Spotlight on stones - the blue gemstone

A blue gemstone inspires calm, peacefulness, and the relaxation you feel by the sea. Thanks to Diana and Kate, darker blue gemstones also give a regal impression. The Duchess of Cambridge wears the sapphire ring that was once Princess Diana's.

So you've settled on the idea of a beautiful new piece of blue gemstone jewellery. Perfect. But wait - how do you choose between beautiful sapphire, topaz, and aquamarine? Not to mention tanzanite, turquoise, tourmaline, blue diamonds and lapis lazuli. In fact, there are at least 30 different gemstones that can have blue tones.

Here are our favourite blues stones (in no particular order). Along the way we've dropped in some tips for choosing the right blue gemstone for you.

Blue gemstone #1 - Sapphire

Although sapphire can be found in a range of colours, blue is the most popular.

Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness. This makes it a popular choice for engagement rings and jewellery that you wear every day. It is also highly resistant to breaking and chipping.

Sapphire was made even more popular by the choice of Princess Diana to wear a sapphire halo engagement ring. The Duchess of Cornwall now wears this ring. Blue sapphire is also a birthstone for September.

Find gemstone jewellery at Niche

Blue gemstone #2 - Aquamarine

Aquamarine is named after its soft sea-blue colour. It's known for pastel blue shades that evoke calmness.

This dreamy, pale blue gemstone is a member of the beryl family. The family includes other gemstones such as emerald and morganite (another of our favourites, but it's not blue!).

Aquamarine is also quite a hard gemstone that is not prone to breakage. It's also the birthstone for March.

Blue stone #3 - Topaz

Most topaz found in nature is either colourless or a very pale blue, so is often heat treated to enhance the blue tone.

This is a common procedure and means that the stone is available in shades ranging from the very faintest of blue through to a deep mid blue.

Topaz is particularly affordable due to both its durability and affordability. This makes it perfect for jewellery sets. Blue topaz is a birthstone for December.

Blue stone #4 - Tanzanite

This stone is named after Tanzania, the country it was found in. It is actually a relatively rare gemstone and is only found in a small region at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Tanzanite is often considered to be an underrated gemstone because it is rare and beautiful, but not as popular as some other blue gemstones. This makes it an affordable alternative to sapphire.

It is not quite as hard as sapphire, but can last well with good care. Tanzanite can be found in beautiful shades of blue with a purple tinge.

Blue stone #5 - Swarovski Crystal

So it's not a semi-precious gemstone. But Swarovski crystal has an unmistakeable sparkle that always turns heads. If you are looking for an affordable blue stone ring, why not try this gorgeous cocktail ring?

The round up

Blue gemstones are classic and yet always on trend. And what's more, they evoke feelings of calm and have regal edge. What's not to love?

But if you can't afford a sapphire like the Duchess of Cornwall's just yet, why not find inspiration in our collection of beautiful blue jewellery.

Call or pop into Niche Jewellery to see our range of blue stone rings or discuss our custom jewellery service with our friendly team!

At Niche Jewellery we are passionate about high quality, beautiful jewellery. We love helping you find your perfect piece or gifts for friends and loved ones. From time to time we review and revise our blog content to make sure we bring you the latest jewellery style inspiration. This blog was updated for content and accuracy in December 2021.