When selecting a gemstone, color usually takes priority over other factors, as long as the gem is sturdy enough for its intended purpose. Among the vast range of colored gemstones available, blue gemstones are highly favored by jewelry users and enthusiasts. Blue sapphires are typically the first to come to mind, but there's another gem that's often mistaken for a blue sapphire: tanzanite.

Sapphire is a valuable gemstone belonging to the corundum mineral family and is available in various colors, including blue, green, black, white, pink, purple, and yellow. Blue sapphire, in particular, is widely popular and associated with wisdom, integrity, and royalty. It's also become the most popular gem for engagement rings due to its durability and scratch resistance. Red corundum is known as ruby.

Benefits of Blue Sapphire

• One of its most notable effects is its potential to protect individuals from negative energies while promoting a sense of calmness.
• This stunning stone has been linked to improving one's focus and concentration while also enhancing communication skills and mental clarity.
•  For those struggling with decision-making or facing challenging circumstances, blue sapphire may provide much-needed clarity and reasoning skills. 
• When it comes to healing the thyroid gland and promoting physical health, blue sapphire may be a valuable natural aid you can turn to. 
• With its unique properties, this gemstone is believed to have an overall beneficial effect on your body. Individuals who suffer from vision impairments and other eye problems might find solace in this gemstone as well as it is thought to improve vision and help alleviate various ocular ailments.
• It is believed to possess beneficial properties for the nervous system, promoting optimal nervous system health. 
• Believers in its power also suggest that blue sapphire has the ability to attract financial prosperity and enhance business opportunities.

Tanzanite, on the other hand, is a relatively new gemstone discovered in the 1960s. Despite its decent physical properties, its rarity makes it stand out from other gems. It has a stunning blue-violet hue and can display different shades when viewed from various angles. It's one of the rarest gemstones, with only one known source of origin in Tanzania.

Benefits of Tanzanite Gemstone

•  People have cited many instances where the crystal has helped them establish a connection with the spiritual realm, hence increasing their spiritual awareness. 
• The blue-violet hue of the stone is known to clear negative thoughts from one's mind and promote better focus which helps enhance mental clarity.
•  It possesses powerful properties that provides emotional balance while enhancing communication skills.
•  When worn or even simply held in one's hand, tanzanite is thought to exert a calming influence on the mind and emotions. This effect helps individuals maintain emotional stability and balance in their daily lives. 
• It is widely regarded as a powerful tool for promoting self-discovery, which helps individuals identify and develop their true potential. 
• It has been believed for many years that Tanzanite possesses the ability to improve one's overall well-being. Science suggests that by wearing this precious stone, there may be physical benefits as well. 

Although tanzanite and sapphire have a similar visual appearance, they differ significantly in terms of rarity and pricing. While both gems have a rich history and are highly sought after, whether they should be classified as separate gems or part of the same color variation subset is still a topic of debate. 

Distinctions between tanzanite and sapphire

• Colour: In terms of color, sapphire comes in various hues, with blue sapphire being the most popular. It exhibits a pure blue color with a deep undertone. Tanzanite, on the other hand, typically has a bluish-violet or bluish-purple hue and can display various shades of blue, from light to dark.
• Hardness: Regarding hardness, sapphire is one of the hardest gemstones, ranking 9 on the Mohs scale, while tanzanite is softer, ranking between 6 to 6.5. Tanzanite is also prone to breaking from hard strikes due to its gemstone cleavage.
• Rarity: Sapphire is relatively abundant, while tanzanite is among the rarest of gemstones, exclusively found in Northern Tanzania.
• Clarity: When it comes to clarity, sapphires are prone to having flaws and inclusions, while tanzanites have higher clarity and fewer visible flaws.
• Composition: Regarding composition, sapphire is categorized under corundum and has trace amounts of iron, magnesium, chromium, titanium, or vanadium, while tanzanite is categorized under zoisite and has small amounts of vanadium.
• Symbolism: Symbolically, sapphire represents values such as hope, integrity, nobility, and faithfulness and is associated with royalty and marital bliss. Tanzanite offers positive energy and is associated with wisdom, dignity, and truth.
• Affordability: In terms of affordability, sapphire is more expensive than tanzanite, while tanzanite is more expensive than other blue gems but cheaper than blue sapphires.
• Heat Treatment: Sapphires are heat-treated to enhance their natural color, with nearly 95% of blue sapphires undergoing this process. Similarly, tanzanites are heat-treated to intensify their blue and violet hues.
• Maintenance: Sapphires require high maintenance and care, while tanzanites are easier to maintain.
• Cut: Both tanzanite and sapphire can be easily cut into any gemstone shape assuming they have undergone heat treatment.