With its gorgeous range of blues and greens, it’s not hard to see why the gem was named after the Latin word for seawater, and is said to symbolise eternal life, as well as youth, hope and fidelity.
In fact, aquamarine is thought to have a host of properties, including instilling courage, honesty, loyalty, heightened awareness and tranquillity, even in the most trying of circumstances. It’s also thought to have a soothing influence on married couples – perhaps why it is also the gem of choice for the 19th wedding anniversary.
According to Roman mythology, Neptune – god of the sea – considered aquamarines sacred and over the centuries sailors believed it offered protection from sea monsters and perilous voyages. The Greeks, meanwhile, often wore aquamarine amulets engraved with images of Poseidon, their god of the sea. The Egyptians and Sumerians also prized the aquamarine as a symbol of happiness and everlasting youth and the stone has often been found in ancient tombs. In Europe, during the Middle Ages, aquamarine was widely thought to be an antidote for poisoning, a fate that worried the upper classes more than you might imagine.
