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Whenever we talk about powerful gemstones, Neelam, also called Blue sapphire in English, is the only stone that comes to mind. In Vedic astrology, nilam is the only gemstone used to overcome Shani’s ill effects. It is best for Shani Mahadasha and Shani sade sati. Neelam stone color is the most powerful gemstone color as it signifies Lord Shani.
In the gemstone market, blue sapphire is identified by its color. Collectors and astrology enthusiasts buy Neelam by observing it visually and then through other means, like gem certificates.
There are similar colored gemstones available in the market that resemble the same color. Beruj or even Iolite, which displays blue color, can easily confuse buyers and lead to unintentional mistakes, especially if you are buying a blue sapphire stone for astrological purposes. This is because in Vedic astrology, the only effective remedy for Shani or Saturn is Neelam ratna.
Scroll down below to entertain the unfinished differences between these two gems. Though there are endless
factors to look upon while buying gemstones online
, color is always the key criterion to examine the quality and price of the stone. So, let’s begin with color as the base.
Aquamarine stone in Bengali is called beruj stone. It is named after their vibrant and unique appearance that resembles marine water. Typically, it showcases a brilliant blue color, with some carrying a varied degree of green undertones.
Due to the trace amounts of ferrous iron, Aquamarines get a crystal greenish-blue hue. It further ranges from an intensely deep blue to moderately strong blue to a very slightly greenish-blue hue.
An intense, deep, and bright pure blue-colored Natural Aquamarine is measured as more valuable than pale and dull ones that have a presence of yellow, green, or brown tint.
Blue Sapphire
Neelam and blue sapphire are the same. Former is the synonym of latter in Hindi and other Indian languages. This sapphire color is typically blue, reminiscent of deep underwater.
It can further have a number of undertones in grey and purple shades and comprehensively offer more dark color varieties than aquamarines. The blue tone which is neither too violetish nor too purplish is considered ‘true blue’ on the color chart.
Of all the shades,
cornflower blue sapphire
and
Royal Blue Sapphire
are the most desired colors of a real
blue sapphire gemstone
.
|
Color Shade |
Description |
Astrological Preference |
|
Cornflower Blue |
Light blue color resemble cornflower |
High |
|
Royal Blue |
Deep, vivid, and saturated blue with high brilliance |
Highly recommended |
|
Peacock Blue |
Blue green hue sapphire from Montana, the US |
Moderate for astrology |
|
Ink Blue |
Very dark blue, almost black; lacks transparency |
Not Recommended |
|
Grayish Blue |
Dark blue with Grayish overtone |
Not Recommended |
Neeli stone, or Iolite, is another blue colored gemstone available in the market. Neeli stone vs Neelam stone color relates to the former, showing a purplish blue color. You will find purple being the dominant hue in Neeli, whereas in Neelam, blue is the primary color distributed well over.
Pro Tip: For light and brilliant transplant blue shade, Aquamarines win. While sapphires take the lead, with richer and more saturated colors.
2. Durability
Both blue sapphire and aquamarine are quite durable stones and are highly preferred in everyday jewelry pieces.
Aquamarine
While Aquamarine, aka Beruj Stone , has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Hardness scale.
Blue Sapphire
Whereas, blue sapphires, or Neelam Stones, carry an extremely remarkable hardness of 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Scale, making them the second hardest stone after diamonds.
Pro Tip: On Mohs scale of hardness, of
course, blue sapphire edges out aquamarines. Thus those who are particularly concerned about strength and resilience should opt for a certified blue sapphire.
3. Who Should Wear
Aquamarine
Aquamarine gems hold the title of March Birthstone, therefore it is considered extremely beneficial for the individuals born in the month of March. It is also an auspicious gemstone for the owners of the Pisces Zodiac sign or Meen Rashi.
Beruj stone is also recommended to the people who have a weakly placed Mercury in their house of horoscope. So if you are also a March-born baby or a Pisces native, you may choose to wear an authentic Beruj stone for desired benefits.
Blue Sapphire
In general, sapphires are regarded as September Birthstones. However, when it comes to suitable ascendents, the answer is not the same. Where yellow sapphire , aka Pukhraj stone, suit almost everyone, the same is not the case with blue sapphire.
Neelam vs Pukhraj stone differ in color largely. While the former is blue in color the latter is yellow in color.
Owing to its association with the furious planet Saturn, Neelam is not equally favorable for one and all. Vedic astromancy recommends it for the natives of Capricorn and Aquarius sun sign while western science assigns it to Libra zodiac sign.
Even if you are a September born, you should wear it with a great deal of caution and only after consulting an expert astrologer.
Pro Tip: No matter what stone you are choosing, always opt to consult an experienced astrologist along with your birth chart first, so that he or she can guide you regarding the suitability of the stone depending upon the position of stars and planets in your house of horoscope.
4. Astrological Perspective
Beruj stone
Beruj is associated with the planet Saturn or Shani and is used as an astrological substitute for the precious blue sapphire. Besides beauty, Natural Aquamarines are believed to have amazing healing properties.
It tends to bring kindness, fortune, and provide protection against all sorts of evils and mishaps. You may read out the detailed benefits of wearing Beruj stone in
Aquamarine - The March Birthstone
.
Blue Sapphire
Astrologically, Neelam Ratna is associated with the karmic planet Saturn or Lord Shani. According to Vedic astrology, Shani brings someone to book for their good or bad deeds.
Together with bringing spiritual insight, blue sapphire firmly symbolizes power, strength, and strong judgment. The effects of this precious blue stone are immensely strong and can be felt very instantly. Study Incredible Health Benefits of Wearing a Blue Sapphire Gemstone
Compared to Beruj stone, neelam stone for Pisces is not recommended. This is because Pisces is ruled by the planet Jupiter which has neutral energy with Saturn. Yellow sapphire stone is for Pisces as they both are ruled by the same planet that is Jupiter.
Read our blog to know more: Lucky Stone for Pisces female| Meen Rashi Stone
Verdict:- Although both the stones are said to be associated with the same planet, both carry their own significance. In general, blue sapphire stone is always preferred more than beruj ratna, but for the reason of being expensive, those who cannot afford blue sapphire can go for aquamarine as a blue sapphire substitute.
Read our blog: Best Blue Sapphire Substitutes in Astrology
5. Price Difference
Price is the key factor that makes the ultimate decision of the customer whether to purchase an item or not. With everything getting online, you can now buy certified aquamarine and sapphires online. In terms of price, there lies a huge gap between the two stones.
Aquamarine
A good quality five-carat aquamarine is accessible for anywhere between $300 – $800. It can sometimes go beyond 1,000 on the basis of color, clarity, and size. They are far more affordable than sapphires, even in larger sizes
Blue Sapphire
While you can buy certified blue sapphires online in a wide range of price slots. Conversely, the per-carat price of a similar-sized sapphire stone can go anywhere between $100 – $20,000 depending upon the quality and origin.
Verdict:- If looked upon the price segment, aquamarine gems are on average more affordable in comparison with the blue sapphires.
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