Best Blue Gemstones Used in Jewellery

Blue is the colour that reminds the mind of calmness and serenity. It is arguably the most popular colour in the world of gemstones. If you prefer something shiny and classy for your ornaments, then gemstone jewellery with blue gems is the perfect pick for you. A wide range of blue gemstones are available to choose from, and they come in the most vivid shades of blue to match all minds and personalities.

As a colour, blue is said to be associated with depth, stability, knowledge, power and gravity. It also signifies confidence, truth and faith. Blue gems, in all their shades, textures and vividness, are simply stunning for any jewellery. It is also among the most popular gem colour for wedding rings. The world’s most iconic engagement ring that belonged to Princess Diana, (now worn by Kate Middleton) adorns a large blue sapphire. Blue gemstones have been the most sought-after gems since time immemorial.

Having said that, we’ve listed below some of the best blue gemstones used popularly in jewellery and also have highlighted some of the features of each of them.

The most famous gem in the realm of blue gemstones is the Sapphire. While sapphires occur in a variety of colours, the blue sapphire is the most well-known as well as the preferred version of it. It is possibly the most highly sought after coloured gemstone for wedding rings. Blue sapphire is a birthstone for September and makes excellent gifts for those born in that month. Blue sapphire is considered to be the most powerful and fastest acting gemstone in astrology, as it brings instant wealth, fame and success into the wearer’s life.

Sapphires are part of the corundum family, and the blue shade occurs due to the presence of titanium and iron during its formation. It is the second hardest gem (after diamonds) among natural gemstones used in jewellery. Sapphire is even more robust than diamonds and is highly resistant to scratches and breaking. Blue sapphires with greenish hues are not as valuable while those with purplish tones are more desirable. Although blue sapphires are affordable as compared to diamonds, they can still be somewhat expensive. Synthetic versions are available that are much more affordable than the natural ones.

Diamonds come in a variety of colours and blue is among the rarest and the most expensive types. Blue diamonds get their colour from the traces of boron present during the gemstone’s formation. The gem comes in a range of shades, with the best one being that with the fancy intense blue hue. Pure blue coloured diamonds are considered the most beautiful and valuable while they can also come with greenish tints. With the highest refractive index in the world, this gemstone is an excellent choice for almost any type of jewellery.

Blue diamonds have identical properties as colourless diamonds, with exceptional brilliance and a perfect hardness (rating - 10). However, although diamonds are sturdy and scratch-resistant, they are not the toughest gemstone. As they are somewhat brittle, there is the possibility that a blue diamond can break if exposed to severe damage. Diamonds are known to be expensive, but a blue diamond is even costlier because they are rare and go through treatment to enhance the gemstone. Synthetic and treated versions can be a much more affordable substitute.  

Aquamarine is a popular gemstone and is majorly used in engagement rings. The word ‘Aquamarine’ itself mentions the sea-blue colour of the stone. They are known for their distinct pastel blue colours that evoke calmness and relaxation. Aquamarine gem is a member of the beryl family, along with other gemstones like emerald and morganite. They occur as huge crystals and sparkle bright when exposed to light. Aquamarines have a vitreous to resinous lustre. Stones with the vivid deep blue hue are considered to be the most valuable variety of them.

Aquamarine is a hard gem and is generally found with excellent clarity. It is quite a sturdy stone and does not break easily. Most aquamarine gemstones in the market are heat treated to enhance their colour, but this is a standard industry process. Considered as the birthstone of March, the aquamarine gemstone is quite durable and perfect for any type of daily-wear jewellery.

Blue topaz is another rare blue gemstone among the most popular ones. Most topaz gems found in the nature are colourless, and therefore are heat-treated to form the beautiful shades of blue topaz found in the market. The most expensive varieties of blue topaz are London Blue, Sierra Blue and Swiss Blue, which are also the darker versions of the gemstone.

Natural blue topaz gems occur as large crystals, and these stones show different colours when viewed from different angles. Blue topaz is generally quite affordable and is the right choice for various types of gemstone jewellery due to its toughness and durability. The gem often doesn’t contain any visible inclusions and has a beautiful transparent lustre. Blue topaz gemstone is also a birthstone for December.

Tanzanite is a very rare blue-purple gemstone that belongs to the zoisite mineral family. The vivid blue colour of tanzanite can be easily confused with the more valuable sapphire. The gem is only found in a small region at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Although discovered recently, it is estimated that the world’s primary source of tanzanite may run out very soon in the near future.

Tanzanite is often considered to be an underrated gem as it is as beautiful as more expensive but not as popular as other blue gemstones. It is relatively tough, and with delicate care can last a very long time. Shades of the tanzanite stone range from light blue to intense, vivid blue with purple often being a secondary tone. Pure blue tanzanite gems with vivid saturation are the most valued. They are an excellent alternative to sapphires if your budget is a concern.

Turquoise is a unique, semi-precious gemstone that is easily identified and is the only gem with a colour named after it. It is an ancient gem, well-known for its vivid sky blue and green shades. The stone is generally opaque in nature and often contains dark web-like inclusions. While the inclusion-free, pure blue turquoise is the most valuable and desired one, turquoise with a pattern is rare and unique.

Turquoise is said to form when water seeps through mineral-rich rocks, which sets off some chemical reaction. Over time, this reaction slowly builds into the beautiful and unique looking gem. The turquoise stone is significantly soft, which is why it is often cut into cabochons and beads when used for jewellery making. It is also not very durable and is mostly preferred in pendants and other less delicate jewellery pieces. Turquoise jewellery needs to be given extra care and thought to maintain its lustre.

Lapis Lazuli is among the most sought-after blue gemstones and has been valued as well as used throughout antiquity. The use of this gem in jewellery can be traced back to thousands of years. Lapis lazuli occurs in stunning shades of deep blue. It can also contain white marbling sometimes, due to inclusions in the stone, which forms interesting and intriguing patterns on the gem.

Lapis lazuli (often called lapis) is quite different from other gemstones. It is not actually a mineral but rather is a rock composed of several other minerals, with lazurite mineral being the reason behind the deep blue shade. Lapis is an opaque stone often found with inclusions and also not a very tough gem for everyday wear jewellery. However, with reasonable care, jewellery made of lapis can last a very long time.

Blue tourmaline gem occurs in two varieties: Paraiba tourmaline and Indicolite tourmaline. Pairaba displays a vivid, luminescent blue colour while indicolite comes in light to dark shades of blue. In general, blue tourmalines are extremely rare and are found in small sizes, typically under one carat.

Most blue tourmalines come with greenish tones; however, the pure blue ones are highly popular and valued. Blue tourmaline has an excellent hardness rating on the Mohs scale and is durable as well as tough gemstone. With decent care, jewellery with blue tourmaline can last an extended period. Tourmaline is the birthstone for October.