About AquamarineFrom mermaids to youAquamarine comes from the Latin aqua marina, "sea water." In some ancient stories, aquamarines were treasures protected by mermaids. In many cultures, people believe that they ensure a long, happy marriage. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. Color and pedigreeAquamarines range from light blue-green to blue with just a hint of green. Usually, they come from Brazil or Africa. Taking it homeAquamarine rates a 7 1/2 to 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. They are moderately scratch resistant but can fracture or break if they receive a sharp blow. Clean aquamarine jewelry with liquid jewelry cleaners, or just mild soapy detergent and water. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on aquamarine. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
