Aquamarine is a transparent precious stone of a tender blue or greenish-blue colour, a variety of beryl (a relative of the emerald). Its name comes directly from the Latin aqua marina — 'sea water', which perfectly describes its transparent, fresh, wave-like hue. Historically aquamarine was considered a stone of sailors, giving protection on voyages and calm; it symbolises purity, youth and fidelity. The stone has fine transparency and a glassy lustre, facets well, and large clear specimens are especially valuable. Its tender colour makes jewellery fresh and elegant. Aquamarine is a transparent precious stone the colour of sea water, in which a fresh, tender blue combines with an ancient symbolism of the sea, purity and protection, giving jewellery a feeling of cool, crystalline and calm elegance.