Aquamarine, the birthstone for March

Colours
When you hear the word Aquamarine it conjures up images of the blue sea, and like the ocean it comes in various shades of blue. From a very pale pastel though a greenish blue to a deep blue and range from very clear to cloudy in appearance. Size can also play a factor in Aquamarines colour. The larger the stone the more intense the colour, smaller stones tend to be less vivid.
Heat treated stones are also available that give a purer blue colour. Once the Aquamarine is heat-treated the colour is permanent.

Physical Properties
Rating 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale Aquamarine is a reasonably hard stone, which makes it quite durable and difficult to scratch in the normal course of everyday wear.