SINGING THE BLUES
I was never a “blue” lover growing up. Though I wasn’t super girly, my childhood bedroom was pink, and magenta was the shade I loved best. Blue was dull, I thought, and a color reserved for boy things. Besides, blue was the color associated with sadness: “Why so blue?” my mom would ask if I returned from school with a frown on my face. Blue, for Picasso, represented a period in the painter’s life of very little success; and the monochromatic paintings reflected his somber mood.
But then I met aquamarine. Magnificent, clear, transparent aquamarine. Almost instantly, blue became an entirely different thing for me. Blue was the ocean (an everlasting love of mine); and the clear sky; and the beautiful eyes of my first boyfriend. Old traditional lore names aquamarine the favored, protective good luck charm for sailors; and the inspiration for optimism about love; and a healer — key to boosting our bodies’ immune systems through better hormone balance.
Whether one buys into the stone’s supposed ethereal properties or not, there’s no arguing that a clean, deep blue aquamarine gem is a beauty. In both big and small sizes, faceted stones and cabochons alike, aquamarine is an often used stone in my collection. I’m convinced that it’s the stone that complements absolutely everyone: Blondes, brunettes, redheads, and silver-haired women wear it beautifully. And aquamarine goes with everything too. No need for matching; the blue is neutral and easy to wear, like that favorite pair of jeans.