Birthstones by Month > 5 Choices of March Birthstone

5 Choices of March Birthstone

What is the birthstone for March? In fact the question is more correctly asked, what are the birthstones for March? There are all in all five birthstones of March, the third month of the year. What are these different March birthstones? In this article we explore the 5 types of March birthstone.

Milky Aquamarine Necklace
Milky Aquamarine Necklace

Time to read:

4 minutes

March Birthstones

  • Modern: Aquamarine & Bloodstone
  • Traditional: Bloodstone & Jasper
  • Tibetan: Jade
  • Indian: Gold Siva-linga

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is the primary modern birthstone for March, having taken the place of bloodstone in 1952. Aquamarine is also a zodiac stone for Pisces, which falls partly on the month of March. This March birthstone is the blue variety of beryl, which when green is called emerald, and when yellow heliodor. The March gemstone is believed to stimulate youthful happiness, and by doing so relieve anxiety.

Aquamarine Ring
A cut of aquamarine crystal set on a ring
Source: Frankrubiojewelry via Wikimedia Commons

See also —

Bloodstone

Who in this world of ours their eyes
In March first open shall be wise,
In days of peril firm and brave,
And wear a bloodstone to their grave.

— Gregorian birthstone poem

Bloodstone
A polished piece of bloodstone
Source: Ra’ike via Wikimedia Commons

Bloodstone, also known as heliotrope, is the traditional, as well as alternate modern, birthstone for March. Bloodstone was likewise the March birthstone in the ancient Roman, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew and old Hindu calendar. Before the gemstone became the birthstone of March in these ancient calendars, bloodstone was the zodiac stone for Aries and Pisces, both zodiac signs falling partly on the month of March. From this it is obvious that the ancients deeply regarded bloodstone as the gemstone for March.

Bloodstone is a deep green variety of chalcedony speckled with red spots, which are usually red jasper. This March gemstone was commonly worn by warriors and athletes in antiquity. This is because, the March stone is believed to bestow courage, as well as enhance physical strength. See also Bloodstone: Stone of Freedom.

Red Jasper Necklace
Red Jasper Necklace

Jasper

Jasper is a traditional birthstone for March. Jasper was also the March birthstone in the ancient Russian, Italian and Hebrew calendar. Before the gemstone became the birthstone of March in these ancient calendars, jasper was the planetary stone for Aries, which falls partly on the month of March. This March gemstone is an opaque variety of chalcedony commonly occurring in red, and usually composes the red inclusions found in the main traditional March stone, bloodstone. Jasper is believed to balance positive and negative energy, thereby helping to stabilize one’s personality.

White Jade Bracelet
White Jade Bracelet

Jade

Jade is the birthstone for March in the old Tibetan calendar. Jade is likewise a zodiac stone for Pisces, which falls partly on the month of March. This March birthstone consists of two chemically unrelated minerals, namely, jadeite and nephrite. Either stone for March is held to be a symbol of love and virtue. In addition, these March stones are believed to enhance physical strength. See also Jade: Stone of Fortune.

Siva-linga
A siva-linga in a Hindu temple
Source: Vaikoovery via Wikimedia Commons

Gold Siva-linga

Gold siva-linga is the birthstone for March in the Hindu calendar. This March birthstone refers to a variety of flesh-colored jasper with thick streaks of brown. The March gemstone is a highly sacred gemstone in Hinduism, too sacred that the gemstone is never actually cut to make into jewelry.

March Birthstone Color

What color is March birthstone? Bloodstone being the traditional and modern birthstone for March, as well as the March gemstone in many ancient calendars, green, the color of bloodstone, may have been the primary March birthstone color. Jade, the gemstone for March in the old Tibetan calendar, is also most popularly green, and hence reinforces green as the March color.

However, the shift in primary modern birthstone for March to aquamarine changes this. Aquamarine is light blue, making blue the birthstone color for March.

A few other colors may be identified as birthstone color for March. Jasper, the most widely accepted March stone in ancient calendars next to bloodstone, is commonly red, and is present in bloodstone as the latter’s red inclusions. Accordingly red may very well be the March stone color next to green. Gold siva-linga, the birthstone of March in the Hindu calendar, is brown in color, and brown is the mixture of red and green, the foremost March colors. In this light, brown is also a viable candidate to be the color of March birthstone.

Featured image credit: Aquamarine gemstone by Frankrubiojewelry via Wikimedia Commons

Exciting Discovery

In my extensive research on birthstones, I discovered that one of the March gemstones was never actually prescribed for jewelry, but for a phallic symbol. It was not the only month stone of this kind, either.

You can read about these curious gems, as well as the magical powers of all birthstones, in my book Power Birthstone.

Power Birthstone

Learn about your birthstone and zodiac gems

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