The March birthstone is aquamarine, a pale blue to blue-green gem in the beryl family whose name means water of the sea. Bloodstone, a dark green stone flecked with red, is the traditional alternative. Aquamarine is traditionally associated with calm and clear communication, and bloodstone with courage and vitality.
The stones
Color: Pale blue · Birth flower: Daffodil
March is a month of thaw and wind, when winter loosens its grip and the first real green appears. Its two stones capture both halves of that mood. Aquamarine is cool, clear and watery, like a shallow bay on a bright day. Bloodstone is dark and earthy, a green that looks like wet moss with scattered drops of red.
If you were born in March, you can choose either, and there is a good reason you have a choice: the month has an older traditional stone and a newer, more popular one. This page covers what each stone is, why they are linked to March, what they traditionally symbolize, and how to buy, give and care for them without spending more than you need to.
Which stones are March birthstones?
The modern March birthstone on the American Gem Society and Jewelers of America list is aquamarine. The traditional March stone is bloodstone, and both appear on the original 1912 list from the National Association of Jewelers. Over the decades aquamarine became the headline stone, while bloodstone is kept as the traditional alternative.
The two have very little in common physically. Aquamarine is a variety of beryl, the same mineral family as emerald, and its blue color comes from traces of iron. It is transparent, clean and fairly hard, at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Bloodstone, also called heliotrope, is a dark green chalcedony, a fine-grained type of quartz, spotted with red patches of iron oxide. It is opaque, around 6.5 to 7, and is usually cut as a smooth cabochon or carved into seals and beads.
Why more than one stone? Birthstone lists grew out of different traditions that did not match, and jewelers later updated them to reflect which stones were popular and available. Many months ended up with an older choice and a modern one. For March you can pick by taste: the cool brightness of aquamarine, or the earthy history of bloodstone. Neither is wrong, and plenty of people wear both.
March birthstone colors
March has two very different color stories. Aquamarine ranges from a barely-there pale blue to a saturated sea blue, sometimes with a hint of green. The most prized stones are a clear medium-to-deep blue that looks like tropical water. Many aquamarines naturally come out greenish and are gently heated to remove the green and leave a purer blue, which is a standard and widely accepted treatment.
A lighter stone can still look beautiful in sunlight, but it will appear paler in warm indoor light.
Bloodstone is dark green, almost black in some lights, with scattered red to rust-colored spots. The red is iron oxide, and it is those spots that gave the stone its name. A good bloodstone has a rich, even green and a clear scatter of red, rather than a muddy mixture.
March birthstone meaning and symbolism
Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin aqua marina, water of the sea. Because of that, it has long been tied to the ocean, and lore holds that sailors once carried it as a talisman for calm waters and a safe return. That is a story about belief, not a fact about the stone, but it has stuck. Today, aquamarine is traditionally associated with calm, clarity and honest communication, and in crystal lore with the throat chakra.
Bloodstone carries a stronger, older symbolism. In medieval legend, the red spots were said to be drops of Christ's blood that fell on green jasper at the crucifixion. This is a legend and not history, but it explains why bloodstone was carved with religious scenes and linked with courage, endurance and sacrifice. Ancient writers also associated heliotrope with sun and strength, which fits its name, from Greek words for sun and turn.
Aquamarine offers a reminder to cool down, speak clearly and let a tense moment settle. Bloodstone offers a reminder of persistence and resolve.
Neither stone cures illness or replaces medical or mental health care, and any meaning you take from them is personal.
History of the March birthstones
Bloodstone was used in ancient times for engraved seals, and it was carved in Europe through the Middle Ages, often for devotional objects, with India as an important source. Aquamarine was known to the Romans, who engraved it, and it was set in jewelry through the medieval and later periods.
A famous modern aquamarine is the Dom Pedro, carved into an obelisk from a huge crystal found in Brazil, which is now displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Brazil remains the best-known source of aquamarine, with other deposits in Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia and Pakistan.
On the birthstone side, the Breastplate of Aaron described in Exodus held twelve stones, and later writers such as Josephus and Jerome connected such stones to months or zodiac signs. That link is debated, because scholars cannot be sure which minerals the Hebrew names meant. The first standardized American list came from the National Association of Jewelers in 1912, which gave March both bloodstone and aquamarine. Later revisions, including the American Gem Society and Jewelers of America lists in use today, keep aquamarine as the modern stone and bloodstone as the traditional alternative.
Choosing and gifting a March birthstone
Aquamarine is hard enough for everyday jewelry, but it can show chips at the edges and may have inclusions, so look for a stone that is clear and well cut.
Gift ideas worth considering:
- A solitaire aquamarine pendant, the classic choice.
- A cocktail ring with a larger pale stone, which stays affordable for its size.
- A bloodstone signet ring or cabochon pendant for someone who prefers a traditional, earthy piece.
- Small aquamarine studs in white gold or silver.
If you want to spend less, bloodstone is usually inexpensive, and light blue topaz is a common substitute for aquamarine. Topaz is a different mineral, so a seller should label it clearly.
For care, wash aquamarine in lukewarm soapy water with a soft brush and dry it. It tolerates most cleaning, but avoid harsh chemicals and hard knocks. Clean bloodstone gently with a damp cloth, avoid long soaking and keep it away from sharp impacts, since it can chip.
Zodiac stones for March
March covers two signs: Pisces, from about February 19 to March 20, and Aries, from about March 21 to April 19. Zodiac stone lists come from a blend of traditions and differ from source to source, so these are common pairings rather than rules.
Aquamarine is the stone most often given to Pisces, the sign associated with imagination, compassion and the sea.
For Aries, the sign of beginnings, courage and initiative, bloodstone is a frequent traditional choice because of its association with bravery and its red flecks. Diamond is also often named for Aries on more modern lists.
If you were born in March, both aquamarine and bloodstone are yours, whatever your sign. A Pisces might lean toward the water blue, and an Aries toward the dark green with its red spots.
Frequently asked questions
What is the March birthstone?
The modern March birthstone is aquamarine, a pale blue to blue-green variety of beryl. Bloodstone, a dark green stone with red spots, is the traditional March birthstone. Both date from the 1912 jewelers' list, and either one is a correct choice for someone born in March.
What color is the March birthstone?
Aquamarine is light to medium blue, sometimes with a touch of green, and its color comes from iron. Bloodstone is dark green with red or rust-colored flecks of iron oxide. March birthstone colors are therefore blue for the modern stone and green with red for the traditional one.
Does March have two birthstones?
Yes. Aquamarine is the modern stone and bloodstone is the traditional one. They are different minerals: aquamarine is beryl, while bloodstone is a green chalcedony spotted with iron oxide. Both appeared on the original 1912 list, so you can wear either as your March birthstone.
What does the March birthstone mean?
Aquamarine is traditionally linked with calm, clarity and the sea, since its name means water of the sea. Bloodstone is traditionally linked with courage and endurance. These are symbolic associations from lore, not medical claims, and neither stone replaces medical or mental health care.
What is the March birth flower?
The March birth flower is the daffodil, one of the first bright blooms of spring. It is often seen as a symbol of renewal and new beginnings. Its sunny yellow makes a cheerful companion to aquamarine in a birthday bouquet or gift card.
Angel number meanings are for reflection and inspiration. They are not predictions, and they are not medical, legal or financial advice.