March birthstones

March birthstones: Aquamarine and Bloodstone

March has two birthstones: Aquamarine and Bloodstone. GIA names Aquamarine as the main stone; the American Gem Society lists all 2.

Aquamarine

A member of the beryl family, which also includes emerald and morganite.

Colors: Pale sky blue to deep ocean blue, with little or no yellow
Mohs hardness: 7.5 to 8
Everyday wear: Good for everyday wear
Found in: Brazil (main source), Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia
Anniversary: 19th wedding anniversary

Roman fishermen called aquamarine "water of the sea" and carried it for safe travel and good fishing.

Aquamarine meaning, colors and care →

Bloodstone

A dark green chalcedony (a quartz) with red spots of iron oxide. Also called heliotrope or blood jasper.

Colors: Dark to lighter green with red or rust spots or stripes; solid green with visible red is valued most
Found in: India, Brazil, Australia, United States

Its red spots led to a link with Christ's blood at the cross, and it was believed to stop bleeding.

Bloodstone meaning, colors and care →

Which March birthstone should you choose?

Pick by color, budget and how the piece will be worn. Harder, tougher stones suit rings worn every day; softer ones last longer as pendants or earrings.

Stone	Mohs	Everyday wear	Warm soapy water	Ultrasonic
Aquamarine	7.5 to 8	Good for everyday wear	Safe	Usually safe, unless the stone has liquid inclusions or fractures
Bloodstone	n/a		Not covered	Not covered

Compare: Aquamarine vs Bloodstone

March birthstone gift ideas

The right piece depends on how tough the stone is. These suggestions follow GIA's hardness and toughness notes for each stone.

Stone	Best as	Why
Aquamarine	Rings, pendants and earrings	Durable for most jewelry, including rings, with a little care. Take rings off for heavy work.
Bloodstone	Ask the jeweler	Our sources do not rate this stone for wear.

For a mom: a pendant or bracelet with each child's birthstone. Mix tougher stones with delicate ones only in pendants.
For a partner: stud earrings or a simple pendant in her own stone are easy to wear with anything.
Before you buy: ask whether the stone has been treated, and get it in writing. Treatments change how a stone should be cleaned.

See every month in our birthstone gift guide by month.

Traditional March birthstones

Before the US list was standardized in 1912, the traditional stones for March were: Bloodstone, jasper. How the list changed.

Caring for Aquamarine and Bloodstone

Aquamarine: warm soapy water: safe; ultrasonic: usually safe, unless the stone has liquid inclusions or fractures; steam: usually safe, unless the stone has liquid inclusions or fractures. Details
Bloodstone: AGS advises a durable, secure setting for everyday pieces such as pendants and bracelets. GIA does not publish a bloodstone cleaning guide, so we give no cleaning advice for it. Details

Frequently asked questions

What is the March birthstone?

Aquamarine and Bloodstone. A member of the beryl family, which also includes emerald and morganite.

What color is the March birthstone?

Aquamarine: pale sky blue to deep ocean blue, with little or no yellow. Bloodstone: dark to lighter green with red or rust spots or stripes; solid green with visible red is valued most.

Why does March have 2 birthstones?

Extra stones were added to the US list by jewelry trade groups to give more choice of color and price (in 1952, 2002 and 2016).

Is the March birthstone durable?

Aquamarine is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale (good for everyday wear).

Sources: American Gem Society: Birthstones, GIA: The Beauty of Birthstones, and the GIA care guide and AGS overview for each stone (linked on its page). Checked October 16, 2026.