Welcome to the most thorough, yet concise and fun guide to aquamarine on the Internet. In the next few minutes, you can learn enough about these birthstones for the month of March to shop with complete confidence and peace of mind. Or simply get to know these beautiful cousins of emerald that sailors have looked to for courage since the days of ancient Greece.

The ideal color of aquamarine has changed over time. Prior to the 20th century, the greenish blue that is aquamarineÕs most common natural occurrence was most popular. Recent times have seen a rise in demand for deeper blues. Heat treatment successfully and safely removes the green from the gems, leaving them with sky-blue hues that are so prized.

Brazil produces more aquamarine than any other source, but richer blue stones are found in Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia.

Aquamarine is naturally one of the most transparent of all colored gemstones. In fact, in the early 1900s a 243-pound stone was found in Brazil that was so clear you could read newsprint through it.