From sapphire to tanzanite, blue gemstones are quite popular. These eye-catching gemstones come in deep hues or shades as light as the sea. Some blue gemstones are perfect for mounting on a ring or making other types of jewelry while others are only good to look at.
Are you wondering what kinds of blue gemstones are out there? You’re in the right place. We’ll discuss in detail the most popular blue gemstones.
What do blue gemstones mean?
Blue gemstones have different meanings. For example blue sapphire means royalty, love, and abundance.
Other meanings include peace, calmness, clarity, and wisdom. The color blue is mostly associated with peace because it evokes a calm feeling.
9 Dark Blue Gemstones to Know
Dark blue gemstones have a range of shades, like navy blue and midnight blue. Here’s a list of the dark blue gems you should know.
Sapphire
Blue sapphire is a valuable gemstone, like the other sapphire color variations. It is desirable because of its luster, deep blue color, and durability. Sapphire ranks behind diamond with a Mohs scale hardness of 9.
Sapphire is a September birthstone, and many people use it to celebrate their 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries. It is one of the most popular blue gemstones used in jewelry, commonly spotted on engagement rings as an alternative to diamonds.
Natural sapphires are quite pricey, but jewelers will sell lab-made ones for a fraction of the price.
Benitoite
Benitoite is a rich blue crystal with a striking appearance similar to sapphire. It is one of the rarest gemstones in the world and is sometimes called the “blue diamond.”
It is a barium titanium silicate mineral named after the San Benito River in San Benito County, California, where it was first found.
💡 Did You Know? Benitoite is the state gem of California. It was declared the state gem in 1985.
Benitoite is used on jewelry as a gemstone and is said to exude positive and joyful energies. It’s also collected as a mineral sample because of its unique crystal. It has a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline exists in many different colors. Blue tourmaline, also known as indicolite, gets its powerful color from traces of iron or titanium. It has a Mohs hardness of 7-7.5.
Tourmalines are usually heat-treated to increase their clarity. Some blue and green tourmalines are also known as paraiba tourmaline after the location they were first discovered in Brazil. They typically contain traces of copper and have an internal neon glow that puts them in a different class.
Tourmaline is one of October’s birthstones, and many couples use it to celebrate their eighth anniversary. It represents spirit and peace, and is believed to help heal from past hurt. Large sizes of blue tourmaline are rare and more expensive.
Spinel
Spinel occurs in different colors, one of which is blue. Blue spinel is formed due to traces of cobalt in the crystal’s structure. This gemstone color is rare but appreciated for its cobalt blue color. It has a Mohs hardness of 8, making it tough enough to be used for everyday jewelry.
Blue spinel is said to have healing properties. It is one of August’s birthstones. Many famous rubies in history were mistakenly identified and were actually spinel.
It is sometimes used as an imitation of rubies, but it’s slowly gaining recognition as a gemstone in its own right, although it is still less expensive than rubies.
Lapis Lazuli
Lapiz lazuli is a deep blue stone that is considered semi-precious. It may contain attractive gold-pyrite flesh sparsely scattered over the stone. It is not an expensive stone, so you can easily replace it when it gets scratched.
This stone symbolizes royalty, wisdom, and truth. It is used to celebrate the 9th wedding anniversary. Lapis lazuli is used as jewelry and to make ornaments and statues.
Apatite
The apatite gemstone is a group of phosphate minerals with various colors, including blue. It resembles a lot of more precious stones in various colors and is commonly used as an imitation.
This stone has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs hardness scale, implying that it is prone to damage. Therefore, it is only suitable for occasionally-worn jewelry.
Apatite is considered to be related to manifestation and stimulates thoughts and ideas. It is often used as a gemstone on jewelry. It can also be used as a phosphate rock to produce fertilizer.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a rare blue and violet mineral caused by traces of vanadium. It is named after Tanzania, the only country where it is found. Stones with deep saturation are rarer and more valuable than pale-colored stones.
It has a Mohs hardness of 6-7, and while it is not the toughest gemstone outside, it will hold up as jewelry. It is one of December’s birthstones and is used to celebrate the 24th wedding anniversary.
Vivianite
Vivianite’s rich blue and green colors make it a gorgeous gemstone. However, it’s fragile. With a Mohs hardness of 2, even fingernails can scratch it. So, it’s best carefully kept as a collector’s item. Vivianite usually darkens in the presence of light.
Hawk’s Eye
Hawk’s eye, also known as blue tiger’s eye or falcon eye, is a blue-gray to blue-green variant of the quartz family. It is aptly named because of its chatoyancy, also known as the cat eyes’ effect. It has a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7, which means it is tough enough for everyday jewelry.
Hawk’s eye doesn’t require heating to improve its color and clarity, and it’s often carved as an ornamental stone. It is believed to help people who fear flying and provide better eyesight. It is a rare stone but still quite affordable.
11 Best Light Blue Gemstones Available
Here’s a list of the best light blue gemstones available.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a pale blue to a greenish-blue member of the Beryl family, like emerald. It usually has no noticeable inclusion. The name is derived from the Latin word “mare aquam” meaning “seawater.” It is believed to keep sailors safe at sea.
It is a common gemstone that occurs in various blue hues. The more intense the color, the more valuable and expensive it is.
💡 An Adaptable Jewel: Jewelers can treat aquamarine to change its color from greenish blue to pure blue. They can also cut it into standard shapes like emerald, round, and oval cuts.
This March birthstone is 7.5-8.0 on the Mohs scale, making it perfect for jewelry – especially the small crystals with ratings above 5 carats. The larger stones are generally carved into sculptures.
Blue Diamond
Natural blue diamonds are rare and only exist in a few mines worldwide. They get their color when the element Boron is present during the gemstone’s formation. Unnatural blue diamonds, on the other hand, get their hue when gemstone manufacturers use radiation to infuse the color into the stone.
Blue diamonds represent faith and trust. This gem has a Mohs hardness of 10 and, like colorless diamonds, can work for different kinds of jewelry.
Turquoise
Turquoise gemstone is an opaque bright blue to blue-green mineral. It is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum.
💡 Fun Fact: Turquoise is so popular that its name is used in English to describe a greenish-blue color.
Sometimes, the stone has inclusions that are visible as black or brown lines within it. The more the inclusions, the less valuable it is in the market.
Turquoise has a Mohs hardness of 5-6, which is considered fair. Therefore, it is not the most desirable stone for the jewelry you wear daily. Cleaning chemicals and skin products can easily discolor it.
Topaz
Topaz is a transparent semi-precious stone that comes in various colors, with blue being the most popular. It ranges from light blue to deep blue. Natural blue topaz is light, but it can become darker when irradiated.
Topaz symbolizes wisdom and friendship. People usually wear it as protection against evil spirits and bad luck. It is also considered to possess healing properties.
This December birthstone is used for jewelry and ornamental objects.
Zircon
Zircon is usually colorless but can have different colors due to impurities. It is heat-treated at low temperatures to give it a light blue color. Due to its name, buyers may easily confuse it with cubic zirconia.
Blue zircon is an alternative birthstone for December. These gemstones are generally affordable, but those with a higher blue saturation are more expensive.
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a bluish-green translucent stone popularly known as aquaprase. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 and has been a valuable gemstone for jewelry since ancient times. The more uniform its translucence, the higher its value. It is said to promote emotional balance and generosity.
Blue Jadeite
Blue jadeite is a rare gemstone found only in Guatemala, typically pale blue or pale bluish-green. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 and can be used to make different jewelry pieces. It is primarily opaque or transparent, making a musical sound when struck. It represents peace and serenity.
Moonstone
Moonstone is a clear and transparent gemstone with a glow – a floating bluish-white shimmer inside the stone, caused by a unique optical phenomenon called adularescence.
Although it is likened to the moon, moonstone does not glow in the dark. It is an alternative June birthstone and is linked to spirituality, energy, and intuition. Even though it is fragile, it can occasionally be worn as jewelry.
Smithsonite
Smithsonite is mined as a secondary mineral in zinc ore. It is formed in various colors, but blue-green is the most popular. It is soft and brittle, making it unsuitable for jewelry use. However, its high dispersion makes it a prized collector’s item.
Scorodite
Scorodite is a bluish-green gemstone with a Mohs hardness of 4. Its softness and imperfect cleavage make it almost impossible to cut and unsuitable for jewelry. However, its beauty makes it a gem collector’s delight.
💡 Take Note: Scorodite is soluble in acids and contains arsenic, meaning gem collectors must be cautious about skin contact and ingesting its particles when cutting and handling it.
Jeremejevite
Jeremejevite is formed in different colors, including corn-flower blue, pale blue-green, and aquamarine blue. It is one of the most expensive gemstones in the world.
Even with a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7.5, you’ll hardly find it as a jeweler’s stone because of its rarity. It will more commonly be found by a gem collector.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have other questions about blue gemstones that we haven’t covered. Here are some popular questions people ask.
What is the name of a light blue gemstone?
The different light blue gemstones include aquamarine, blue diamond, blue topaz, moonstone, and turquoise.
Is sapphire more expensive than aquamarine?
Yes, sapphire is more expensive than aquamarine. This is because sapphire gemstones are considered “precious,” while aquamarine gemstones are “semi-precious.” (See the difference between precious and semi-precious stones.)
However, treated sapphire has a lower market value and may cost the same as untreated aquamarine. Synthetic sapphire will likely cost less than aquamarine.
Which is better aquamarine or blue topaz?
Aquamarine and blue topaz are competitors in the market, but aquamarine is more expensive and valuable. While aquamarine has a natural greenish-blue color, topaz is colorless and artificially infused with color.
While aquamarine isn’t indestructible, it’s more durable than topaz which is more susceptible to breaking and chipping. Aquamarine is suitable for jewelry, but you must take care and protect it from knocks and scratches.
Which is more expensive blue zircon or blue topaz?
Blue zircon is typically more expensive than blue topaz. While both are valuable stones, blue zircon, the rarest color of zircon, mimics the brilliance and fire of diamonds.
Take Away the Blues
Blue gemstones are always gorgeous, from the light blue aquamarine to the deep blue lapis lazuli. With so many types, there’ll be one that catches your eye and fits your needs — whether you’re a collector or a jewelry lover. So now that you have all the details choose wisely.
💎 You should know: We use affiliate links throughout our site. This means we may earn a cent or two when you make a purchase on our site. Thanks for adding to our shine.
