But perhaps the most alluring characteristic of the stone is the lore behind its pristine hue.  Derived from the Latin word for “seawater,” aquamarine has been part of the tradition of the sea for thousands of years.  In his book Gemstones, Edward Gübelin poetically notes that the stone was thought to ensure seafarers a safe return home, and “round the ship of marital fortune, it weaves ribbons of faithfulness.  The aquamarine is the gemstone of all young people and all those who have remained young at heart.”

With a captivation of aquamarine and a dream of warmer climates, we were inspired to create pieces evoking crystal-clear water, glittering waves and all things sea and sun.  Just a few happy (and tropical?) thoughts to get us through the end of winter.

Paradise at Sea: The Quintessence Ring, in emerald, sapphire and aquamarine was inspired by the pop of green from the palm tree and the mix of the light blue sea and deep blue sky.

Crashing Waves:You can almost hear the sound of crashing waves on a perfect summer day with the Ariadne Band customized in aquamarine and a sunny yellow gold.

Relaxation on the Beach:  Taking in the scenic view while sitting on a pristine white beach chair sounds perfect right now and the Matilda Ring in aquamarine, sapphire and topaz is quite the vista as well.

Photo Credits: peoplestylewatch.com, instyle.com, fashionindie.com

Demure yet Distinct – Natalie Portman

Portman’s halo engagement style reflects a romantic, “vintage” feel with a round cut stone and double halo styling. It inspired us to create the same sentiment in our new style, the Eloise Ring. Customizing with rose gold evokes a feeling of a bygone era.

Pretty in Pink – Mariah Carey

There is no way anyone could miss Carey’s 15-plus carat stunner. An emerald cut in a light shade of pink perfectly reflects the diva’s over-the-top style and we had fun creating a similar look with our Olivia Ring in pink sapphire and pink tourmaline (and think Mariah would approve).

Timeless Tradition – Kate Middleton

Royal Family heirloom? Check.  A serious sapphire? Check.  Timelessness and tradition at its finest? Always.  Kate Middleton’s halo engagement ring could arguably be the best celebrity engagement ring ever, and our Princess Kate Ring in blue sapphire, diamond and platinum brings a sigh every time we hit the “done customizing” button.

The Proposal

Shawn and Molly were friends and college classmates before they began to date, finding a shared passion for skiing on a trip to Stowe, VT. Six years later, they returned to Stowe for a weekend with friends. The weather wasn’t on their side for skiing, but Shawn excitedly woke Molly up for a snowy hike. Molly wasn’t exactly enthused about the windy, icy trek, but the prospect of the sun gleaming off the fresh snow was enough to get her up and dressed. Bundled up, Shawn and Molly hiked up to the top of the hill where Shawn got down on one knee, dug through the layers of coats and sweaters keeping him warm, and presented Molly with “the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen in my life.” Shawn asked Molly to marry him… and it was a yes! Later, Shawn revealed to Molly that he woke her for that morning hike so she could enjoy the entire first day of being engaged, instead of just a night.

The Ring

As you might imagine, surprising a Gemvara employee with a ring from Gemvara.com can be a tricky matter. Luckily, Molly had previously gushed to fiancé Shawn about our Head of Customer Care, Stacey Scott and her casual, insider rapport with customers. When the time was right, Shawn knew exactly who to call with his top-secret plans. Through many phone calls and covert meetings (he was leery of email or texts in case Molly would see it), Shawn was able to create the stunning diamond engagement ring that Molly now can’t take her eyes off of. Molly’s ring is the Cecilia Ring in yellow gold with a sparkly center diamond with a diamond band. Shawn collaborated with Stacey and chose a custom size center stone, hand-selected by our expert jewelers – the Cecelia Ring comes in 1.2 and 3-carat versions on the website that can be customized with your choice of gemstones and metals. “I’ve always loved clean, simple and classic jewelry and when I joined the Gemvara team, this ring was instantly my favorite on the site,” Molly told us. As every piece of Gemvara jewelry is custom-made to order, the couple had not seen the ring in person beforehand but were thrilled with what they received.

“The diamond’s polish and cut are incredible. Both Shawn and I were blown away by the quality of the ring and couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

From all of us at Gemvara, congratulations Molly and Shawn on your engagement and many happy years to come!

THE ACCENT: Inspiration from Fashion

Adding an accent of emerald to a LBD with a sequined clutch or satin heels creates an eye catching ensemble. Similarly, customizing a piece with emerald as an accent stone allows for a hint of the color and turns heads as shown in our Alyssa Ring.

SHADES OF GREEN: Inspiration from Home Décor

Think of emerald as a jumping-off point to explore other green shades for the home. A bold green wall might not work for most décor, but a softer green can create a calm and rejuvenating space and is neutral enough to compliment almost any aesthetic. Choosing a lighter green stone like green amethyst creates the same effect.

JUST GO FOR IT: Inspiration from Beauty

Notice me nails in a metallic emerald shade is for the person who isn’t afraid to make the color front and center (at least for a few days). Take the same daring approach with a brilliant solitaire emerald in a modern style.

How will you be inspired by 2013′s Color of the Year?