Blue gemstones aren’t limited to sapphires (although these precious gems have earned a special mention!). In this guide, we cover the most beautiful blue gems for any preference and budget, from abundant turquoise to rare kyanite. Read on to find that special jewelry piece to fit your style.
Agate
Agate boasts a wide range of colors, including brown, red, yellow, grey, white, and blue. Blue lace agate is a rare variety found in Namibia, featuring a pale lavender hue and striped incision pattern. The vibrant blue color of some agate stones is achieved through dyeing.
Blue agate is opaque to semi-translucent stone, so cabochon cut best reveals its beauty. Some agates are flawlessly clear, whereas others feature an intricate inclusion pattern.
Agate is a relatively durable gemstone with a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, so it’s suitable for daily wear. However, you should protect the stone from direct sunlight to prevent fading. Agate deposits are found worldwide, including in Australia, the USA, and Brazil.
This blue agate ring by Thai Exclusive features dainty floral elements with sapphire encrusting on the shoulders. Its resemblance to the clear summer sky will inevitably improve your mood whenever you wear it.
Larimar
Larimar is sometimes called “the blue stone of Atlantis” for its striking color resembling clear water. Most mined larimars have a greenish hue and visible flaws; pure blue larimar without fractures suitable for jewelry making is extremely rare.
This opaque blue gemstone with an asymmetrical white pattern is typically cut in cabochons or cameos. Unlike turquoise, which may have a highly contrasting, pronounced matrix, the larimar pattern resembles a delicate watercolor painting.
Larimar stone is only found in a small mountain range in the Dominican Republic, where it forms due to underwater volcanic activity. With a hardness of 4.5-6 on the Mohs scale, it’s susceptible to scratches, so take special care of your larimar jewelry.
This larimar ring features a gorgeous sky-blue shade that will look exceptional on a sunny day. If you prefer to wear jewelry sets, consider these matching larimar earrings from the Chateau collection.
Sapphire
Sapphire is undoubtedly the most popular blue gemstone – and the most valuable. Although this precious gemstone comes in many colors, including pink, yellow, and green, blue is its signature hue. Intense, velvety, deep royal-blue sapphires are the rarest and most sought-after.
Sapphires can be transparent or opaque. Clear, transparent sapphires have a brilliant sparkle best revealed in a diamond cut. However, sapphires with asterism, also known as star sapphires, look marvelous in cabochons.
As one of the four precious gemstones, sapphire rivals diamond in terms of hardness. This noble stone doesn’t require special treatment and can become a family heritage, preserving its beauty through generations. Sapphires are found worldwide, including in Australia, Afghanistan, Cameroon, China, and Thailand.
This star sapphire ring by Thai Exclusive creates a truly show-stopping effect. The double halo features 36 smaller sapphires precisely matched by shade.
Kyanite
Kyanite is a lesser-known yet no less beautiful blue gemstone that’s easy to confuse with a precious sapphire. Although kyanite is typically deep blue, it also comes in vibrant orange, lush green, and pure black.
Evenly colored, clear kyanites are rare and thus valuable. Nepal is the primary source of fine blue kyanites. Diamond or emerald cut maximizes the brilliant sparkle of this unique stone, but faceting kyanite requires extra skill due to color zoning and hardness anisotropy.
Kyanite hardness varies from 4.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Jewelers recommend storing this dazzling gemstone away from direct sun rays and removing it when doing house chores.
Such a rare gemstone demands a worthy setting. This Thai Exclusive ring features an array of flawlessly clear royal blue kyanites and small sapphires accentuating the elegant shade of a natural grey sea pearl in the spotlight.
Howlite
Howlite is a semi-precious stone with a black, brown, or grey marble-like matrix. Although natural howlite is always white, jewelers often dye it blue to resemble turquoise. Like most opaque gemstones, howlite looks best in cabochons, but you may also come across faceted howlite.
Howlite is a fragile gemstone with a hardness of 3.5 on the Mohs scale, so it requires special care. Store your howlite jewelry away from sharp objects and protect it from chemicals and direct sunlight.
The largest deposits of howlite are found in the USA and Canada. Unlike diamonds or emeralds that have been known for centuries, howlite was only discovered in 1868 in Nova Scotia, Canada, by Henry How.
If you’re looking for an affordable blue gemstone to add to your jewelry collection, consider this howlite ring by Sigal Jewelry. Its silver setting with rhodium plating features an intricate enamel pattern and original Swarovski crystals.
Turquoise
Turquoise is so special it got a particular shade named after it. However, the turquoise color palette is diverse, ranging from lime green to deep brownish-blue. Intense, medium blue Persian turquoise is the most prized variety, typically mined in the Nishapur district of Iran. Other valuable turquoise types include Carico Lake, Dry Creek, and Kings Manassa turquoise.
Turquoise can be recognized by its unique inclusion pattern called matrix. The matrix can be exaggerated, taking up a large part of the stone, or nearly invisible, and ranges from pale brown to pitch black. Cabochon is the traditional turquoise cut as it showcases the spectacular pattern.
With a hardness of 5-6 on the Mohs scale, turquoise demands extra care. It’s stable to light but may fade under heat. Chemicals, cosmetics, and oils are the worst enemies of this striking gem.
These turquoise earrings from the Chateau collection feature eight intense sea-blue stones with few inclusions. An array of colorless zircons gives these earrings a dazzling sparkle.
Opal
Opal is a truly magical gemstone with a hypnotizing play of color. Most opals on the market are milky white; black or blue opals with a prominent fire are the rarest. The brighter the play of color, the more valuable opal is.
Opal transparency depends on its dominant body color. White opals are more sought-after if they’re transparent, whereas blue opals must be opaque for a fiery effect. Cabochon is the most popular cut for a blue opal, but translucent white stones may be faceted.
Opal has a hardness of 5-6.5 on the Mohs scale, so it’s quite fragile. Always keep your opal jewelry away from direct sunlight and heat to prevent it from crazing and fracturing. This mesmerizing gemstone is found worldwide, but the largest deposits of blue opal are located in Peru and Australia.
Some jewelry pieces are worthy of becoming a museum exhibit. For example, these Australian opal earrings and a matching blue opal ring by Thai Exclusive feature one-of-a-kind stones and extraordinary designs that will amaze any gem enthusiast.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is favored for its clear blue color resembling sea waves. The shades range from pure blue to greenish and may be pale or intense. The purer and more intense the color, the more valuable the aquamarine stone.
Some gems, like diamonds or malachites, have a specific cut, but aquamarine is versatile. Clear aquamarines are usually faceted, whereas opaque stones are fashioned into cabochons or carved into figurines. Some aquamarines have a cat’s-eye effect.
Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, so aquamarine jewelry can preserve its beauty for centuries with proper care. Most aquamarines are mined in Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Mozambique.
This aquamarine pendant by Thai Exclusive is a perfect example of an intricate carving technique. Aquamarine flowers are completed with gold-plated leaves and blue sapphires.
Topaz
The topaz color range is diverse, including yellow, orange, and pink. However, one variety stands out with its striking inky hue – the London blue topaz. It’s one of the most valuable topaz types; however, other blue topaz shades tend to be inexpensive.
Topaz is a transparent stone, so a faceted cut best reveals its sparkle. AAA-grade topazes with no visible inclusions are exquisite enough for engagement rings. Blue topazes with noticeable imperfections may be cut into cabochons.
With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, topaz makes solid competition to sapphire for a fraction of the price. Blue topaz is abundant in the USA, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Russia, and Mexico.
This London blue topaz ring boasts a sunny yellow and orange sapphire halo that enhances the deep shade of the center stone. Add matching blue topaz earrings, and a look worthy of British aristocracy is complete.
