The name Aquamarine speaks for itself, meaning seawater. Aquamarine immediately brings to mind its stunning pastel sky blue or the bright color of the sea. For centuries; this timeless gemstone has been a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity. Since this gemstone is the color of water and the sky, it is said to embody eternal life. It was long thought that Aquamarine has a soothing influence on married couples, making it a good anniversary gift.
Aquamarines are found in a range of blues; from a pale pastel to a greenish-blue to a deep color. Darker shades of blue are increasingly rare and in turn, make the value increase. Aquamarine is frequently a pastel gemstone but the color can be more intense in larger gemstones, smaller aquamarines tend to be less vivid.
In Ancient, as well as Modern times, the aquamarine is said to have countless positive effects on the wearer. The attributes of aquamarine were first recorded by Damigeron in the second century BC. Pliny the Elder’s Natural History also lists the stone as an excellent cure for eye diseases. The eye was supposed to be washed in water in which an aquamarine was immersed. To cure serious eye ailments, it was recommended to place the powder of the gem in the eyes each morning. Ancient Romans believed aquamarine would be useful in curing illnesses of the stomach, liver, jaws and throat. Today, modern healers believe that the aquamarine stone aids in fluid retention, a further association with the water aspects of aquamarine. Modern healers also believe the stone will help deal with glandular disorders, as well as aiding in maintaining the health of your eyes, as the Ancient healers believed. Some consider the stone specific for treating most afflictions associated with the oral cavity. It is associated with the throat charka, including the faculties of speech and singing, a quality perhaps associated with the therapeutic value of the color, rather than of the actual composition of the stone.