A big takeaway from the jewelry shows in Las Vegas? Blue is the color to invest in, from opals to turquoise, but I’ve been quietly tracking the prevalence of another, more humble but still very beautiful blue gemstone since late last year: kyanite.

It’s mainly popping up at the studio designer level. The best examples display a gorgeous cornflowery shade of blue and streaky inclusions, and the stone is just as irresistible faceted as it is in its rough or cabochon states.

But in speaking with designers, I’ve learned that the stone is kind of a heartbreaker. As in, it’s been known to shatter on the bench. And it’s not cheap, which makes working with it kind of a gamble.

California-based jewelry designer Margaret Solow agrees. “Yes, kyanite is a pain,” she says. “With the lower-quality, earthier-looking kyanite, it can crack when bezeling the stone. So kyanite takes effort to source because you have to be super careful when selecting the stones. When it’s super-high quality, it can be really expensive, and the customer doesn’t always perceive the value. Although, I find it is the one stone that customers don’t seem to mind if it is full of inclusions.”

But somehow the color conquers all.

“It’s like staring into the ocean,” says Solow. “Kyanite really can fill a yearning for sapphire. And the lower-quality, lighter bicolor variety is so nice and down to earth, with so many different hues of blue.”

See the completely seductive spectrum of shades in the edit below. Because nothing ventured, nothing gained. The heart wants what it wants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top, clockwise from left: Kyanite pendant in 18k yellow gold on a nylon cord, around $300, Margaret Solow; Vinca earrings with kyanite, iolite, sapphires, and diamonds in 14k yellow gold, $1,012, Eva Noga (image via: @evanogajewelry); cocktail ring with kyanite surrounded by green onyx and freshwater pearls in oxidized sterling silver, $595, Tashka by Beatrice

 

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