Our Favorite Blue Gemstones: Sapphire, Topaz, Aquamarine & More!

Thanks to the commercialization of the diamond and wedding industries, the diamond has become a “symbol” of love and marriage. This puts an unfortunate amount of unnecessary stress and pressure on couples who may be under budget restrictions. However with the growing awareness of conflict diamonds, many people are turning away from diamonds in favor of human friendly stones. At www.DiamondAlternative.com - we help you find those!

Blue Gemstones for Engagement Rings and other Jewelry

Colors hold many feelings and meanings amongst various cultures and groups. Colors also convey different emotions, “energies” or vibrations. The color blue is associated with coolness, calmness, and serenity. Blue has a calming effect, which is why people like to use it in baby nurseries or bathrooms. Blue gemstones have been used for centuries in amulets that provide protection, confidence, strength and to promote peace.

While we (well, most of us) no longer believe in the power of amulets or carrying stones in our pocket for luck – gemstones are still as much a part of our culture. As many couples move away from the notion that a man must propose to a woman with a diamond engagement ring, gemstone engagement rings are growing in popularity.
women are opting for stones that hold special meaning to them, or simply – gemstones that they like. Believe it or not, diamonds aren’t every girls best friend! I personally love the color blue, and a blue gemstone engagement ring was the most ideal for me. If I am going to wear one piece of jewelry for the rest of my life, it may as well be something that I like!

When most people think of blue gemstones, the first to come to mind is the sapphire. While sapphires are obviously the most popular and easily recognizable, there are a list of other gemstones that fall into the blue color spectrum.

Sapphire: Within the gem trade, sapphire – as we refer to it is known as the blue variety of the corundum mineral (Rubies are the red variety of the corundum mineral). The darkest blue sapphire, known as Kashmir or cornflower blue is the most valuable of all blue sapphires. I like the gemstone because it is tough and durable. Synthetic sapphires were first synthesized in 1902, and to the untrained eye – it is nearly impossible to distinguish the difference between a natural sapphire and synthetic man made sapphire. If you question the realness of your gem, take it to a jeweler.

Aquamarine: Aquamarine is a fairly common gemstone, which in turn makes it very affordable as well. it gets it name from the Latin phrase “water of the sea”, it is the blue-green variety of the mineral Beryl. One little known fact is that the light color of the stone may actually fade over time. Keep that in mind if you purchase a cheap one, it is best to buy from a reputable dealer.Aquamarine gems are usually flawless, finding one with visible flaws is rare and for this reason, synthetic aquamarine stones aren’t typically available and cost more to manufacture than the real stone itself.

Spinel: Spinel isn’t often talked about amongst “lay people”, but is certainly popular within the gemstone trade. In its pure form, spinel is colorless or white, however when impurities are added – it can become any desired color. Blue spinel is often confused for the blue sapphire.

Blue Topaz: The topaz gemstone comes in several colors including blue. Natural dark hue blue topaz is uncommon, so white or lighter colored natural topaz stones are heat treated to create the dark-ish blue that we often associate with the stone. Comparatively speaking, topaz is less durable than other gems – making it easier to chip and more difficult to cut.