March
March's birthstone is aquamarine — that seawater blue is a sailor's ancient talisman, a symbol of calm, courage and safe passage; the traditional list adds bloodstone.
March’s birthstone is aquamarine — that seawater blue is a sailor’s ancient talisman, a symbol of calm, courage and safe passage; the traditional list adds bloodstone. Kin to emerald, it is far clearer and more durable.
About the March Birthstone
Aquamarine is March’s modern birthstone, blue beryl, kin to emerald yet with fewer inclusions, clear and hard-wearing, Mohs hardness 7.5–8. The traditional March stone is bloodstone — a deep-green, red-flecked chalcedony, ancient and mysterious.
The Meaning of This Month
Aquamarine symbolises calm, courage and safety. That blue, like a body of seawater, was a sailor’s talisman since antiquity, promising a safe return through storm. To give it to someone born in March is to wish “may you be calm as the sea, and safely home”.
History & Culture
The birthstone tradition traces to the twelve gems of the Breastplate of Aaron, matched to the months and zodiac, and standardised into the modern list by the American jewellers’ association in 1912. Aquamarine has been tied to the sea since antiquity — Roman and Greek sailors wore it as a charm for a safe voyage; the traditional bloodstone, for its red flecks, was seen in the Middle Ages as a stone of sacrifice and courage.
The Lists
| List | March birthstone |
|---|---|
| Modern (1912 · US) | Aquamarine |
| Traditional | Bloodstone |
| Zodiac | Pisces (to 3/20) · Aries (from 3/21) |
Explore this month's stones
FAQ
What is March's birthstone?
Modern is aquamarine; the traditional list is bloodstone.
What does aquamarine symbolise?
Calm, courage and safe passage; an ancient sailor's talisman of homecoming.
What is bloodstone?
A deep-green chalcedony flecked with red, March's traditional birthstone, seen by the ancients as a stone of courage and health.
Does aquamarine fade?
Ordinary heated blue is stable; but beware Maxixe irradiated blue, whose deep colour fades over time.
Which zodiac signs go with March?
Pisces (to March 20) and Aries (from March 21).