Article Highlights
Blue is one of the most common gemstone colors used in jewelry. The color is alluring to the eye which makes it a favorite in many gemstones. There are many blue gemstones you can choose from including the rare blue diamonds and the blue chalcedony. Typically, blue can be used to denote knowledge, power, stability, depth, calmness, and gravity.
Blue is also known to symbolize trust, faith, truth, and confidence. We cannot deviate from the fact that blue is also really attractive. Gemstones made of blue are beautiful with all their textures, vividness, and shades. These are among the many reasons why blue is mostly used for engagement rings. By now we agree that blue is excellent for a gemstone.
However, you need to understand that blue appears in various forms in gemstones and it can be hard to pick the best. That is why this guide is here to assist and give you more information on blue gemstones. That should help you sort them and pick your ideal jewelry.
Sapphire
Blue sapphire is a popular gemstone envied by many people. It is among the most sought-after gemstones for making engagement rings. The common sapphire color known to many people is white-blue. This sapphire can also be found in diverse colors. Blue sapphire is composed of corundum and it glows blue because of the iron and titanium present.
Among the natural gemstones in jewelry, blue sapphire comes second to diamonds in hardness. However, sapphire is more resistant to chipping and breaking meaning it is tougher than the mineral diamond. Blue sapphire that bears purplish tints is loved by many while greenish tints sapphires are not valuable. Blue sapphires are cheaper than diamonds though still pricey.
Tourmaline (Indicolite and Paraiba)
Blue tourmaline appears in two diverse forms. These include the indicolite tourmaline and Paraiba tourmaline. Paraiba tourmaline orchestrates a luminescent blue color that is vivid. Whereas the counterpart indicolite has dark and light shades of the color blue. This is one rare gemstone and is normally found in very tiny sizes.
Probably will be found under one carat. A vast majority of the blue tourmaline appears in greenish tints. These blue stones are, however, very valuable and coveted. The gemstone is also durable and very tough. That technically means a piece of jewelry made of blue tourmaline can be very long-lasting.
Aquamarine
From its name you can easily tell that this is a gemstone bearing the color of the sea. This stone has a sea-blue color and it is highly valued for its relaxation and calmness evoked by the blue shades. Aquamarine is categorized as a beryl family member alongside other stones such as morganite and emerald.
The gemstone is generally hard with Mohs 8 rating and bears perfect clarity. It is also very tough meaning the stone cannot be easily chipped. Deep blue gemstones are known to be very valuable. The color of this stone is enhanced by heating which is a typical industry standard.
Spinel
Many people call blue spinel an imposter in the jewelry world. That is because, for the longest time, the gemstone has been confused for sapphires. Spinel consists of magnesium aluminate. The gemstone can also be located in mines containing corundum varieties. Blue spinel is very attractive and eye-clean. The stone has a lot of brilliance and although rare, it is not an expensive stone. The gemstone is also not as valuable which makes it affordable.
Turquoise
It is a very unique gemstone. It can be easily identified as it is the only jewelry named after its color. The gemstone is opaque and has some inclusions that look like veins known as matrix. Pure blue turquoise with no inclusions is very valuable and desired by many. This beautiful stone is formed by seeping water via rocks rich in minerals.
Chemical reactions then happen which lead to the formation of unique and colorful gemstones. Turquoise is soft and ranks at 5 to 6 Mohs. The stone is, however, porous making it vulnerable to damage and breakage upon exposure to other chemicals. Jewelry made of turquoise stone ought to be well maintained to maintain its integrity.
Blue Diamond
These are the rarest gemstones in all the diamond varieties and probably the most expensive. The stone receives its magical blue color from the boron traces during formation. Blue diamonds bear similar properties to colorless diamonds but with exceptional fire and brilliance. Diamonds are known to be the hardest stones but the blue diamond is categorically not among the toughest.
This stone can break when knocked hard. Some stones will bear greenish tints while some have the Fancy Deep that is admired by many.
Chalcedony
It is a low-cost gemstone with a lovely translucence. Its magnificence has prompted a resurgence in its popularity. Chrysocolla which is blue-hued chalcedony bears lavender or gray secondary hues. However, there is a new variety of chalcedony that is colored by chromium and nickel. This variety bears bright blue-green hues.
Typically, it is marketed as aquaprase. Mostly the lapidaries will create carvings or cabochons from chalcedony to show off its translucence and color.
Jeremejevite
Jeremejevite is another very rare mineral in the world. This gemstone is found in countable places across the globe. Some specimens from Namibia believed to be jeremejevite show some light aquamarine-blue hues. Despite being rare, a good number of lapidaries have managed to facet this stone. The gemstone does not have any reported cleavage and can make durable jewelry wear.
Dumortierite
If you are in search of a unique and beautiful cabochon, then dumortierite is your ideal jewelry option. Appearing in blue and at times in violet-blue, this stone can be rare but very elegant and exquisite. Few pieces of the gemstone can be faceted since it is rare and occurs in crystalline form. Some specimens of the stone contain quartz which creates alluring structures resembling a lush coral reef.
Sapphirine
These are the blue hues that look like sapphire. The gemstone could possess blue to blue-green hues that could be dark or light. Facetable and fine crystals of sapphirine can be collectible and quite rare. Transparent specimens were found in Sri Lanka but other areas do not give out high-quality sapphirine. However, the gem is quite durable and can be used for jewelry since it has poor cleavage.
Hawk’s Eye
These gemstones are truly admirable and loved by many. They are pleasing to the eyes and contain delightful chatoyancy. The stone is a blue version of the renowned tiger’s eye. However, the tiger’s eye is covered in golden brown due to the iron found in the stone. Hawk’s eye does not have golden brown but bears the titanium blue color. This gemstone can make graceful jewelry to brace important occasions.
Blue Jadeite
This gemstone was once a favorite stone among the ancient Mayans. The gemstone is very rare and extremely hard to find. It is greyish in color and only found in Guatemala. However, jadeite is among the toughest gemstones you will ever come across. The stone is widely known for the musical qualities it bears. Hitting this stone with a hammer makes it ring just like a bell.
The gemstone is specialized which means evaluating all its pieces is very complicated. Most of the people who search for this stone are gemstone collectors. China is known to possess a high affinity for this stone and currently has a strong market for jadeite.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is fairly newly discovered. The gemstone’s earliest deposits were discovered in 1967. Tanzanite is significantly rare and ranges from $75 – $1500. The stone is popular for its violet to deep blue color that produces magnificent jewelry. However, some tanzanite may appear in different colors with some having pale shades.
Such tanzanite is not popular since it is not that attractive. However, lapidaries will pass the pale shades of tanzanite through fire to smoothen their color and make them appealing. Many people use tanzanite as a substitute for highly-priced blue gemstones. The stone has a low hardness meaning it is only ideal for pendants and earrings. Although the stone was recently discovered, the deposits may drop significantly making its price shoot soon.
Moonstone
It is a June birthstone that bears a rather unique sheen known as adularescence. In a number of specimens, the sheen looks like a blue cloud floating in a white milky stone. However, the highest quality moonstone bears a bright and rather medium blue adularescence that appears to be embedded on a body that has no color. Lapidaries will carve such gemstones using high domes. The feldspar is somehow soft and can easily chip when hit by another object or dropped. It is advisable to store it carefully and not with other stones.
Iolite
From one angle Iolite appears light yellow and from another angle, it appears dark blue which is a beautiful sight to behold. There is also some historical importance attached to this gemstone. Some experts believe that this stone is the famous “Viking Sunstone” that was used in navigating the sea back then. The stone can easily break if not handled correctly.
Apatite
Apatite means a group of minerals but most of the time it is used for the apatite gem. The apatite gems are known to appear in various colors. However, the most spectacular color includes neon blue-green and bright from Brazil. These gems are very brittle and heat sensitive which means you have to be careful with this stone. Do not use heated cleaning systems when cleaning apatite.
Larimar
Found in the Dominican Republic, a fibrous mineral known as pectolite forms a dense blue stone known as Larimar. While some believe the stone is quite tough, it rates at 6 Mohs meaning it can be scratched easily. It is a rare gem that is not easily found and can be given to gem collectors as a unique gift. It can also be used as a dazzling souvenir.
Benitoite
If you are not able to purchase a blue diamond, benitoite can act as a great alternative. This stone bears more dispersion than diamond even though it is cheaper than blue diamond. The unique California gemstone is loved by many for its bright fire and deep blue color. However, it can be scratched as it rates at 6.5 Mohs. You should, therefore, protect it as jewelry to make it last longer.
Zircon
Zircon is an underappreciated yet stunning gemstone. The stone has a dazzling fire and brilliance which makes it wonderful for jewelry. Most of the time zircon will be confused with cubic zirconia which is a synthetic material and most buyers overlook zircon and go for other gems. It is a December birthstone with bright blue hues that make it very attractive. Even though the gemstone may easily chip, it is a great choice for jewelry as it is affordable and delightful.
Lapis Lazuli
It is one of the oldest gemstones available. Lapis lazuli is thousands of years old and bears the bold royal blue color. This stone is also among the most famous blue gemstones found in the world. Even though the stone is prone to scratching, it is fairly tough and because it is easily available and sold at a low cost, lapis is easily replaceable once it is damaged.
While many people prefer the deep blue or the solid blue color, most American gemstone collectors and fanatics would rather go for the pyrite inclusions. They manifest as dark blue stones resembling the stars at night. The major mining source of this stone is northeast Afghanistan.
Topaz
It is a November birthstone that is famous for its yellow and reddish hues. However, heat treatment and irradiation have cultivated the urge to possess these precious blue topaz stones. Treating the stone brings out a stable color that is safe and elegant for use as jewelry. While the stone is prone to chipping, the risk can be reduced by applying the right cutting angles.
Opal
Opal is an October birthstone that appears in a category of its own. It is without a doubt among the most alluring gemstones. The stone bears folklore and blue hues. The stone’s magnificent colors resemble sunlight upon hitting the surface of the ocean. Both precious and common opals are very attractive and appealing to the eye.
However, the stones are not very tough meaning they can easily crack when used as jewelry. Other opals from various mines may crack when exposed to direct heat. The gem is covered using a hard stone to prevent it from being scratched. Taking good care of the gem as jewelry will make it last longer.
Lazulite
Faceted lazulites are not ideal for jewelry. That is because they are very rare and also brittle. The stone is always mistaken for some other blue gemstones. Lazulite is difficult to cut and identify too. The phosphate mineral which is basically aluminum phosphate and magnesium often appear as grains, glassy crystals, quartz veins, and granite pegmatites.
The stone can be found in Vastara, Sweden; Werfen, Austria; Mocalno, California in the US and in Brazil. The availability of cleavage planes on lazulite easily differentiates it from lapis lazuli. This gemstone is often subtranslucent or opaque. However, some transparent granular pieces can be cut en cabochon.
Iron can at times be used as a substitute for the magnesium in the structure of the gem. The elegant blue hues in this gem make it a perfect collection choice for collectors.
Grandidierite
If there is one rare gemstone in the world currently it is grandidierite. Getting above 2 carats of the gemstone is almost next to impossible. Many of the specimens discovered of this gem are translucent. However, in Madagascar there was some specimen discovered that introduced the transparent stone to the gemstone market.
Grandidierite being a blue-green mineral is quite resistant but may chip when accidentally dropped or knocked. The stone is highly-priced and has an extreme rarity. That means replacing this gem would not be an easy task. You will have to sweat it off.
Blue Akoya Pearls
To many people, pearls are white and ivory colors only. However, there are some rare blue pearls that have been discovered. The gems contain a blue tint and have a coveted luster just like the white Akoya pearls. They are pretty rarer though.
The pearls have been rejected for the longest time by farmers but now seem to be gaining traction. Today almost everyone is looking for this gem as they are soft and elegant. You need to take good care of them to avoid scratches and chipping.
Azurite
Azurite is a popular stone among hobbyists and collectors due to its bold blue colors. This gem is confused with lapis lazuli most of the time. It forms with malachite. Opaque green and blue cabochons are obtained from this gem by lapidaries. Understand that face table crystalline material is not easily found and cutting the gem above one carat would turn out to be too dark.
Azurite is widely recognized for its violet-blue color. The deep blue color is known as azure where the gem coined its name from. The color resembles skies seen over deserts or the deep blue evening color in the sky. Azurite is categorically a secondary mineral and usually forms when water filled with carbon dioxide goes down the earth’s surface and reacts with the copper ores.
The gem can be used to make jewelry and taking good care of the stone will result in a long-lasting piece of jewelry.
Kyanite
It is a very unusual gem. Kyanite has a hardness that can vary from 4 and go up to 7.5. It all depends on the crystal axis. This gemstone also has inclusions and appears as a grayish-blue gem. Some lapidaries have, however, faceted the gem despite being regarded as a brittle stone and its cleavage.
The mineral is mostly found among metamorphic rocks and forms due to high-pressure alteration in the clay minerals.
Labradorite
Upon proper orientation, some specimens of labradorite showcase a stunning blue sheen. The effect is known as labradorescence and comes as a result of twinned mineral planes. The material has a rich and diverse color range from yellow to colorless. Inclusions like copper and hematite bring about all the differences in the color ranges.
Hobbyists love the opaque to translucent labradorite which showcases green, golden Schiller, and blue colors. This gem appears classic when polished due to the blue sheen. Faceted labradorite creates a magical jewelry stone.
Sodalite
Sodalite is an opaque blue mineral that can also be used for jewelry. This material is used mostly by lapidaries for beads, cabochons, and carvings. Sodalite is a famous component of lapis lazuli and is admired by many due to the glorious colors it exhibits. However, sodalite is cheap even if it appears in significant sizes.
The gem has a low hardness level meaning it can scratch easily. However, the gemstone cannot break easily. It manifests elegantly as a piece of jewelry.
Sillimanite
Also known as fibrolite, because of its fibrous form. Sillimanite also bears beautiful crystals even though it is fairly hard. The gem is brittle and may fracture quite easily. It possesses a great challenge to lapidaries as working on such a delicate mineral is hard. The gem appears commonly in a pale-yellow stone color.
The gemstone can also showcase pale blue hues just like aquamarine. However, most of the dark blue specimens are dyed out by lapidaries.
Shattuckite
Shattuckite was initially discovered in Bisbee, Arizona in a mine (Shattuck). It is a copper silicate that bears similar colors to turquoise. The mineral is not easily discovered as large crystals. Instead shattuckite pseudomorphs after malachite. The gem is brittle and soft on its own. It is often mixed with quartz in huge deposits.
When such deposits are discovered, you are sure the gem material will be durable. It also occurs in blue-green and bright blue colors.
Smithsonite
Smithsonite consists of zinc carbonate and it is soft and brittle. The faceted versions of this gem can, however, showcase spectacular dispersion. This brilliant fire makes it prime among gem enthusiasts. The stone is quite desirable because of its elegance. The mineral can also occur in a plethora of colors. Favorites for mineral collectors include blue-green and blue materials. For several years, collectors have marveled at the gems from New Mexico and some yellowish stones from Namibia. Smithsonite, however, exists in diverse colors which include pinks, purples, and apple greens.
There are references that cite cadmium in this gem as the reason why it has a yellow color. The presence of cobalt is also said to be responsible for the pink color while copper brings about the blue and green colors.
Regardless of what color the gem is, the stone has perfect cleavage and low hardness. That means the gemstone is vulnerable to chipping or breaking upon impact. However, when taken good care of, the stone can last long as jewelry.
Vivianite
Vivianite is very soft that a fingernail could easily put a mark on it. One thing about this stone is that when exposed to much light, it is going to darken. Almost all the specimens found will come from the ground in a colorless bearing only some pale green hue. This gemstone will easily darken and become deep blue over time.
The gem is very difficult to work on and cut since it is extremely soft. However, some lapidaries have been able to cut it and use it to make jewelry.
Halite
Halite is among the tastiest gems you will ever come across. Halite is also known as sodium chloride which is salt. Some defects that happen in the crystal lattice result in violet and royal blue colors. The mineral collectors, however, look for perfect cubic crystals. Because of the perfect cleavage, solubility, brittleness, and low hardness, lapidaries find it hard to facet this stone.
Hemimorphite
It is a zinc silicate mineral with rich to pale blue colors. The crystalline hemimorphite is very rare but cabochons exist in massive quantities. There are some mineral specimens that contain microcrystalline material. They will also contain facetable and large crystals. However, you need to understand that this gem is quite soft and brittle which means only the faceted stones are ideal for collection.
Scorodite
It is a brittle and soft iron arsenate mineral. That technically means the gem is delicate for a piece of jewelry. The arsenic content in the gem could be a good reason why you are not to wear this gem. Arsenic could leach out when the scorodite is exposed to water even though it is not that poisonous in its mineral form.
Some large crystals that can easily be faceted may occur as scorodite but it is not a common occurrence. Nevertheless, some lapidaries have showcased their masterclass with this blue gemstone as they have successfully worked on this mineral. In case you choose to work on this gem, it is advisable to take precautionary measures. Thoroughly wash your hands and avoid inhaling any mist or dust from the stone.
Cavansite
It is found in India, a place known as Pune. The cavansite crystals bear an alluring blue hue. However, the transparent and large specimens that can be easily faceted are very rare. The druzy or huge cavansite can be put on as jewelry. You should also understand that these stones are brittle and soft. They could give lapidaries a hard time to work on.
Fluorite
Fluorite appears in different colors. That includes some rare color changes which alternate from blue to violet when under natural light and when under incandescent light. This gem can be found in significant sizes. However, it is a soft mineral with only a rating of 4 on Mohs.
Agate
Agate is a category of chalcedony which is cryptocrystalline quartz. It can, however, be distinguished from other chalcedony gems through the moss-like inclusions and color patterns. The gem can occur in different vivid colors. That is due to the traces of manganese, chromium, iron, nickel, and titanium among other minerals.
This gem is tough enough to be cut and used as jewelry. It showcases a wonderful polish and designers love using its unique properties to come up with fascinating and impressive pieces.
Chrysocolla
The gem may appear as pure blue which fascinates collectors. A fine blue gem with a little pinch of silica is known to crumble easily and is not advisable for jewelry use. The blue-green Eilat gemstone contains malachite, chrysocolla, and turquoise among other stones. This stunning gemstone was named after a city in Israel where it is mined.
Dumortierite Quartz
It is a blue-colored quartz that has several dumortierite inclusions. It is a rare gem and among the unusual blue gemstones on earth. Dumortierite was coined by a French paleontologist who was known as Eugene Dumortier. Most of the time this gem will be braced as an ornamental stone. The stone can be found in eastern France while other sources include Washington, Nevada, and Colorado.
Blue Garnet
Back in time, garnet was believed to occur in different other colors except for blue. That was until 1998 when the blue garnet was discovered in southern Madagascar. The other stunning thing about this gemstone is that it changes colors. It can change from blue to purplish pink which looks really fascinating.
However, it is incredibly rare and cannot be easily found. The blue gemstone has an undeniable beauty considering the aspect of color changes. Blue garnet is a perfect blend of Spessartine and Pyrope Garnets.
Gem Silica
It is a blue gemstone that may occur in greenish-blue and bluish-green varieties. The alluring colors appear as a result of copper in the mineral. The gem is also referred gem silica chrysocolla.
The best specimens of this gem bear a blue color that has a compact saturation, lack of inclusions, and uniform translucence. Most people are yet to hear about this blue gemstone even though it is among the most beautiful. The reason is that it is a rare gem and also rarely used as jewelry.
A major source of gem silica is Arizona while other sources may be the Philippines, Mexico, Peru, and Taiwan. Take caution while purchasing this stone as it is faked easily and you could end up with a counterfeit gem.
Bottom Line
Blue gemstones are very beautiful and wonderful to collect or put on. However, make sure you clearly ascertain whether you are buying legit jewelry as they can be faked. This listing covers some of the most stunning gemstones that can be used on jewelry.
