March's Birthstones: The Aquamarine & Bloodstone

Aquamarine Gemstone

In ancient days, they believed that there was a spiritual connection between the twelve stones on the breastplate of Aaron, the twelve zodiac signs, and the twelve months of the Roman calendar.  This is the basis for the different birthstones associated with each month. March (which is unique) has two birthstones:  aquamarine and bloodstone.

Aquamarine: the First Birthstone of March
Aquamarine means water, and the sea varies in color from deep blue to blue green and is considered cool; this color is associated with keeping the wearer calm and levelheaded:  cool under pressure! Often referred as the poor man’s diamond, it is with the same family of gemstones like morganite, emerald, and heliodor. The legend of aquamarine derives from the jewel caskets of sirens, coming ashore from the sea depths. These gemstones were very sacred, representing Neptune the Roman god of the sea. Aquamarine is believed to help heal a large number of ailments, mainly related to the jaw, liver, throat, and stomach. Its decorative use in eyeglasses is well-known and dates back almost 2000 years back.

Relationship to the Zodiac Sign
Aquamarine is the first birthstone of the month of March and is also the 19th wedding anniversary’s gemstone (how’s that for an interesting tidbit?). The Zodiac sign for this birthstone is Pisces (born between February 20 & March 20). Pisces is also the sign of the fish and is the twelfth sign in the zodiac calendar, its ruling planet is Neptune. The Aquamarine birthstone is associated with courage, faithfulness, and friendship.

Jewelry has made with the aquamarine gemstone for centuries, for all types of jewelry, from rings, brooches, pins, cufflinks, bracelets, pendants, earrings, to, of course, necklaces.  The aquamarine makes a wonderfully rich and tasteful gift, especially to those born under the sign of Pisces!

There is a poem written for March’s birthstone, can you guess the author?

"A March born shall always be
Soothed by Aqua, gem of sea
This mermaid's treasured stone you wear
Will bring happiness, love, affection and care."

The Other March Birthstone

The Bloodstone or Heliotrope

The second (or alternative) birthstone for March is the Bloodstone which is also known as Heliotrope. The stone’s properties make it ideal for carving and this gemstone is believed to increase vitality and have healing powers. Character traits associated with the Bloostone are courage and solace.

The Bloodstone is dark-green in color, jasper flecked, with vivid red spots of iron oxide (hence Bloostone!).  This gem in the ancient era was used by Babylonians to make seals and amulets, and is believed to possess healing powers especially associated with healing blood disorders.

So for your March births, here are your gemstones:  Aquamarine and the Bloodstone.  And don’t forget, a beautiful luxury jewelry box or standing jewelry armoire is a great place to store these and other treasures!

Guest Blogger, Noelle, ChasingTreasure.com

Luxury Jewelry Box for Your Treasures!

Engraved Plates for a Jewelry Box – That Personal Touch

Engraved Name - The Personalized Touch!

 An engraved name plate adds just the right personal touch to a jewelry box gift, and are available for ChasingTreasure's jewelry boxes, armoires, music boxes, & watch cases.

There are three basic types of personalization:  initials, monogram, and message.

The initials are of the recipient, not the giver (seems obvious, yes, but we have been asked!), and can be two or three initials.  In the case of two, the order will be the first letter of the first & last name, in that order.  If three initials, a middle name is added and the order is first, middle, last.

For monogram style, all three initials are used, with the order altered to be:  first name initial, last name, middle name, with the last name initial more prominent with a larger font.

Messages are obvious and can be the recipient’s name, or, more likely, a special event such as an anniversary, wedding, or engagement.  Longer messages can go to two lines, which is almost always the max number of lines for an engraved plate.  Obviously, the longer the message, the smaller the type, and we at ChasingTreasure limit to 23 characters total.

While many jewelry boxes comes with nameplates directly from the manufacturer, most are shipped separately, where the recipient affixes the plate to the jewelry box him/herself.  There is no concern about the quality of the attaching glue, as the adhesive used is extremely strong.  So strong, in fact, that you have to be very careful that you place it correctly the first time, as removing it will damage the underlying wood (a reason why we cannot accept returns with the plate attached).

Brass or nickel finish, script or block font, make up the selections.  The most popular choice is brass script, and arrives in 3 to 4 days from shipping, and the plates are laser engraved.

Whatever the occasion, an engraved plate gives a wonderful personal touch to be remembered through the years and decades to come, and a perfect luxury jewelry box gift for a wife!

Holiday Special - Receive a FREE Engraved name plate with any American Chest jewelry box purchase at ChasingTreasure.com, a $25 value.

Solid Cherry Hardwood Jewelry Box

Unique & Beautiful Holiday Gift for Her – A Jewelry Amoire

Large Jewelry Armoire - Traditional Design

Christmas is just around the corner. You are probably thinking about possible gifts for the special woman in your life – whether wife, mother, daughter, or niece. Consider a beautiful women’s jewelry box or jewelry armoire. These pieces make unique and beautiful gifts because they’re practical while making wonderful additions to her room’s decor.  ChasingTreasure has a large assortment of jewelry boxes to accommodate any size jewelry collection, any décor style, and any budget.  They are made from the most recognized manufacturers, making them well-constructed.  And the designs, even contemporary ones, will still look appropriate across the decades, reminding them of the giver for years and even generations to come.  Looking at the different options for jewelry armoires will help you decide which is right for the special woman in your life.

Jewelry armoires are wonderful gifts for women with a particularly large collection of jewelry and accessories, and the space to accommodate a dedicated piece of furniture.  Jewelry armoires are larger than jewelry boxes and are freestanding pieces of furniture. These floor-standing cabinets are usually between 32” & 45” tall and include drawers and an opening top for smaller pieces like rings, as well as a large mirror. The drawers are lined and most include dividers for easy organizing. The sides are full-length swing-out necklace doors with hooks to let necklaces hang, preventing the necklaces from tangling and breaking. The bottom drawers are usually open and deeper, for bedside delicates.  Her entire collection will be organized and the armoire itself will be an attractive addition to her room.

Besides keeping her collection organized, a jewelry armoire with a locking enclosure can also keep her collection secure. Many of the jewelry armoires ChasingTreasure stocks are locking – giving her the peace of mind that her treasured heirlooms and favorite accessories are safe.

Remember that when you gift a jewelry armoire from ChasingTreasure, you’re not only giving her a great way to organize her precious heirlooms and accessories: you’re also giving her a beautiful new piece of furniture:  her personal style and décor will come into play when selecting a style of jewelry armoire.

ChasingTreasure has many options for different types of woods, finishes, and styles. If the décor is traditional or understated, an oak jewelry armoire with traditional lines in a French provincial style would work well. Or, if she prefers antiques, a darker stain (such as a coffee finish) with antiqued brass hardware would fit in with her antique collection. If her décor is more exotic, an intricately detailed bamboo style armoire in cherrywood with carved columns and textured detail is perfect. If she prefers modern, sleek lines, a white or black armoire with carved diamond details on the façade and clean lines will fit well in her home. ChasingTreasure has the wood finishes, detailing, and hardware options to accommodate almost any bedroom style.

When you choose a free-standing jewelry armoire, she is sure to be happy this Christmas knowing you took her tastes and needs into consideration. Another consideration is your budget, of course. ChasingTreasure offers a wide range of price points for both jewelry boxes and jewelry armoires.  When visiting our site, you can find coupon codes on the checkout page to get additional discounts on our holiday pricing.  We also have a 30-day return or exchange policy.

There’s never been a more perfect time to get her a jewelry armoire:  a thoughtful, practical, and beautiful gift!

Locking Jewelry Armoire

Modern Design Jewelry Amoire

3 Reasons Why You Need to Place Your Jewelleries in a Safe Box

Luxury Jewelry Safe

Many people believe that the most secure and impregnable place to keep your valuables is on a safe deposit box. After all, banks are known to have the best 24/7 security and alarm systems.

However in the case of your precious jewelleries, a safe box is deemed a much better recourse so you can easily access them from time to time.

Here are three major reasons why you need to place your jewelries in a safe box instead of any ordinary box.
1. It provides protection against fire.
Since household fires are unpredictable, keeping your precious jewelleries in a safe box is a very sound idea. It will give you the much needed peace of mind knowing your priceless jewels are safe from any damage a fire can bring.
2. It protects against burglary.
Although most home safes don’t provide maximum protection against burglary, they are still deemed a practical and sound investment. When you buy one, make sure to choose a model that weighs about 100 pounds empty. The heavier it weighs, the higher the chance it will not be taken by thieves easily. In addition to being a less attractive target, most safe boxes also come with a bolt-down feature, making it an excellent deterrent to burglars.
3. It protects against water damages. 
Apart from being fire and theft proof, another additional feature a safe box can provide is its ability to provide protection against any damage water can bring. Keeping your priceless heirlooms in a safe box can help guarantee it is safe from damage or possible loss.

Other factors to take into account
Where to place it
The best place to stash away your safe usually depends on how your house is designed. Avoid placing your safe box in the master bedroom as it’s usually the area that gets ransacked first in the event of burglaries. If your house is situated in an area where flood is likely to occur, avoid placing it in the basement. If you wish to protect it against fire however, the basement is a better spot since there are lesser items down there to burn.
Where to purchase one
Home safes can be bought online or at hardware shops. If you like to buy online, make sure to check the shipping fee.

Taking all the benefits it has to offer, it’s safe to assume investing in a home safe box is without a doubt a wise and practical decision.

by ChasingTreasure.com guest blogger Mitchell Wakehurst