March gets aquamarine, and it may be the most quietly practical birthstone on the calendar. It is a pale, clear sea-blue that catches light like shallow water, and unlike most coloured stones it is hard enough to be worn every single day without a second thought.

That combination, genuinely beautiful and genuinely durable, is rarer than you would think, and it is why aquamarine has become such a popular choice for engagement rings as well as birthstone pieces. This guide covers how to wear it, how to style pale blue with gold, what to look for when buying, and where March's second stone, bloodstone, fits in. For every month and stone, see our birthstones by month chart.

Three ways to wear a March birthstone

As a piece in its own right, including a ring. This is where March differs from most months. Aquamarine sits at 7.5 to 8 on the hardness scale, so unlike opal, pearl or turquoise it is perfectly happy in a ring worn daily. If you want a birthstone you can put on and forget about, March gives you one, and a pale blue stone on the hand is unusual enough to be noticed without being loud.

Set small into something personalised. A small aquamarine set into an engraved tag, beside an initial on a pendant, or as a charm on a bracelet. Pale blue is a gentle colour, so it behaves as a soft highlight rather than a statement, which is exactly what you want when the point of the piece is the name rather than the stone. It is also the natural way to mark more than one person, a stone each for your children along a single bar.

Layered and stacked. Aquamarine's paleness is its advantage when layering. It reads almost as light rather than colour, so an aquamarine pendant will sit among plain gold chains without demanding attention, and an aquamarine band slides between two plain rings beautifully.

Styling aquamarine with your everyday gold

Yellow gold is the pairing we would argue for, and it is slightly unexpected. Cool pale blue against warm yellow gold is a proper contrast, and the warmth of the metal stops a very pale aquamarine looking washed out, which can happen in cooler settings. It gives the stone more presence than it has on its own.

White gold is the icier, more classical option and makes an aquamarine read almost like a pale sapphire or a soft diamond. It suits a deeper-blue stone especially well, because there is enough colour to hold its own against the cool metal.

Rose gold is the softest of the three, and pink against pale blue is gentler and more romantic than you might expect. If you want your March birthstone to feel modern rather than traditional, this is the way.

What to look for in an aquamarine

Colour is everything, and deeper is dearer. Aquamarine runs from the faintest whisper of blue to a rich sea-blue, and price follows saturation closely. The most prized material, a strong pure blue, is often traded under the name Santa Maria after the Brazilian mine. A very pale stone is perfectly lovely and much more affordable, but do look at it against white paper, where paleness shows up honestly.

Expect it to be clean. Unlike emerald, its included cousin, aquamarine typically grows very clear. Eye-visible inclusions are not the norm, so you should not have to accept a cloudy or hazy stone. If it looks murky, keep looking.

Most aquamarine is heat-treated, and that is entirely standard. Gentle heating removes the greenish or yellowish cast many stones have naturally, leaving the pure blue that people want. It is permanent, stable and universally accepted, so it is not something to worry about, only something to know. One happy consequence of aquamarine growing in large crystals: sizeable, clean stones are far more affordable than they would be in almost any other gem.

The sailor's stone

The name says it plainly: aqua marina, sea water. Sailors carried aquamarine as a talisman for safe passage and calm seas, and Roman tradition held that a stone carved with Neptune would protect anyone crossing water. It has meant courage, calm and clear communication ever since, an unusually level-headed set of associations for a gemstone.

Geologically it is a beryl, which makes it the direct cousin of the emerald. The two are the same mineral coloured by different trace elements: iron gives aquamarine its blue, chromium and vanadium give emerald its green. Most fine aquamarine now comes from Brazil, with significant material from Nigeria, Madagascar, Mozambique and Pakistan. It is also the nineteenth wedding anniversary stone.

Bloodstone, March's other stone

March's traditional second stone could hardly be more different. Bloodstone is a deep green chalcedony flecked with red jasper, opaque where aquamarine is transparent, and earthy where aquamarine is airy. Its name comes from those red spots, which medieval tradition held were drops of blood.

It has long been associated with courage and vitality, and because it takes a carving beautifully it has been used for signet rings and intaglios since antiquity. It remains a handsome, understated choice, and is often the March stone chosen for men's jewellery where aquamarine feels too delicate.

Caring for aquamarine

Aquamarine is one of the easiest coloured stones to live with. Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush is all it needs, and at 7.5 to 8 it resists everyday scratching well. Two small cautions: keep it out of prolonged strong sunlight, which can very gradually pale the colour, and avoid sudden extremes of heat. Ultrasonic cleaners are generally fine for a clean stone, though best avoided if yours has any visible inclusions. Store it away from diamonds and sapphires, which will scratch it.

March birthstone questions

What is the March birthstone?

March's birthstone is aquamarine, a pale sea-blue stone associated with courage, calm and safe passage. March also has a traditional second stone, bloodstone, a deep green chalcedony flecked with red.

What colour is aquamarine?

A clear, cool blue that ranges from the very palest tint to a rich sea-blue, sometimes with a greenish cast. Deeper, more saturated blue is rarer and more valuable, with the finest material often called Santa Maria.

Is aquamarine hard enough for everyday wear?

Yes. At 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, aquamarine is one of the more durable coloured stones and is perfectly suited to a ring worn daily, unlike softer birthstones such as opal, pearl or turquoise.

Can aquamarine be used in an engagement ring?

It can, and it is one of the better coloured-stone choices for one. It is hard enough for daily wear, usually very clean, and carries a meaning of calm and safe passage. Sapphire is tougher still at 9, but aquamarine offers a softer, less expected blue.

Is aquamarine treated?

Most aquamarine is gently heated to remove a natural greenish or yellowish cast and leave a purer blue. The treatment is permanent, stable and standard across the trade, so it is not a concern, though it is always worth knowing what you are buying.

Is aquamarine related to emerald?

Yes, they are the same mineral. Both are beryl, coloured differently by trace elements: iron makes aquamarine blue, while chromium and vanadium make emerald green. Aquamarine tends to be far cleaner and more durable in practice.