March's silvery breezes usher in longer days, and set the scene for the first days of spring. Aquamarine and Bloodstone are the two birthstones for March, and are quite different from one another.

AQUAMARINE

Aquamarine is a lovely, clear blue gemstone that shimmers like the sky or sea on a sunny day. This crystalline gemstone fittingly derives its name from the Latin word for seawater. Ancient mariners believed that brandishing an aquamarine amulet would calm wrathful ocean waves and keep sailors safe at sea.

With a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, these pure blue gems are often faceted and polished for jewelry. The Dom Pedro Aquamarine, believed to be the largest faceted aquamarine in the world, weighs nearly 5 lbs. This member of the Beryl family can be found in many places on earth, most notably in Brazil and high in the foothills of Pakistan.

BLOODSTONE

Bloodstone is an opaque, twilight blue-green jasper or chalcedony, dappled with red inclusions of iron oxide. In ancient times, it was believed that the sun itself would turn to red if the enigmatic bloodstone were to be placed in water. This is likely why this mineral aggregate is also known as heliotrope, a word from the ancient Greeks that literally translates as "to turn the sun."

Bloodstone can be found in various countries, but primarily in India, encased in other rocks or as pebbles in riverbeds. Rated as a 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, this beautiful, earthy gemstone is customarily cut and polished into cabochons for jewelry, although it comes in many shapes and cuts.

Pisces and Aries are the two zodiac signs of March, and so Aquamarine and Bloodstone jewelry make perfect birthday presents for that special someone or perhaps, additions to your own collection.

Image credits: Shmukler Jewelry Design, GIA.edu