These gemstones have a long history dating back to the ancient greeks where the term “Beryllus” was used to describe aquamarines that had a color resembling the greenish blue hues of the Aegean Sea. Beryls even back then were coveted gems that were used in jewellery of great value.

Another Beryl variety that has a rich history is Emerald. These often bright green gemstones have almost become synonymous with South American countries such as Columbia and Brazil, and have a deep rooted cultural significance here. Their story however starts in Egypt of all places, around 330 B.C., where they were first uncovered and adored by royalty such as Cleopatra.

It isn’t until much later that other varieties of Beryl are finally described such as Heliodor and Morganite, both being discovered around the 1910’s.

Beryl is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate, and it is relatively common in the Earth's crust.
However, the occurrence of gem-quality beryl, which includes well-known varieties such as emerald, aquamarine, and morganite is less common.

The rarity of gem-quality beryl depends on various factors, including the specific variety, color, clarity, and size of the crystals. For example, Pezzottaites and Bixbites are far rarer and more valuable than other beryl varieties due to their vibrant colors and extremely limited production.

Beryl deposits can be found in various locations around the world, including Brazil, Colombia, Zambia, Afghanistan, and Russia. The overall rarity of gem-quality beryl contributes to its value in the jewelry market, but it's important to note that while certain varieties and qualities of beryl are considered rare, the mineral itself is not exceedingly scarce in geological terms.

Emerald: Emeralds come in a varying range of greens but are all colored by Chromium and vanadium ions that are present in their crystal structure. The finest of which generally originate from the mines in Columbia.

Aquamarine: Aquamarines are the blue variety of Beryl and owe their color to Iron ions. The higher the concentration of these Iron ions the more saturated the color generally is. The most highly coveted aquamarines come from the long-closed Santa Maria mines in Brazil and tend to have a deep blue hue.

Morganite: These relatively new gemstones have colors ranging from a peachy salmon to vibrant pure pinks. The name Morganite actually was given to these gemstones in honor of the late Mr. J.P. Morgan, the US banker & Mineral enthusiast.

Heliodor: With colors that are various shades of yellow, their name is derived from the term “Helios” which refers to the sun.

Goshenite: In its purest form beryls are completely colorless, these gemstones are called Goshenites.

Bixbite: Bixbite forms in small hexagonal purplish red crystals and is only found in the Wah Wah mountains of Utah, They are considered to be amongst the rarest of the true beryls.

Pezzottaite: Pezzottaite is an exceptionally rare Caesium Analogue of Beryl that wasn’t discovered until 2003 in a remote location of Madagascar, they are coveted for their rich Orangish red to Magenta hue.

Lagoon beryl: An extremely rare variety of Beryl that is a sort of hybrid between Aquamarine and Emerald. They display color hues that are similar to those of Paraiba tourmalines.