go Art Deco with this five-stone engagement ring style, or go bold with this stunning pear cut diamond setting, swapping the sides for some gorgeous blue aquas.

One of our all time favorite ways to incorporate a little birthstone love into your engagement ring, however, is with a little embedded gemstone on the inside of your band. Yep, that’s right, we burnish a tiny gemstone into the inside that’s just for you. Like a little secret pop of color and symbolism that keeps the gem protected and still there with you at all times.

Aquamarine wedding bands

Another way to incorporate aquamarine into your ring stack is through a stackable wedding ring set with this beautiful gemstone. Just choose a protective setting, and know that if a little stone is damaged over time it may need to simply be replaced. Embrace the chonk with our Love Handles band, a chunky, gold-forward gemstone eternity band featuring a sparkling row of bead set stones sandwiched between golden love handles for a bold, modern wedding band that’s eternally in style. Or choose a dainty, bezel set band that encircles your gems with a bit of metal to help keep them safe and sound.

Care and Maintenance Tips for the March Birthstone

Once you have that gorgeous aquamarine ring, it’s vital to care for it well. This ensures it lasts a lifetime. Clean it at home to remove dirt and oil using a soft toothbrush and mild soapy water. Avoid abrasive cleaners or chemicals, as they can damage the stones and metal. Always rinse thoroughly.

Be sure to remove your jewelry before hot tubs, workouts, gardening, or any strenuous activities. This prevents contact with hard materials. Store your aquamarine ring separately from harder items (i.e., diamonds). Harder materials can scratch its surface. Use a jewelry box with compartments or a soft pouch for storage.”

Into the Blue

As a beautiful symbol of the power of the ocean and a gemstone known for its soothing properties, we can’t argue with aquamarine’s intense beauty. We might have even just talked ourselves into one. But we’re not here for that. We’re here for you. If you’re looking to include this gorgeous March birthstone — or any birthstone — into your engagement ring, wedding ring, or another piece of stunning jewelry, we’ve got you covered. Explore our collection to gather inspiration, take the ring quiz to help you visualize your dream ring, or reach out to us at hello@frankdarling.com and our team of expert designers and craftspeople will get your birthstone ring dreams all sorted out.