Beyond Sapphire: Two Gorgeous Blue Gemstones to Discover — Lapis Lazuli & Kyanite

When we think of blue gemstones, sapphire is usually the first stone that comes to mind. Its rich, saturated blue has been admired for centuries and has earned it a place among the world's most treasured gemstones.

But sapphire isn't the only gemstone capable of showing off an unforgettable blue.

Two of our favorites at BeJeweled—lapis lazuli and kyanite—offer completely different interpretations of this beloved color. One is an ancient blue rock filled with history and golden flecks of pyrite. The other is a crystalline gemstone known for its beautiful shades of blue and fascinating mineral structure.

As September comes to a close, we're taking a closer look at two blue gemstones that deserve a little more attention.

Lapis Lazuli: Blue With Thousands of Years of History

Few gemstones have a history as fascinating as lapis lazuli.

Lapis lazuli is actually a rock rather than a single mineral. Its rich blue color comes primarily from lazurite, while natural specimens may also contain white calcite and sparkling golden pyrite. The combination is part of what gives lapis its unmistakable appearance.

The finest-known historic source of lapis is in the remote Badakhshan region of northeastern Afghanistan. Lapis from this region has been traded for thousands of years, traveling enormous distances from the mountains of Central Asia to ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and beyond. Archaeological evidence shows that lapis from Afghanistan was being traded as early as the Bronze Age.

And the journey of lapis didn't end with jewelry.

The Story Behind Ultramarine

For centuries, lapis lazuli was one of the most important sources of the brilliant blue pigment known as ultramarine.

Creating the pigment was a painstaking process. High-quality lapis was ground and processed to separate the intensely blue material from other components of the rock. The resulting pigment produced an exceptionally rich blue that European artists prized above many other blue pigments.

The name ultramarine literally refers to its journey “beyond the sea.” The precious material came from faraway Central Asia and traveled along trade routes into Europe. Because of the difficulty and expense involved in obtaining and processing lapis, natural ultramarine was extraordinarily costly—at times comparable to or even more expensive than gold.

Renaissance artists treasured it. The pigment's brilliant color was often reserved for the most important parts of a painting, including the robes of the Virgin Mary.

Today, ultramarine can be manufactured synthetically, making the pigment readily available. But every piece of natural lapis still carries that remarkable connection to one of history's most coveted colors.

Kyanite: A Different Kind of Blue

Kyanite offers a completely different look.

Where lapis is a blue rock with contrasting minerals, kyanite is a mineral that can form long, bladed crystals. Blue is the color most commonly associated with gem-quality kyanite, although kyanite can occur in other colors as well.

Its blue can range from soft and denim-like to rich, deeper shades. Some stones have subtle variations throughout the gemstone that give them a natural, almost painterly appearance.

Kyanite also has an unusual mineral characteristic: its hardness varies depending on the direction in which the crystal is measured. This phenomenon, called anisotropy, is one of the things that makes kyanite particularly interesting to mineral enthusiasts.

Unlike sapphire, which has a Mohs hardness of 9, kyanite is considerably softer and therefore deserves a little extra care when worn as jewelry.

Two Blues, Two Very Different Personalities

What makes these two gemstones so interesting is that neither one tries to be sapphire.

Lapis lazuli is bold, earthy, and unmistakable. Its deep blue can be accented by white calcite and shimmering pyrite, creating a gemstone that looks almost like a tiny landscape.

Kyanite is softer and more fluid in appearance. Its blue can have an almost watery quality, with natural variations that make each stone individual.

And that's part of what we love about gemstones.

Nature doesn't have to produce the same blue over and over again.

Lapis Lazuli

• Deep blue to violetish blue
• Often contains white calcite and golden pyrite
• A rock made of several minerals
• Historically mined in Afghanistan
• Used for thousands of years as jewelry, ornament, and pigment
• Source of natural ultramarine pigment

Kyanite

• Most commonly blue, with other colors also occurring
• A distinct mineral rather than a rock composed of several minerals
• Known for its unusual variation in hardness
• Often has a natural, slightly fibrous or bladed appearance
• Requires more care than harder gemstones such as sapphire

So, Which Blue Is Your Favorite?

There is something special about blue gemstones because blue itself can mean so many different things.

It can be deep and dramatic, soft and calming, bright and energetic, or mysterious and unexpected.

Sapphire may have the reputation for being the classic blue gemstone, but lapis lazuli and kyanite remind us that there are many ways nature creates beautiful blue.

At BeJeweled, that's one of the things we love most about working with gemstones. We don't have to choose just one shade of blue.

Whether you're drawn to the ancient history and rich color of lapis lazuli, the unusual beauty of blue kyanite, or the classic brilliance of sapphire, there's a blue gemstone with a story waiting to be discovered.

Explore our collection of blue gemstones at BeJeweled and discover your favorite shade of blue.