Dazzling gemstones lit the red carpet at this year’s 85th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24^th. Striking gowns enhanced by colored gems topped our list of favorite styles. Bold shades of blue, like those worn by Robin Roberts and Lilly Collins, were flawlessly paired with brilliant blue sapphire jewelry. Here are some interesting facts about sapphires and other blue gems provided by our GIA experts that every colored gemstone lover should know.

Actress Lily Collins wearing an array of beautiful diamond and sapphire jewelry.

Fun fact: The name “sapphire” can apply to corundum of any color (and there are many besides blue, including yellow and pink), as long as it’s not red, which would then likely be qualified as ruby, another corundum variety.

Sapphire

When the trace elements of the mineral species corundum are iron and titanium, the corundum is blue sapphire. It can be a pure blue, but ranges from greenish blue to violet blue.  Only a few hundredths of a percent of iron and titanium can affect the color, and the more iron the corundum contains, the darker the blue.

Russell Shor, GIA’s senior industry analyst, says that blue gems are a constantly evolving trend: “While sapphire will always be popular, high-quality blue sapphire is scarce in the market right now, so tanzanite has regained much of its past popularity for consumers tapping into the trend of vibrant blue gems. In addition, favorably-priced stones such as blue topaz have become in vogue.”

Tanzanite

Fun Fact: Tanzanite is mined commercially only in one area of the world: the Merelani Hills of Tanzania, where it gets its name.

Another magnificent blue gemstone option boasting bold shades of blue is Tanzanite. This gemstone is the blue to violet-purple variety of the mineral zoisite. Its appearance is influenced greatly by its pleochroism, which is the ability of a gemstone to show different colors when viewed in different crystal directions. Tanzanite can be violet blue—similar to a sapphire color—or much more purple. Often, both the violet blue and purplish colors are readily visible in a fashioned stone when it is gently rocked and tilted.

Blue Topaz

Fun fact: Since the 1970s, treatments have brought blue topaz to a broad market.

Blue topaz is an additional blue gemstone alternative. In nature, topaz is most commonly colorless, and naturally strong blue gems are extremely rare. In the marketplace, however, strong blue shades are plentiful because they have been treated with a combination of radiation and heat to produce blue hues in topaz.

Opals and Emeralds

While blue jewels complemented the Oscars’ stunning couture, several A -listers donning blue gowns opted for other spectacular colored gemstone choices. Jenna Deway-Tatum and Jennifer Hudson wore blue gowns completed by white and black opals, which exhibited a magical blue iridescence. Black opals are rare and considered the most valuable opal variation. Learn more about opals.

Isla Fisher in David Webb carved emeralds and diamond drop earrings.

Isla Fisher was stunning in Emerald earrings, which created a striking contract with her deep blue gown. For more information about Emeralds, check out our post ‘How to Wear and Identify Emeralds’.

Which one of these Oscar gemstone looks was your favorite? Please join us tomorrow for the next segment of our two-part series on Oscar jewels!

The post Colored Gems at the Oscars: Part 1 appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Tanzanite, December’s birthstone, is found in the shadows of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the only commercial source for the gemstone.

Tanzanite is trichroic; it shows different colors when viewed in different directions. One direction is blue, another purple and another burgundy.

In 1967, an Indian tailor prospecting for gems as a hobby discovered the beautiful gemstone. It was eventually named tanzanite in honor of its country of origin. The gem is often described as “velvety,” mostly because of its deep and saturated color, which ranges from a pure rich blue to strong violet with the blue considered most valuable.

6.88-carat tanzanite platinum and diamond ring. Courtesy of Richard Krementz Gemstones.

Tanzanite is a variety of the mineral zoisite, and is trichroic, which means it shows three different colors depending on how you look at it. Viewed from one direction the stone is blue, from another, purple, and another, burgundy. December’s birthstone is said to provide balance when worn.

Winner of the 2007 Tanzanite Foundation’s “Be Born to Tanzanite,” the “Flowerfly” necklace prominently features 2-trilliant cut tanzanites set in gold and platinum. Courtesy of Zoltan David.

Check out tanzanite in the GIA Celebrates Birthstones exhibit at the GIA Carlsbad campus. Schedule a free tour 24 hours in advance by contacting guestservices@gia.edu; calling 800-421-7250, ext. 4116 or 760-603-4116; or visiting www.gia.edu.

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The color blue has inspired poets, songwriters and mankind for centuries. This season, it’s also inspiring plenty of fashion statements, as seen in Vogue, Elle and Los Angeles Times to name a few. It’s no surprise then that blue gemstones are some of the most coveted in the colored gemstone spectrum.

Sapphire, aquamarine and tanzanite are just a few of the popular blue gemstones that can be used to liven up your wardrobe by capitalizing on this season’s trend of bold, beautiful colors.

Sapphire 

Blue sapphire and diamond bracelet set in platinum.

Sapphire (as seen in this bracelet) comes from the mineral corundum and is considered one of the hardest gemstones available, making it extremely durable. The sapphire’s rich blue is one of the leading jewelry trends this year, and has been spotted all over the pages of top fashion magazines as well as the fingers of blushing brides-to-be.

Aquamarine 

Aquamarine and diamond ring set in white gold. Designed and manufactured by Greenwich Jewelers.

Aquamarine is the blue to green-blue variety of beryl. Aquamarine, as seen in this Regal Radiant™ cut aquamarine and white gold ring, evokes the enchanting qualities of a balmy sea.

Photo courtesy of Greenwich Jewelers 

Tanzanite

Winner of the 2006 Tanzanite Celebration of Life Jewelry Design Awards

Tanzanite is a relative newcomer to the precious gemstone scene, having been discovered in 1967 in Northern Tanzania. Tanzanite, like the lovely cobalt shade of this 6.99-ct pendant, is a variety of the mineral zoisite. While it can appear very similar to a sapphire, tanzanite is typically a more violet shade of blue, and due to its soft nature needs to be treated with more care.  Tanzania remains the world’s only known source of this stone.

Photo courtesy of the Tanzanite Foundation

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Tanzanite, the December alternate to turquoise and zircon, was not discovered until 1967, so it is a relative newcomer to the list of birthstones. It is named for the one country on earth where it is currently found: Tanzania, in eastern Africa.  Although discovered by others, Tiffany & Co. deserves the credit for naming the gem and popularizing it beginning with a big publicity campaign in 1968.

Tanzanite is known for various hues of blue and violet.

Tanzanite is known for various hues of blue and violet; however, most comes naturally from the ground a brownish color that is heat-treated to enhance its violet color. Tanzanite is a prized gemstone, especially in larger sizes (five carats and above), with blues that can be richer than a sapphire’s.

Tanzanite exhibits what is called pleochroism, which means it displays different colors in different directions—violetish-blue in one direction, and bluish-purple in another.

29.22-ct tanzanite ring set with 3.07-cts of diamonds.

Tanzanite should be treated with care because it can be easily damaged and is sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. It is best to buy tanzanite set in earrings or pendants.  When worn in rings, choose a protective mounting and wear with care. Warm soapy water or jewelry cleaner is advised for cleaning, and neither ultrasonic nor steam cleaners should ever be used.

Sometimes, tanzanite is imitated with a variety of other gemstones, both synthetic and natural, so working with a trusted jeweler and seeking out a laboratory report is advised for significant purchases.

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