March has two stones on both lists: aquamarine, a clear sea-blue gem, and bloodstone, a dark green stone flecked with red.
The two lists for March
Modern list (American Gem Society): Aquamarine, Bloodstone
Traditional list (United Kingdom, National Association of Goldsmiths, 1937): Aquamarine, Bloodstone
There is no single official birthstone list, so you are free to choose whichever you prefer. You can check any month with our birthstone finder.
About the stones
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is beryl, the same mineral family as emerald, coloured blue to blue-green by iron. It has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 and is found in Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria and Madagascar, among other places. The name is Latin for seawater, and sailors’ folklore connected the stone with safe voyages.
Bloodstone
Bloodstone is dark green chalcedony with red flecks of iron oxide, known since antiquity, often under the name heliotrope. A medieval Christian legend holds that the red spots are drops of Christ’s blood at the crucifixion, which is how the stone came to be called bloodstone. It is folklore rather than history, but it explains the name.
How the idea developed
March is a month where both lists agree on a pair, and the pair is unusual: one transparent gem and one opaque, dark stone. Bloodstone, in particular, is a reminder of how old the tradition of stone-and-month pairing is, since it is a stone long known from the ancient world. The modern American list, which goes back to the list adopted in the United States in 1912, and the 1937 United Kingdom list both keep the pair.
For the wider history of the idea, see our birthstones overview. The modern list follows the American Gem Society, and the traditional list follows the 1937 United Kingdom list, both summarised in Wikipedia, Birthstone.
A different system
Vedic gemstone (ratna) guidance is a different system from birthstones. It is tied to the nine planets and to a birth chart, not to the calendar month, and it belongs to the Vedic tradition, which is covered on our sister site, Nidarshana Vedh. Nothing on this page is Vedic advice.
A note on health. Crystals are valued for beauty, meaning and ritual. There is no scientific evidence that they treat health conditions. If you are struggling with your health or mood, please speak to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which March stone should I choose?
Either. Aquamarine is clear and blue and suits faceted jewellery. Bloodstone is opaque and dark and is often carved or set as a cabochon.
↳ Is bloodstone the same as heliotrope?
Yes, heliotrope is an older name for the same stone, from a Greek word connected with the sun.