Characteristics of Aquamarine • Aquamarine is a blue-green variety of the mineral beryl, which also includes emerald. The gemstone's name comes from the Latin word aqua marina, which means "sea water." • The color of aquamarine can range from pale blue to deep green- blue, with the most valuable stones having a vivid blue color. Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, making it a durable gemstone suitable for everyday wear.