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quamarine is the gemstone for March and comes from the Latin word for seawater, aqua marina. Aquamarine’s cool blue comes from the beryl family of minerals. Beryl is typically clear but the presence of iron contributes a blue/green hue. (Emerald is the green variant of beryl.) Most aquamarine is very light, and stones are heat-treated to deepen the blue tone.
The best way to clean your aquamarine jewelry is with plain, warm soapy water (using mild liquid soap) and an old tooth brush. Once you have washed the stone, make sure you rinse it off well with plain water. Be careful to use warm water instead of hot water, to reduce the dangers of thermal shock. Enzyme cleaners and detergent should be avoided for they can cause allergic reactions. It is also not advisable to clean aquamarine in an ultrasonic tank. Avoid sudden temperature changes, steaming, and contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume or household chemicals.
