Aquamarine There should be thousands of words described the many shades of blue of the gemstone aquamarine. The name is derived from the Latin word 'aqua' meaning water and 'mare' meaning sea. Legend says mermaid treasure chests are the source of all aquamarine gems. Along with emerald, aquamarine is on of the more famous gem members of the beryl family of minerals. Almost all aquamarine today is heated which purifies its blue color by driving away the green. The heating of the stone has been an accepted practice for the gemstone. The value of aquamarine is based mainly on depth and purity of the blue color. Aquamarine has been a jewelry favorite since Edwardian Time when it was typically set in white metal. White metal makes aquamarine look icier. Roll gold gives it a sweet glow with a retro look. Set in yellow, aquamarine looks like a light color stone.
