Color of the Year: Pantone Classic Blue Jewelry

Blue is one of the most universal colors on our planet: it is the color of the sky, visible by all humans around the globe, and it is the color of our water, which covers 71% of Earth’s surface. Blue surrounds us all, blanketing and filling us with its calming hue. So, it is not surprising Pantone chose Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue to be the color of the year – the color of the new decade – the color of 2020. Pantone.com describes Classic Blue as being like “the sky at dusk…. a restful color (that) brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit…. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favorite is comfortably embraced.” And they are not wrong. Blue is in fact the most popular color in the US for both men and women.

Many people naturally incorporate blue into their wardrobe with blue jeans, but if you are looking for a more dazzling way to embrace Classic Blue into your daily fashion, consider blue gemstone jewelry. Even though blue is very rare in nature, especially among organic organisms, there are nearly 40 different blue gemstones that occur naturally on Earth. Some are classics that everyone knows, like sapphire or turquoise, whereas others are more uncommon, like lapis or labradorite. These gemstones come in a variety of blues, ranging from classic blue to violet, teal, and pale baby blue. In the spirit of Pantone’s Classic Blue, let’s explore the highly pigmented, royal blue gemstone jewelry available to you through Valina.

Strong Blue Gemstones

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The purest Classic Blue tone you will find in precious gemstones comes from the one and only sapphire. Blue sapphire is not only beautifully saturated with a lovely internal radiance, but also resistant to scratching and shattering. Vintage earrings like ECS2522-W are elevated by the addition of Classic Blue. All-diamond jewelry might be stunningly sparkly, but by adding blue sapphires, these earrings’ intricate detailing pops. Contrasting blue gems with white diamonds is as classic as blue itself, creating an elegant and perfectly balanced look that has been loved for millennia. So, for a truly vivid Pantone Classic Blue accessory for your 2020 wardrobe, consider our blue sapphire birthstone fine jewelry.

LVR575-DBBT

For a rarer Classic Blue look, consider fancy color blue diamond jewelry. Blue diamonds are lower saturated, typically leaning towards a more greyish blue jean or teal blue tone instead of a rich royal blue. These gems are extremely unique and hard to come by, only making up about 0.1% of all untreated fancy color diamonds in the world. This means they are generally more expensive. Therefore, we suggest finding jewelry with blue diamond accents, because any high clarity blue diamond center stone over 2-carats can be unreasonably expensive for the average consumer. LVR575-DBBT is a lovely example of an affordable and gorgeous blue diamond-accented ring. This split-shank sterling silver ring features a vibrant swiss blue topaz center stone, with a swirled blue diamond and silver rope double halo. All Valina blue diamond accents exhibit the teal color in the blue diamond spectrum. The ring also has a matching pair of earrings and necklace, giving you a full blue diamond jewelry set for under $400 per piece.

If your heart is set on a blue diamond center stone for a ring, necklace, or pair of earrings, reach out to your local jeweler. Local jewelers can help you locate and estimate the cost of a blue diamond with the color, clarity, and carat size you desire. Valina offers a jeweler locator for our fine jewelry and gemstone jewelry lines. So, if you find a piece of jewelry you love, see who is nearby and set up a meeting to view the jewelry in person and to discuss your customization options! Additionally, if you find that natural blue diamonds are out of your price range, consider getting treated or created blue diamonds instead. These alternatives are typically more affordable, more vibrant, but just as strong and stunning as natural diamonds.

Softer Blue Gemstones

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Sapphires and blue diamonds might have beautiful blue tints, but blue topaz has an even more brilliant blue. These gemstones appear to glow from within, which is then highlighted by the gemstone’s facets. Swiss blue topaz, like in the blue diamond ring, is a light and bright blue. While London blue topaz, like in our geometric necklace CGP768W-DLBT, is a deeper and darker teal blue. London blue topaz is similar to the Pantone Classic Blue, but with a slightly greener hue within the color. These are the most affordable precious blue gemstones on the market because they are very common and their blue is produced through heat treatment. Even though topaz isn’t truly natural, this Classic Blue gemstone’s color is striking to all who look upon them, creating jewelry that is loved across time and nations.

You must take greater care with topaz jewelry because it is prone to chipping. Chipping is common in softer gems. Blue topaz only has a hardness of 8/10 on the Mohs scale, whereas, blue diamonds have a hardness of 10/10, and sapphires have a hardness of 9/10. Therefore, diamonds and sapphire are the strongest precious blue gemstones on the market. Yet, any of these gemstones would make lovely accessories if you are feeling a little blue – not in the sad sense of the statement of course, but as in feeling fashionably blue.

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Precious gemstones like diamonds, sapphire, and topaz might be more mainstream, but there is a whole world of softer semi-precious Classic Blue gemstones available to you as well. One of our favorite softer blue gemstone options is lapis-fusion jewelry. On its own, lapis only has a hardness of 5/10. To strengthen the gem, we fuse our lapis with a clear quartz top, like on our stunning sterling silver marquise lapis ring, LVR672-FQLP. The clear quartz adds about 2-more levels of hardness to the gem while giving it a shinier look than lapis can reach on its own. And unlike the precious gems already discussed, lapis is not clear. Lapis is an opaque royal blue stone with golden brassy veins and speckles. Lapis literally looks like the sky at dusk – when the blue sky darkens with night, and as stars start twinkling. In a way, lapis jewelry captures the very essence of Pantone’s Classic Blue even better than sapphire does.

Blue Gemstone Alternatives

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Gemstones are not your only option if you are seeking Classic Blue jewelry. To reach modern consumers with more original jewelry at lower price points, jewelers and artisans have been utilizing unique materials. For example, Valina has a lovely royal blue artisan crystal necklace, PSS006-WBST, that would make a stunning blue fashion statement! This 14K white gold-plated sterling silver hexagon pendant features a beautifully radiant blue crystal, framed in milgrain beading. For a special twist, this pendant features an adaptable bail – behind the stone are multiple chain holes, allowing you to change how the chain goes through the pendant. Therefore, you can wear this pendant horizontal (as seen in the picture), vertical, or sideways for a modern-chic asymmetrical look. This Classic Blue artisan crystal is also just as strong as our lapis-fusion gemstones, with a hardness ranging from 5.5-7, depending on the crystal.

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Other popular gemstone alternatives, especially popular on Etsy and among farmers market artisans include glass blown and resin jewelry that has been tinted blue to mimic gemstones. These artists then often place things like flowers, wood, shimmery material, or shells into the resin and glass. Shells have been used in jewelry making for centuries. Even Valina has a whole collection of shell-fusion jewelry, created by dying pearl shells then finishing them with clear quartz just like our lapis. Just look at the luminescent beauty captured in our sterling silver blue-dyed mother of pearl earrings, LVE758-FQBS. These stones look and feel like actual Classic Blue gemstones instead of the gorgeous gemstone alternatives they are.

Timeless Color, Timeless Gemstones

Pantone Classic Blue will never go out of style, even once 2020 ends and a new color of the year has been chosen. This royal blue tone is called classic because that is what it is. People have always loved the color and will continue to. By wearing Classic Blue jewelry, you are embracing a hope for a better future, and embracing the wonder of our natural world. So, find yourself a perfect piece of blue gemstone jewelry as a sparkling reminder of how you persevered through the hardships of 2020. The color will look simply stunning while bringing you peace of mind.