Jubilee Gems Part Three - Blue Gemstones
To celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, I thought I’d speak about some red white and blue gemstones that are fit for a queen!
In this final jubilee blog post - I’ll introduce you to some stunning blue gemstones
Blue Sapphire
The classic blue gemstone; sapphires can actually occur in any colour (except red, because they’re better known as Ruby!), but the classic and most well-known hue is a bright blue.
Just like ruby, sapphire is a 9 on the Moh’s hardness scale, which makes them ideal stones for daily wear due to their toughness.
Not only is it the birthstone for September, it is also the gem representing 45th wedding anniversaries.
The blue comes from traces of titanium and iron in the gem’s crystal structure. Sapphires are often heated to improve their clarity and colour.
I was lucky enough to design a unique platinum ring with a magnificent ~5ct sapphire as a commission last year.
Here are some of my sapphire pieces, showing some of the vast range of colours that sapphires come in.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite (Blue Zoisite) is an incredibly rare mineral with intense blue and violet hues.
It was discovered by Tiffany & Co. in the 1960s and named Tanzanite after the tiny mining area in Tanzania in which it was discovered. As no other source of Tanzanite has been discovered to date, and, at the current rate of mining, estimates suggest that the mines will be depleted within the next 25 years. So now could be a good time to invest in top quality Tanzanite.
Most tanzanite is heated to bring out the intense blues, this treatment produces a stable colour that makes this stone so desirable.
Blue Diamond
Natural blue diamonds are extremely rare - the most famous one being The Hope Diamond, mined in the 17th century in India, it is a magnificent 45.52ct in size and is insured for $250 million!
Trace amounts of boron in the natural diamond’s crystal structure give it a blue hue.
Enhanced blue diamonds are natural white diamonds of moderate quality that have undergone colour enhancement treatments, such as irradiation, which permanently transforms the diamond into a vibrant shade of blue.
I personally love the teal ‘London’ blue that is achieved by irradiation!
The two rows of little dark blue stones in this amazing cocktail ring are blue diamonds.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine, the sublime blue gemstone, gets its name from the Latin word aqua marinus, which means "water of the sea". It is a member of the beryl mineral family (like Emerald and Morganite). The presence of iron causes the stone to develop a distinctive blue colour. Those with a deeply saturated blue tone are considered to be the most valuable and coveted ones.
The largest cut aquamarine in the world is the Dom Pedro aquamarine that weighs 10,363 carats and is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Aquamarines are more commonly found in nature than Emeralds, but unlike emeralds, an aquamarine is almost free from inclusions and is more durable, making it a good option for frequently worn jewellery.
Blue Zircon
Zircon has dazzling brilliance and fire. Often confused with the synthetic material cubic zirconia, buyers may overlook this natural stone in favour of another gem. Still, bright blue hues in this modern December birthstone are attractive and often have a beautiful teal blue hue. Its beautiful sparkle makes it an attractive and affordable choice for jewellery.
Blue Spinel
Recently declared a modern option for the August birthstone, Spinel occurs in a wide variety of colours, including blue. Intensely saturated blue Spinels are particularly prized. Like this stunning gem in the aptly named Elizabeth Ring.
Other precious and semi precious gem varieties that can be blue include Topaz, Indicolite Tourmaline, Iolite, Larimar, Lapiz Lazuli, Blue Opal, Sodalite, Blue Labradorite.