March Birthstone: Aquamarine and Bloodstone Meaning, Colour and Gift Ideas

What is the March Birthstone?

March babies, you get two, and they could hardly be more different. The March birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone. One is the colour of a calm spring sea, clear and light as air. The other is a deep forest green flecked with red, as earthy and grounded as they come. Sea and soil, sky and root: a rather perfect pair for the month when winter finally gives way to spring.

Aquamarine is the modern March birthstone and bloodstone is the traditional one, worn for March long before aquamarine joined it. This guide is our love letter to both: what they mean, where they come from, and how to choose the right one for you (or for the March soul you are shopping for). You can browse our handmade March birthstone jewellery any time the mood takes you.

March Birthstones at a Glance

	Aquamarine	Bloodstone
Colour	Pale sea blue to blue-green	Deep green with red flecks
Meaning	Calm, courage, clarity and safe travels	Strength, bravery, vitality and protection
Chakras	Throat	Root and heart
Mineral	Beryl, a cousin of emerald	Chalcedony, part of the quartz family
Found in	Brazil, Pakistan, Madagascar, Mozambique	India, Brazil, Australia
Mohs hardness	7.5 to 8	6.5 to 7
Zodiac	Pisces (19 February to 20 March) and Aries (21 March to 19 April)

What Colour is the March Birthstone?

The March birthstone colour is a pale, watery blue. Aquamarine ranges from the faintest ice blue to a soft blue-green, like shallow water over white sand or the first clear sky after weeks of rain. When people talk about the March birthstone colour, this is the one they mean.

Bloodstone brings the contrast: a dark, mossy green scattered with spots of red, like berries on a forest floor. If you were born in March and pale blue has never felt like you, bloodstone is your stone.

Aquamarine Meaning: The Stone of the Sea

Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin aqua marina, meaning 'water of the sea', and its legends are every bit as salty. Sailors carried it as a talisman for calm waters and a safe voyage home, and old stories say it was the treasure of the mermaids, washed ashore from their jewel chests.

The aquamarine meaning is calm, courage and clear communication. Linked with the throat chakra, it is the stone we reach for before a difficult conversation or a leap into the unknown: cool, steady and quietly brave. It is a variety of beryl, which makes it a close cousin of emerald, and it is the traditional gift for a 19th wedding anniversary.

For the full story, wander over to our guide to aquamarine meaning and properties.

Bloodstone Meaning: The Warrior's Stone

Bloodstone is one of the oldest birthstones of all. Also known as heliotrope, from the Greek for 'sun turner', it was said to turn the sun red when dipped in water. Warriors in the ancient world carried it into battle as a charm for courage and endurance, and in the Middle Ages it was carved into seals and amulets and treasured as a stone of real power.

The bloodstone meaning is strength, bravery and vitality. Where aquamarine is a deep breath, bloodstone is a pair of sturdy boots: grounding, protective and ready for anything. It is linked with the root chakra, and it is a wonderful companion for anyone who needs a little grit and staying power.

For the full story, see our guide to bloodstone meaning and properties.

Why Does March Have Two Birthstones?

Bloodstone was the original March birthstone, worn for centuries. When jewellers drew up a modern birthstone list in 1912, they added aquamarine, a sparkling, transparent gem better suited to the faceted jewellery of the day. Happily, nobody took bloodstone away, so March babies get to choose.

Aquamarine or Bloodstone: Which March Birthstone is for You?

There is no wrong answer, but here is how we like to think about it.

• Choose aquamarine if you are a gentle soul and a dreamer, happiest near water, with a calm that others lean on.
• Choose bloodstone if you are a doer and a fighter, down to earth, loyal, and never one to back away from a challenge.
• Choose both if you are a March baby with a soft heart and a spine of steel. We approve.

March Birthstones and the Zodiac

March is shared by two signs, and the two stones suit them rather neatly. Dreamy, watery Pisces (19 February to 20 March) has long been paired with aquamarine, the stone of the sea. Bold, fiery Aries (21 March to 19 April) is a natural match for bloodstone, the warrior's stone. For more star-sign pairings, have a read of our guide to gemstone jewellery for your zodiac sign.

How to Wear and Care for March Birthstones

Both of these stones are happy to be worn every day. A little care keeps them looking their best.

• Aquamarine is hard and durable. Wash it in warm soapy water and dry it with a soft cloth to keep its sparkle.
• Bloodstone is tough too, but its polish can dull with harsh cleaners. A soft, damp cloth is all it needs.
• Store each piece on its own in a soft pouch so that harder gems cannot scratch it.

To keep the energy of your stones feeling fresh, have a read of our guide to cleansing your crystals. Running water is a lovely choice for aquamarine, and a night on the earth suits bloodstone down to the ground.

March Birthstone Necklaces and Gift Ideas

A March birthday lands just as the daffodils arrive, and a birthstone is a gift with a bit of that fresh-start feeling. Here are a few of our favourites.

• Our mini aquamarine heart necklace is a tiny faceted heart of sea-blue aquamarine on recycled sterling silver or 9ct gold, like a little drop of the ocean to keep close.
• For an everyday March birthstone necklace with an earthy twist, our bloodstone vegan silk necklace is light, simple and easy to layer.
• For lovers of sea blue, explore our handmade aquamarine jewellery, from raw crystal pendants to tiny hearts.
• For deep green and red, see all of our bloodstone jewellery.
• Looking for a March birthstone ring, or simply want to see everything? Explore the full March birthstone jewellery collection.
• Not sure which they would choose? Browse our gift ideas or let them pick with a gift voucher.

Every piece is cleansed, energy infused, vegan and cruelty free, and 5% of all proceeds go to Pacific Wild to help protect the Great Bear Rainforest.

March Birthstone FAQs

What is the birthstone for March?

March has two birthstones: aquamarine and bloodstone. Aquamarine is the modern stone and bloodstone is the traditional one.

What colour is the March birthstone?

Pale sea blue. Aquamarine ranges from icy blue to soft blue-green, while bloodstone is deep green with red flecks.

What does the March birthstone mean?

Aquamarine stands for calm, courage and clear communication. Bloodstone stands for strength, bravery and vitality.

Why does March have two birthstones?

Bloodstone is the original March stone. Aquamarine was added when the modern birthstone list was created in 1912, and both have been kept ever since.

Is aquamarine the same family as emerald?

Yes. Both are varieties of the mineral beryl. Aquamarine is the blue variety and emerald is the green.

What is the birthstone for Pisces and Aries?

Aquamarine is the stone most often paired with Pisces, and bloodstone is a classic match for Aries.

Can I wear aquamarine and bloodstone every day?

Yes. Both are durable stones. Store them separately and clean them gently to keep them at their best.

Explore More Birthstones

Shopping for another month? See every stone in our guide to birthstone jewellery by month, read up on February's amethyst or January's garnet, or lose yourself in our A-Z crystal guide.