Aquamarine: The Mermaid’s Stone

By Ellie Lewis

It does not matter if you are a fan of artisan jewelry or you have never even heard of the Sundance jewelry catalog, no matter who you are you may be enchanted by the seductive aquamarine. Its beautiful sea-blue or green color ranges quite a lot, and those stones which carry a darker tint are usually more valuable. These darker aquamarines are more difficult to find, as they are rare.

Those born in March are lucky to call the aquamarine their birthstone. According to tradition, this precious stone means many beneficial qualities for the wearer, including good luck, inspiration and knowledge. If the stones are given to the wearer as a gift, they are meant to create security and safety within a relationship. There is also a tradition of giving this stone as a gift on a couple’s 19th wedding anniversary.

There is a great deal of mythology associated with the aquamarine. This light-colored stone is reminiscent of clear, cool water and even its name comes from the Latin meaning ‘water of the sea.’ This sea water stone was once believed to have come directly from the treasure chests of mermaids. Because of this, sailors have always held the aquamarine in a place of high esteem; it was thought to bring luck to a sea voyage. Ancient sailors believed that the clear stone would create a safe voyage and prevent any sea sickness. To further its connection to the sea, the aquamarine is associated with the Roman sea god and planet Neptune.

The people of the Middle Ages believed that the aquamarine had some kind of power to battle the negative effects of poison. The precious stone was also thought to increase one’s youthful vitality and intelligence, and it was held to be a suppressant for anxiety. Other ancient peoples believed that soaking this stone in water would lead to a cure for everything from hiccups to eye troubles. The aquamarine was also thought to serve as a means to communicate with otherworldly spirits; it was believed that if you held one in your mouth, you could ask the spirits for answers regarding life’s most intricate problems.

This stone was often fashioned into amulets to be worn around the neck, because the aquamarine was considered to serve as a protectorate for the throat. Even today those who believe in the healing powers of gemstones believe that the aquamarine is the great healer of the throat. A member of the beryl family like the emerald, the aquamarine can be mined in regions spread across the globe such as in Zambia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Zambia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. The Santa Maria aquamarine called so because of the location from which it is mined in Brazil is known as having a rich blue color, and is among the most prized of these stones. Aquamarines are not as expensive as diamonds but they have certain hardiness to them leading the stone to sometimes be called the poor man’s diamond. This clear, bluish stone is damage-resistant and easy to clean.

About the Author: Ellie Lewis bought some

artisan jewelry

as gifts for her friends. She loved the

Sundance jewelry

she found online.

Source:

isnare.com

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