The March birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone. Aquamarine is a pale blue to green-blue beryl measuring 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale; bloodstone is a dark green chalcedony with red spots of iron oxide.
March’s two birthstones share almost nothing but the month. Aquamarine is a transparent, faceted blue gem from the same mineral family as emerald.
Bloodstone is an opaque, dark green stone usually cut as a cabochon or carved. Much of the blue in aquamarine jewelry comes from heat treatment: natural aquamarine is usually a light pastel greenish blue, and “heat treatment usually gives it a more bluish appearance,” according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
The largest faceted aquamarine known, the Dom Pedro, weighs 10,363 carats and is held by the Smithsonian.
Table of Contents
What are the March birthstones?
Aquamarine and bloodstone are both official March birthstones on the GIA list and the British National Association of Goldsmiths list. The table compares their properties.
| Property | Aquamarine | Bloodstone |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral | Beryl | Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz); dark green jasper |
| Mohs hardness | 7.5–8 | 6.5–7 |
| Transparency | Transparent | Opaque |
| Color | Light greenish blue to deep green-blue | Dark green with red spots |
| Cause of color | Iron in the beryl structure; heating reduces green and yellow tones | Red inclusions of iron oxides, especially hematite |
| Typical cut | Faceted | Cabochon, beads, carvings, signet rings |
| Main sources | Brazil (Minas Gerais), Pakistan, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, United States | India (main source), Brazil, Australia, China, United States |
| Wedding anniversary | 19th | None listed |
| Zodiac signs for March birthdays | Pisces (to about March 20) and Aries (from about March 21) | Same |
Why does March have two birthstones?
Bloodstone is the older, traditional March stone, and aquamarine was adopted on the modern list as a transparent, faceted alternative.
Both remain official. March is one of six months with more than one birthstone; the full list is in the Birthstones by Month chart.
March birthstone colors
Aquamarine ranges “from deep green-blue to light, slightly greenish blue,” and bloodstone is dark green with red spots. The table compares the color options for a March birthday.
| Stone | Color | Most sought-after appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Aquamarine (natural) | Light pastel greenish blue | Clean, even color without visible inclusions |
| Aquamarine (heat-treated) | Purer blue, with less green or yellow | Deeper, more saturated blue |
| Bloodstone | Dark green with red or orange-red spots | Deep green with distinct, evenly spread red spots |
How heat treatment changes the March birthstone color
Heating aquamarine usually makes it bluer by reducing its green and yellow components, according to GIA’s aquamarine description. The treatment is stable and widely accepted in the trade.
GIA also notes that aquamarine crystals tend to be “large in size and relatively clean and well-formed,” which is why large, eye-clean aquamarines are more common than large clean emeralds.
Aquamarine compared with other blue March birthstone look-alikes
Aquamarine is often confused with blue topaz and blue sapphire. The table compares them.
| Feature | Aquamarine (March) | Blue topaz (November) | Blue sapphire (September) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral | Beryl | Topaz | Corundum |
| Mohs hardness | 7.5–8 | 8 | 9 |
| Typical blue | Pale to medium greenish blue | Sky blue to deep “London” blue | Medium to deep blue |
| Birthstone guide | This page | November Birthstone | September Birthstone |
Aquamarine and emerald are both beryl, differing only in the element that colors them; the May Birthstone guide covers emerald.
March birthstone meaning and history
Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin for seawater; bloodstone takes its name from the belief that its red spots represent the blood of Christ.
Bloodstone’s older name, heliotrope, comes from the ancient Greek for “to turn the sun.” GIA records the following history:
| Stone | History and lore |
|---|---|
| Aquamarine | Sailors believed it would “calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea”; it was also linked to happiness in marriage |
| Aquamarine | In 1936, the government of Brazil gave Eleanor Roosevelt a 1,298-carat rectangular step-cut aquamarine |
| Aquamarine | The Dom Pedro aquamarine (10,363 carats), held by the Smithsonian, is “believed to be the largest faceted aquamarine in the world” |
| Bloodstone | Ancient peoples believed it could turn the sun red if placed in water |
| Bloodstone | Associated with strength, invisibility, and preserving health and youth |
These beliefs are folklore; they describe tradition, not gemological properties.
Choosing and caring for a March birthstone
Choose aquamarine for faceted, transparent jewelry and everyday rings; choose bloodstone for signet rings, carvings and men’s jewelry.
Aquamarine’s hardness of 7.5 to 8 makes it the more scratch-resistant of the two.
- Clean both stones with warm soapy water and a soft brush. GIA describes this as always safe.
- Use ultrasonic or steam cleaning on aquamarine only if the stone has no fractures or liquid inclusions. Use only soapy water on fracture-filled aquamarine.
- Keep aquamarine away from heat. It resists fading in light but should not be exposed to high temperatures.
- Avoid harsh chemicals and very hot temperatures with bloodstone, and store it in soft fabric to prevent scratches.
The care advice follows GIA’s aquamarine care guide and GIA’s March birthstone guide.
What the March birthstone is not
The March birthstones are often confused with other stones. The points below separate them.
- Aquamarine is not blue topaz. They are different minerals, and blue topaz is usually a more saturated blue.
- Bloodstone is not red. It is dark green; only its spots are red.
- Aquamarine is not a different mineral from emerald. Both are beryl.
- March does not have only one correct birthstone. Both aquamarine and bloodstone are official.
Frequently asked questions
What color is the March birthstone?
The main March birthstone, aquamarine, is pale blue to green-blue; the second, bloodstone, is dark green with red spots.
Which March birthstone is better for an engagement ring?
Aquamarine is better suited to everyday rings, because at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale it is harder than bloodstone (6.5 to 7) and is transparent and faceted.
What anniversary is aquamarine for?
Aquamarine is the gemstone for the 19th wedding anniversary, according to GIA.
