Blue is a beautiful color, representing the sky and the sea, symbolizing tranquility and peace. Do you know which gemstones are blue? What is the best blue color gemstone to wear? Which one is the most popular? This article will introduce the most popular blue gemstones, detailing their characteristics, meanings, and more, helping you choose the blue gemstone that suits you best.
Following international gemstone grading standards, this article categorizes blue gemstones into precious and semi-precious categories.
Blue Precious Stones
Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds—are you aware that some of these precious gemstones come in blue? Sapphire. Of course, that’s just one. Among precious gemstones, there are three types of blue gemstones:
Blue Diamond
This is the hardest blue gemstone (Mohs hardness of 10) and possibly the most expensive. Natural blue diamonds are extremely rare, which is why we rarely see them in jewelry. Blue diamonds have exceptional brilliance and fire. While natural blue diamonds may not always have high color saturation (this is typical for all natural colored diamonds), treatments like irradiation or high-pressure high-temperature processes can enhance their hue intensity. Blue diamonds symbolize loyalty and love, wisdom and intuition, tranquility and peace, rarity and preciousness. Oh, and diamonds are also the birthstone for April and the gemstone for the 60th wedding anniversary.
If you’re considering purchasing this blue gemstone, the best option is to choose a lab-grown one, as natural blue diamonds are exceedingly rare and therefore likely very expensive. Lab-grown sapphires have the same properties as natural blue diamonds, often with superior color and clarity, and are more affordable and ethically sustainable.
Blue Sapphire
This is the most popular blue gemstone, known simply as sapphire, specifically blue sapphire. It’s the most famous and beloved color among the various hues of sapphires. Blue sapphires exhibit extremely high color saturation, displaying the purest blue hues. With a rich history, blue sapphire was once favored by royalty and is now a popular choice for engagement rings, known for its durability (Mohs hardness of 9). It symbolizes wisdom and truth, loyalty and friendship, good luck and wealth, inner peace, spiritual growth, and protection. Additionally, sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gemstone for the 45th wedding anniversary.
If natural blue sapphire exceeds your budget, lab blue sapphire is a great alternative, possessing identical properties to natural sapphire but at a more affordable price.
Blue Star Sapphire
This is a variation of blue sapphire, typically displaying a deep blue hues. Unlike blue sapphire, blue star sapphire is renowned for its asterism, forming a six-rayed star effect under light. This optical phenomenon is caused by needle-like inclusions within the gemstone, whereas blue sapphire lacks such inclusions and does not exhibit a star effect. Additionally, blue star sapphire generally commands a higher price than blue sapphire.
Related Reading: You Should Know About Sapphire: History, Different Colors and Types
Common Blue Semi Precious Stones
There are numerous varieties of semi precious stones, and therefore, there are over a hundred types of blue semi precious stones. In this article, we will list 22 commonly seen blue semi precious stones in jewelry:
Aquamarine
With its clear, seawater-like light blue hue, aquamarine is one of the most popular blue semi-precious gemstones today. This blue gemstone boasts exceptional transparency and a brilliant shine under light. Aquamarine is highly durable (Mohs hardness of 7.5-8), making it suitable for everyday wear. Most top-quality aquamarine jewelry on the market has undergone heat treatment to deepen its blue hue, which is one reason aquamarine may fade over time. As the birthstone for March and the 19th wedding anniversary gemstone, aquamarine symbolizes peace, tranquility, and loyalty, and is often believed to bring good luck and protection.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a blue-violet semi-precious gemstone, a variety of zoisite, found only in Tanzania (which is partly why it’s named tanzanite). In recent years, the popularity of tanzanite jewelry has been on the rise. It meets the needs of daily wear (Mohs hardness of 5) and, due to its relatively affordable price, has become an excellent alternative to sapphire. As one of December’s birthstones, tanzanite is seen as a symbol of transformation and new beginnings and is often associated with spirituality and intuition.
Blue Topaz
When it comes to topaz, blue is undeniably one of the most popular colors. Blue topaz typically ranges from light blue to deep blue, with sky blue being the most favored. Some say it reflects the color of the sky. However, natural blue topaz is quite rare; most blue topaz jewelry on the market is made from colorless topaz that has undergone heat or radiation treatment or is lab-grown. This blue semi-precious gemstone has good durability (Mohs hardness of 8), making it suitable for long-term wear. People regard blue topaz, one of the November birthstones, as a symbol of friendship, protection, and good luck, and often use it to promote communication.
Turquoise
Turquoise is one of the most famous semi-precious stones, known for its opaque blue to green hues, often featuring black or brown veins. In some countries, turquoise with black veining is more sought after than veinless turquoise. The turquoise jewelry we commonly see is usually bezel-set because of its relative fragility (Mohs hardness of 5-6), requiring careful handling. People regard turquoise as a protective stone that symbolizes good luck, friendship, and health, often using it in amulets and ornaments.
Moonstone
Blue is the rarest color in moonstone, usually appearing as a soft, pale blue that can exhibit a captivating blue sheen and adularescence. In fact, not just blue moonstones—all moonstones have a bluish-white glow, so you could consider all moonstones to have a blue hue, while only blue moonstones have a blue undertone. This blue semi-precious stone is relatively soft (Mohs hardness of 6-6.5), requiring careful maintenance. As one of the birthstones for June, moonstone is often associated with intuition, emotion, and tranquility, with blue moonstone jewelry believed to enhance inner harmony.
Blue Labradorite
If I told you that rainbow moonstone is actually a colorless labradorite, would you be surprised? This gemstone is often confused with moonstone. Blue labradorite typically shows a deep blue color with gray-green hues and exhibits labradorescence, which allows it to display a rainbow-like iridescence. Like moonstone, blue labradorite has a Mohs hardness of 6-6.5, requiring careful wear. This blue semi-precious stone is considered a symbol of intuition and protection and is often associated with spirituality and transformation.
Related Reading: Moonstone vs. Rainbow Moonstone
Blue Tourmaline
Among the tourmaline family, blue is a relatively rare color, with pink tourmaline being the most common. Blue tourmaline typically ranges from light blue to deep blue, sometimes with hints of purple or green. As October’s newest birthstone (birthstone lists are updated based on user preferences and market trends), it’s clear how rapidly the popularity of tourmaline jewelry is rising. With a Mohs hardness of 7-7.5, blue tourmaline is suitable for everyday wear and is believed to enhance communication, intuition, and protection.
Blue Opal
Wearing colorful opal jewelry has become a trend, and while opal isn’t the hardest gemstone (Mohs hardness of 5.5-6), its stunning appearance has garnered it a dedicated fan base. Blue opal typically ranges from light blue to deep blue, and unlike many blue gemstones, this semi-precious stone is not a pure, uniform blue; it often has flashes of other colors, giving it a shimmering effect under light. As October’s traditional birthstone, blue opal is often seen as a symbol of emotion and intuition, helping to enhance communication and understanding.
Related Reading: What Are The Different Types Of Opal?
Blue Moissanite
Moissanite comes in every color (largely because it’s almost exclusively lab-grown). Blue moissanite is available in all hues of blue; you can specify the exact hues and saturation you want with your jeweler. Why is moissanite, despite being lab-created, so popular? It’s because moissanite has an extremely high Mohs hardness (9.25), second only to diamond, with even more fire than diamond (its refractive index and dispersion are higher than those of diamond). Colorless moissanite is currently the most popular diamond substitute, with more and more people choosing affordable moissanite rings over expensive diamond rings as engagement rings—beautiful, cost-effective, and more eco-friendly. Of course, moissanite jewelry isn’t limited to rings; there are also moissanite pendants, earrings, bracelets, and more. Today, moissanite is also seen as a symbol of love and commitment.
Related Reading: Diamond vs Moissanite
Blue Zircon
Zircon possesses exceptional brilliance and clarity, making it suitable for everyday wear (Mohs hardness of 7.5). Colorless zircon is also one of the popular diamond alternatives. Blue zircon typically displays a bright blue color, sometimes with green or gray hues. As one of the December birthstones, people believe that blue zircon brings peace and tranquility and helps enhance emotional expression.
Blue Spinel
Blue spinel usually appears in deep blue or bright blue hues, sometimes with purple hues, and is a relatively rare color within the spinel family. Spinel has excellent luster, reflecting bright light with high transparency and durability (Mohs hardness of 7.5-8), making it ideal for crafting high-precision jewelry. People often consider blue spinel a symbol of hope and loyalty, believing it enhances determination and self-confidence. It is also one of the August birthstones.
Blue Pearl
Pearls are organic gemstones, making them relatively easy to obtain, but they are softer (Mohs hardness of 2.5-3), and better suited for necklaces, pendants, or jewelry that isn’t worn frequently. Blue pearls typically range from light blue to deep blue, with some varieties showing green or purple hues. As the birthstone for June and the 30th wedding anniversary gemstone, pearls are a meaningful gift, with blue pearls symbolizing wisdom, tranquility, and elegance.
Blue Chalcedony (Chrysocolla)
Chalcedony is a semi-transparent and affordable gemstone, with blue chalcedony known as chrysocolla. This blue semi-precious stone usually appears in light blue or sky blue, sometimes with gray or white hues, with a Mohs hardness of 6-7, suitable for everyday wear. People often see blue chalcedony as a symbol of communication, peace, and protection, and they believe it helps to enhance emotional expression.
Blue Jadeite
Jade is divided into nephrite and jadeite, with blue jadeite being a rare variety of jadeite. Blue jadeite typically exhibits vibrant blue colors, ranging from light to deep blue, sometimes with gray hues. It is quite hard and durable (Mohs hardness of 6-7.5), making it suitable for everyday wear. In Asia, people have a long history of wearing jade jewelry, and they associate blue jade with nobility, tranquility, harmony, enhanced decision-making, emotional communication, and protection. It symbolizes inner peace and harmony.
Blue Iolite
Another name for blue iolite is Steinheilite, also known as “water sapphire” and “Viking’s Compass” because it resembles sapphire and was once used by Vikings to navigate on cloudy days. This blue semi-precious stone typically ranges from blue to blue-violet hues and exhibits pleochroism, displaying different colors from different angles. With a Mohs hardness of 7-7.5, it is suitable for everyday wear. People believe that blue iolite enhances intuition and spiritual insight, symbolizing inner peace and harmony, and they often use it in meditation and spiritual practices.
Larimar
Larimar is a blue variety of calcite, also known as the “Caribbean stone,” found only in the Dominican Republic. This blue semi-precious stone usually appears in sky blue, light blue, or blue-green, often with white streaks, resembling ocean colors, and is relatively soft (Mohs hardness of 4-4.5). Larimar symbolizes inner peace and tranquility and people believe aids in emotional healing and protecting the body and mind.
Blue Agate
Agate is a highly popular semi-precious stone, with blue agate usually displaying varying shades of blue, sometimes with white or gray stripes and patterns, with a Mohs hardness of 6-7. People believe this blue semi-precious stone brings inner calm and emotional stability, symbolizing good communication skills and understanding.
Blue Quartz
The beautiful and affordable quartz family wouldn’t be complete without blue quartz, also known as blue crystal. It usually displays a uniform blue color, which may range from light blue to deep blue, and may have gray or green hues. With high transparency and brightness, blue quartz is highly durable (Mohs hardness of 7), making it a top choice for those who appreciate blue gemstones with excellent value. People believe this blue semi-precious stone brings inner peace and tranquility, symbolizing good communication skills and understanding.
Blue Garnet
Garnet comes in almost all colors, with blue being the rarest, which is why few people know about blue garnet. Blue garnet ranges from light blue to deep blue, often with purple or green undertones, with a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7.5, making it suitable for everyday wear. People see this blue semi-precious stone as a symbol of loyalty and friendship, believing it provides protection and enhances personal energy. Garnet is also the January birthstone and the 2nd wedding anniversary gemstone.
Blue Fluorite
Fluorite is renowned for its ability to fluoresce. Blue fluorite typically displays a bright blue color, ranging from light to deep blue, sometimes with purple or green stripes. This blue semi-precious stone is relatively soft (with a Mohs hardness of 4), so it requires careful handling to avoid damage. People believe that blue fluorite helps improve mental clarity and emotional balance, often viewing it as a protective stone that can ward off negative energy.
Blue Dumortierite
Blue dumortierite usually appears in deep blue, purple, or gray hues, sometimes with white or black stripes. Dumortierite has 7-8.5 Mohs hardness, making it highly durable and suitable for everyday wear. Its bipyramidal crystal structure prevents it from being faceted, so it is more often cut as cabochons. People believe his blue semi-precious stone brings inner peace and emotional stability, promoting good communication and teamwork.
Blue Hawk’s Eye
Hawk’s eye, with its captivating “cat’s eye effect,” usually appears in blue-black or blue-gray tones with white streaks, with a Mohs hardness of 7, making it ideal for everyday wear. People believe this blue semi-precious stone enhances intuition and insight and often consider it a protective stone that wards off negative energy and emotions.
Final Thoughts
This article introduces 25 types of commonly found blue gemstones in jewelry, including 3 precious blue stones and 22 semi-precious blue stones. I hope this information has been helpful to you. Now, go ahead and pick your favorite blue gemstone! MollyJewelryUS offers a variety of blue gemstone jewelry—why not take a look? Just a little secret—we also offer customization services! If you have any questions, simply send us a message, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with answers.
FAQs about Blue Gemstones
What is the best blue color gemstone to wear?
The best blue gemstones to wear are those with a Mohs hardness ≥ 8, like blue diamonds, sapphires, and moissanite.
Which blue gemstone is suitable for everyday wear?
Blue gemstones with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 or higher are suitable for everyday wear.
What is the most popular blue gemstone?
Sapphire is the most popular blue gemstone.
Is sapphire the most expensive blue gemstone?
Blue diamonds are the most expensive blue gemstone.
What is the most affordable blue gemstone?
Blue quartz is the most affordable blue gemstone.
What do blue gemstones symbolize?
Blue gemstones typically symbolize calmness, loyalty, and wisdom.
Which month’s birthstone is blue?
January (blue garnet), March (aquamarine), April (blue diamond), June (moonstone, blue pearl), August (blue spinel), September (sapphire), October (blue tourmaline, blue opal), November (blue topaz), and December (blue zircon, turquoise, blue tanzanite).
Are blue gemstones suitable for engagement rings?
Absolutely! Blue diamonds and sapphires are traditional choices for engagement rings.