After weeks of temperatures in the teens, today's weather in NYC is suddenly a spring-like 48 degrees and sunny. The day's "fake spring" teasing aside, I'm ready to embrace the next season. The easiest place to start? My manicure—and I've found a stunning choice that screams spring but is muted and chic enough to wear the rest of winter too: aquamarine nails.
Aquamarine is the birthstone of March, the month spring makes her long-awaited debut. The name “aquamarine” is derived from two Latin words: aqua, meaning “water,” and marina, meaning “of the sea,” according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It's no surprise the gem's color is a light pastel greenish blue, but "heat treatment usually gives it a more bluish appearance," explains the GIA. Not only do shades of aquamarine look gorgeous as a spring and winter nail color (evidence of that below), but lore says it's able to "calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea," "enhance the happiness of marriages," and "quickens the intellect."
If you're ready to embrace the waning days of winter and evoke the start of spring with your manicure, let March's aquamarine birthstone be your guide. Ahead, eight aquamarine-inspired manicures we adore and the polishes we recommend.
1 / 8
Icy Blue
A coat of essie's Sky Jelly ($9) and a coat of Cosmic Chrome ($11) result in a light-reflecting icy blue that's reminiscent of winter seas.
2 / 8
Water Micro Tips
We have yet to see a color that doesn't look pretty as a micro French, and this pastel blue—specifically, Riveria by Manucurist ($14)—is no exception.
3 / 8
Aquamarine Ombré
Shades of robin's eggs blues and sea foam greens play pretty together in this airy, ombré mani. The rhinestones give it an extra luxe touch.
4 / 8
Cloudy Chrome
Leaning more on the green scale, this chrome manicure was created using "dusty pastels" and chrome powder, according to nail artist Alexandra Teleki.
5 / 8
Shine Bright
essie's Rock Your World ($7) may not be the first polish that comes to mind when you hear "aquamarine," but we see an undertone of pastel blues and greens as the shimmer reflects the light. We can't skip a shiny sparkle!
6 / 8
Stormy Seas
If you love milky manicures, check out this manicure that evokes stormy whites and grays with muted green and a hint of blue. Aka, the perfect winter-to-spring neutral nail.
7 / 8
Bright Beauty
Back to a more traditional aquamarine, this solid color manicure was created with essie's Flight of Fantasy ($6), a a muted, pastel blue nail polish with yellow undertones and a cream finish.
8 / 8
Magnetic March Manicure
Celebrity nail artist Betina R. Goldstein created this magnetic manicure with an emerald green jelly gel polish base, followed by a translucent silver magnetic gel and then a blue jelly nail polish on top. To see the video, click here.
Aquamarine-Esque Nail Polishes
