As summer approaches, many women yearn for jewelry that evokes a sense of coolness, especially during scorching seasons like this year. It’s the perfect time to invest in a blue gemstone with a cooling effect!
However, when it comes to purchasing, one quickly discovers that the world of blue gemstones is vast and varied. Some are quite affordable, while others can be shockingly expensive!
Why such a stark difference among blue gemstones? What kind of blue gem jewelry can you expect within different budget ranges?
In this article, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the most popular and renowned blue gemstones, aiming to provide a clear and complete explanation in one go!
I. Blue Diamonds
When discussing blue gemstones, it’s fitting to start with the most prestigious – blue diamonds.
Blue diamonds occur when boron is present during the diamond’s formation, allowing it to absorb near-infrared radiation and long waves, resulting in a blue hue. Among all blue gemstones, blue diamonds reign supreme in terms of value! 🏆
As you may know, colored diamonds are already quite rare. However, natural blue diamonds are said to constitute only 0.1% of all colored diamonds, making them truly exceptional! It’s no wonder blue diamonds are so valuable.
So, just how expensive are blue diamonds? Let’s take the example of two blue diamonds purchased by famous tycoon Joseph Lau for his daughter.
One is “The Star of Josephine,” acquired in 2009 for a staggering 74 million Hong Kong dollars!
The other is even more impressive! This 12.03-carat blue diamond was purchased by Lau in 2015 for approximately 370 million Hong Kong dollars and named “The Blue Moon of Josephine.”
At the time, it set a new record for the highest price per carat ever achieved at auction, which was truly astonishing!
Besides being highly sought after in the auction market, blue diamonds are also one of the best tools for high-end jewelry brands to showcase their prowess. For experienced jewelry collectors with substantial resources, blue diamonds are definitely worth considering.
II. Blue Sapphires
The second major category of blue gemstones is the well-known blue sapphire!
It’s a precious stone from the corundum family, on par with rubies in terms of prestige. In fact, all colors of corundum except red can be called sapphires.
However, when we talk about sapphires, we typically refer to blue sapphires by default, and today is no exception.
Sapphires are also known as the “Stone of Kings,” with a sophisticated and regal color. Their high hardness makes them suitable for cutting and carving into various shapes. Many high-end jewelry brands choose sapphires for their luxury pieces.
In the auction market, sapphire prices depend on carat weight, origin, and color grade.
Generally, sapphires from Kashmir, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are highly valued due to their high quality and low production.
However, in recent years, Madagascar has become a mainstream sapphire source, with relatively lower prices for Madagascan sapphires.
Special mention must be made of the now-depleted Kashmir cornflower blue sapphires.
These sapphires have unique snowflake-like inclusions and milky bands, producing a one-of-a-kind “velvet effect.” Their unique beauty, combined with the depleted source, makes Kashmir sapphires the rarest and most expensive blue sapphires today!
Even with a budget of tens of thousands, you can still find very nice sapphire jewelry!
For example, the popular Tiffany Sixteen Stone ring comes in a sapphire and diamond version. The addition of sapphires gives the Sixteen Stone a unique, icy character in addition to its elegance.
Tiffany also offers many other sapphire-set jewelry pieces.
White diamonds and platinum combined with sapphires resemble sea waves, looking particularly refreshing! 🌊
Another option is the sapphire pieces from Harry Winston’s Forget-Me-Not collection.
The lively and cute forget-me-not flowers, paired with deep, tranquil sapphires, create a unique character that’s both mysterious and cool.
III. Paraiba Tourmaline
The third blue gemstone we’ll discuss is the recently popular Paraiba tourmaline! Despite its fame, it’s the youngest of all the blue gemstones we’re covering today!
Officially discovered only in 1989, its value has skyrocketed in just thirty years.
It’s said that some high-quality Paraiba tourmalines now reach prices of $100,000 per carat, rivaling sapphires!
When people think of tourmalines, they often assume they’re not very expensive.
However, the highly valued Paraiba is actually a type of blue tourmaline.
But not all blue tourmalines can be called Paraiba tourmalines!
Paraiba’s color is often described as bright blue with a hint of green, featuring a unique neon fluorescence.
This color reminds me of sunlit shallow seas, unique in the entire gemstone world. No wonder Paraiba is called the “King of Tourmalines”!
The irreplaceable beautiful color has made Paraiba highly sought after by luxury jewelry brands in recent years.
For instance, Harry Winston has a stunning necklace set with Paraiba tourmalines of various shades, complemented by blue and green tourmalines and diamonds, creating a beautiful gradient effect! It’s like being transported to a summer seaside, clear and romantic. 🏖️
PIAGET’s Piaget Rose collection also features a pair of ear cuffs set with Paraiba tourmalines.
Among the diamond-set rose bushes, three Paraiba tourmalines totaling 1.3 carats are nestled.
It’s like a romantic garden by your ears, small but illuminating the entire piece! ✨
While these branded Paraiba jewelry pieces are indeed expensive, don’t be discouraged. If you’re not too brand-conscious, you can also purchase loose stones directly from jewelers and have them set, which will be much more affordable.
IV. Aquamarine
Next, we’ll discuss aquamarine, another highly popular blue gemstone! It has a clear, transparent light blue color, perfect for summer with its cool and refreshing appearance.
Many people mistakenly believe that aquamarine is just blue crystal.
That’s not the case! Aquamarine belongs to the beryl family and is a genuine gemstone!
Among aquamarines, the Santa Maria aquamarine from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil is a particularly valuable variety.
This type of aquamarine has exceptional clarity and contains no brown or yellow tones. As a result, “Santa Maria blue” has become synonymous with high-quality aquamarine.
Aquamarines that reach the Santa Maria blue color often command prices ten times higher than ordinary aquamarines per carat!
Generally, aquamarine prices are much more accessible compared to the previously mentioned gemstones.
If you’re looking to purchase a piece of branded jewelry set with aquamarine, I recommend checking out Tiffany!
Tiffany offers a wide variety of aquamarine jewelry, which I’ve summarized below for you.
The CHAUMET Joséphine collection, highly esteemed by many women, also has versions featuring aquamarine as the main stone.
Brilliant white diamonds paired with fresh aquamarines add a touch of girlish charm to the elaborate design. 💓
It’s not only a perfect token of love but also a great self-reward for everyday occasions!
If your budget reaches $20,000, you might consider the cicada-inspired ring from Boucheron‘s Animaux collection.
This ring features a 1.5-carat pear-shaped aquamarine at its center, surrounded by diamond-set wings.
It’s a real statement piece that’s sure to catch everyone’s eye when worn!
V. Topaz
Lastly, we’ll discuss topaz, a blue gemstone that many fans are very curious about.
We often receive questions about topaz – what it is and whether it’s valuable.
In fact, topaz is yellow quartz that has reached gemstone quality.
While topaz may not be considered expensive or highly prestigious among jewelry connoisseurs, many luxury jewelry brands actually love using it in their designs.
Some might wonder, if topaz isn’t particularly valuable, why do high-end brands use it, and why do even royals wear it?
I’ve done some research and found that topaz has two irreplaceable advantages over other gemstones.
Firstly, topaz typically forms large crystals, so the price per carat doesn’t increase much as the stone size increases.
This means you can get a large, impressive blue jewel without spending too much! As consumers, this is quite advantageous for us.
Secondly, topaz comes in a wide variety of colors.
For blue topaz alone, there are several different styles such as sky blue, Swiss blue, baby blue, and London blue.
Additionally, there are noble orange, deep blue, sweet pink, and many other colors, offering a diverse range of choices! It feels like getting great value for your money.
Among jewelry brands, Pomellato is unrivaled in its creative use of topaz!
If your budget is under $2,000 and you want to buy a branded blue jewel, the Pomellato Nudo collection is an excellent choice.
The gemstones in this collection are particularly large, making a strong statement when worn!
The Nudo series also employs a unique setting technique that doesn’t use prongs to hold the stones.
This allows for a direct showcase of the gemstone’s pure beauty, creating a unique style with few alternatives.
The bold, large gemstones look like small, transparent ice cubes. 🧊
They look elegant worn individually, and for those with a more eclectic style, multiple pieces can be stacked.
Just looking at them feels cool and refreshing, instantly calming you down in the sweltering summer heat!
Well, after this detailed guide to blue gemstones, I hope everyone has a clearer understanding of them.
Have you previously purchased any blue gemstones? Which ones have caught your interest? Do you have any recommendations for blue luxury jewelry? Don’t forget to share with me in the comments section!
The Blue Gem Enigma: Why Some Cost a Fortune While Others Are a Steal – Your Ultimate Guide!
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