Aquamarine is the light blue to the deep dark blue and greenish-blue variety of beryl mineral group. The name aquamarine comes from the Latin “aqua” meaning “water” and “marina” meaning “of the sea”, as the colour of this beautiful gemstone reminds calm sea waters lapping the white sandy island shores.
Aquamarine has been used as jewellery for at least 3000 years with references in Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Sumerian writings. However, at that time, the gemstone was called “sea-green beryl”. The earliest known use of “aquamarine” in connection with the gem was in Anselmus de Boodt’s gemological work, Gemmarum et Lapidum Historia (History of Gems and Stones) published in 1609.