Birthstone jewelry for March

The birthstone for March is aquamarine (although an older tradition also includes bloodstone.) As the name implies, it has been commonly associated with traditions and beliefs around water and the sea - protecting sailors, curing seasickness, etc. It is a variety of beryl, and therefore a relative of the emerald. The lovely blue-green color varies greatly in intensity depending on the piece. Transparent, inclusion free specimens are highly prized for faceting, but I have also seen opaque stones with an intensity of color that is just lovely. It is a nice durable stone, although prolonged exposure to intense sunlight could fade the color. In this woven silver bracelet, I paired it with apatite, another of my favorite blue-green semiprecious stones.