Current:Home > InvestWhat is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems. -WealthSphere Pro
What is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems.
View
Date:2025-04-17 07:41:24
From St. Patrick's Day to Easter to the first day of spring, March hosts many celebrations throughout its 31 days.
March babies can bear one of two astrological signs: Pisces (born between March 1-20) or Aries (March 21-31). Two varieties of daffodil flowers also represent those born in March.
Each month has at least one gemstone. So, what about March's birthstone? It has two. Here's what to know about March birthstones, including their colors and symbolism.
March birthstone
Aquamarine and bloodstone are the two birthstones for March.
Aquamarine is a variety of beryl that ranges from pale blue to light green. The stone's name derives from the Latin "aqua" and "marina," meaning "seawater," according to the American Gem Society. Some faceted, or cut, aquamarines can be as clear as water.
This is not the only connection the gem has to the sea. Mariners once believed aquamarine could calm waves and protect sailors during their aquatic voyages, the Geological Institute of America reports.
The world's largest faceted aquamarine can be found at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The Dom Pedro aquamarine weighs approximately 4.6 pounds and was cut from a 100-pound stone in the late 1980s, Smithsonian Magazine reports.
The second largest cut of aquamarine belonged to former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was gifted the 1,298-carat, 2.86-pound gem by Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas in 1936, according to the International Gem Society. It is currently on display at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York.
Minas Gerais in Brazil has been a major producer of aquamarine for the last two centuries, the Geological Institute of America reports. Other mining spots include Pakistan, Madagascar, Myanmar, Ukraine, Colorado and California.
Aquamarine is believed to symbolize "purity of spirit and soul." It is said to bring happiness in marriage, according to the Geological Institute of America, and is a traditional gift for the nineteenth wedding anniversary.
Bloodstone is a variety of chalcedony, usually dark green with splotches of red hematite. The stone comes in two forms: transparent or opaque.
The name "bloodstone" has religious origins, with some believing the gem's pattern represents the blood of Jesus Christ, the Geological Institute of America reports. Its alternate name "heliotrope" derives from the ancient Greek for "to turn the sun." It was believed the stone, when placed in water, could turn the sun red, according to the American Gem Society.
Throughout history, bloodstone was associated with the Roman god of war, Mars. So, it is natural that the stone came to represent March, the month named after the god, the International Gem Society reports.
It was also believed that bloodstone would bring strength and health to those who wear it. Some see the birthstone as a good luck charm, according to the Geological Institute of America.
India is a prime source of bloodstone, but it can also be found in Brazil, Australia, China and the U.S., the Geological Institute of America reports.
What color is my birthstone?Learn which gemstone represents each month and what it means.
Want to learn more about other month's birthstones?
January | February | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "What are angel numbers?" to "What is my Zodiac sign?" to "How common is my birthday?"− we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.
veryGood! (167)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart re-signs with New York Liberty
- Family of exonerated Black man killed by a Georgia deputy is suing him in federal court
- NFL scouting combine is here. But there was another you may have missed: the HBCU combine
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Book excerpt: What Have We Here? by Billy Dee Williams
- Mad Men Actor Eddie Driscoll Dead at 60
- She missed out on 'Mean Girls' 20 years ago — but Busy Philipps got a second chance
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Man pleads guilty in deaths of 2 officers at Virginia college in 2022 and is sentenced to life
Ranking
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- New York Democrats propose new congressional lines after rejecting bipartisan commission boundaries
- Tuition will be free at a New York City medical school thanks to a $1 billion gift
- Warren Buffett holds these 45 stocks for Berkshire Hathaway's $371 billion portfolio
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Body found in truck is man who drove off Alabama boat ramp in 2013
- Federal judge reverses himself, rules that California’s ban on billy clubs is unconstitutional
- The Daily Money: Let them eat cereal?
Recommendation
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Suspect in New York hotel killing remains in custody without bond in Arizona stabbings
Smartphone ailing? Here's how to check your battery's health
Burger chain Wendy’s looking to test surge pricing at restaurants as early as next year
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
Kentucky lawmakers advance bill allowing child support to begin with pregnancy
The rate of antidepressants prescribed to young people surged during the pandemic
As MLB reduces one pitch clock time, Spencer Strider worries 'injury epidemic' will worsen