The Mermaid’s Treasure: Aquamarine

On this week’s Crystal of the Month, blogger Jesse breaks down the crystal aquamarine. She goes in depth about its history, its geography, and how and what it does for you. Enjoy reading about the unique characteristics of aquamarine! – Retired Editor Roman Rickwood

By Jessica Denyer

Welcome back!

This week I am going to be talking about my next Crystal of the Month: Aquamarine. This rare stone has a lot of interesting history and myths behind it making it one of the most sought after crystals. Its properties are also valuable, making it even more popular. So let’s jump right in and learn about Aquamarine.

History

Widely known as “The Mermaid’s Treasure ” and “The Sailors’ Stone,” aquamarine has a rich ancient history. To the Ancient Romans, the gem was heavily associated with sailing and luck. The famous historian Pliny the Elder was the first person to record the existence of aquamarine, saying, “The lovely Aquamarine, . . . seems to come from some mermaid treasure house. In the depths of a summer sea, has charms not to be denied” (varianceobjects.com). The Ancient Greeks also had a similar idea about aquamarine relating it to Poseidon and the Sirens who were known to seduce sailors and lead them to a watery death. Either way history is on the same page about aquamarine having protective powers. 

Where is it found?

Aquamarine is mainly found in Brazil; however, it is also found in places like Nigeria, Zambia, Pakistan, and Madagascar. There have been some massive pieces of aquamarine found, including one mined out of Brazil that weighed almost 240 pounds. What is so cool about aquamarine is that every piece is different and truly looks like it came from the depths of the sea. This however also makes aquamarine pretty expensive. At my old job at the crystal store, we had massive pieces of aquamarine on display in a pretty glass case that made all the little details of the crystal show. People would always want to know how much the biggest piece was but would always promptly walk away after hearing it was almost $400. I myself own a piece of aquamarine a little bigger than a quarter, and I paid $20 for it. Aquamarine is one of my most expensive crystal purchases to date. It’s not as outrageously expensive as the famous moldavite, but don’t expect a piece of “Mermaid’s Treasure ” to be cheap. 

What does it do?

Aquamarine is obviously a great protective stone (not just for sailors). Besides that, aquamarine is known to be a very soothing and relaxing stone known to ease anxiety and tension. It is also great for helping to push you to do things you might not otherwise do out of fear and anxiety. At my old job we used to say aquamarine was good for “living in the moment.” So if you struggle with anxiety and have a bad habit of holding yourself back from experiences or opportunities, invest in some aquamarine, it might just change your life. 

So that’s it! 

Thanks for reading!

Jesse your Crystal Connoisseur