The best blue gems: Introduction

Gems are rare and valuable treasures caused by bizarre natural conditions. There is a reason why miners risk their lives to procure gems. There is a reason why people spend millions of dollars on a single stone. Gemstones are not just beautiful, but they hold particular properties unique to each. This is why ancient kings and queens sought them and made jewelry with them.

Blue gems are popular among many. Blue gems reflect the color of the sky and the oceans. Blue represents water. Blue is infinite, free, limitless and full of depth. Blue suits both the royal and the humble. Blue gemstones will look beautiful on any type of personality. Many gems have variants of the blue shade and are valuable depending on their availability, density and color. Let’s take a look at the best blue gems in the world based on how beautiful, valuable and rare they are.

The best blue gems

1. Blue Diamond

Diamonds come in a variety of colors, and blue diamonds are one of the rarest. It is also popular because it comes with a hardness score of 10 Mohs. Blue diamonds get their hues from trace elements of boron impurities in the crystal. Diamonds of pure blue hue are extremely rare, and most are very light colored. They are found only below one carat and are very expensive, costing more than $200,000 for a single carat.

The best blue diamond in the world is called the Hope Diamond. It has an interesting history of being a curse to anyone who owns it. It is currently available for viewing at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Blue diamonds are one of the gems that have the highest refractive indexes in the world, so they look breathtaking in any type of jewelry. 

2. Blue Sapphire

Blue Sapphire is one of the most precious and best blue gems in the world. It has a toughness of 9 on the Moh scale. So it’s very hard and scratch resistant. It’s popular on engagement rings and is an alternative option for diamonds. Blue sapphires come in many different shades, and violet-blue colors are rare and the most valuable. 

The deep blue sapphires are caused by the presence of titanium and iron during the formation process. Most Blue Sapphires in the world come from Sri Lanka. Please read this article for more information on Ceylon Blue Sapphires. The engagement ring of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton sported a large blue sapphire from Sri Lanka.

3. Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a popular gemstone from the Beryl family. It’s one of the best blue gems in the world. The lighter an aquamarine, the less valuable they are. Deep shades of Aquamarine are rare and valuable. These gems sparkle a lot under the light when faceted. It is also quite tough and is 7.5-8 Mohs on the hardness scale. Aquamarines are durable and suitable for everyday wear. Most aquamarines are heat treated to bring out the color. Fine-cut gems can cost about $500 per carat, and heat-treated ones are cheaper than others.

4. Topaz

Topaz comes in many different colors, including blue. Natural blue topaz is rare, and the bluest Topaz is heat-treated. The stone is also pleochroic, meaning that it can have different colors depending on the angle. Topaz is popular in jewelry. They come in different shades of blue. Swiss blue topaz is bright blue, and sky blue is a little darker.

5. Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is a gemstone but not really a mineral. It is a rock containing several minerals like calcite, lazurite, and sparkling pyrite flakes. Lazurite causes the dark blue color of the gem. During ancient times, Lapis stones were used as a major source of dye. 

It’s not a very hard stone and is only about 5-6 Mohs on the hardness scale. So it is not suitable for everyday wear in jewelry and is quite fragile. Lapis Lazuli are always cut into cabochons and are ideal for necklaces, pendants, and bracelets.

6. Blue Opals

Opals are popular for their milky white base color and rainbow play of light. Opals occur in wide varieties. Blue Opals can be sky blue or cornflower. Dark blue Opals are considered black. Opals are only 5.5-6.5 on the hardness scale, so they are pretty fragile and can easily be damaged. They are also sensitive to extreme temperatures. 

Opals are not valued per carat but by their appearance. The play of light on the stone is an important factor. If the Opal has blue-green colors, then they can be up to $ 250 per carat.

7. Tanzanite

Tanzanite was a recently discovered stone in 1967. The stone is popular due to its deep blue-violet color. Deep blue shades are the most popular, and lighter-colored ones are inexpensive. Pale ones go through heat treatment to enhance their colors.

Tanzanite is a good alternative to other expensive blue stones, but they are low on the toughness scale, about 6.5 Mohs. However, Tanzanite deposits may become rarer in the future, so prices may go up.

Conclusion

I have listed some of the best blue gems in the world according to their type, rarity, and density. Blue stones come in various types and prices. Blue diamonds are the toughest and most expensive of blue gems in the world because they are so rare. Another beautiful blue gem is the moonstone. Please refer to this article for more information about Moonstone mining in Sri Lanka.