When we think of the color blue, many images may come to mind – a clear summer sky, a deep ocean, or a bright sapphire. Blue is a cool, calming color that is quite prevalent in our natural world. But what is something that stands out as being a very vibrant, saturated shade of blue? There are a few candidates worth considering.
Some of the bluest natural phenomena and man-made objects include gemstones like blue diamonds, lapis lazuli, and blue topaz. Bodies of water, like Crater Lake in Oregon or the Blue Grotto sea cave in Italy exhibit brilliant blues. Flowers such as blue orchids, bluebonnets, and hydrangeas can also display lovely blue hues.
Artificial materials like YInMn blue pigment, anamorphic blue animals, or blue traffic lights saturate our environments with the color blue. There are many shades of blue in our world, but a select few natural and manufactured items display the most striking, saturated blues.
Deep Blue Gemstones
Some of the most vibrant blues can be found in rare, precious gemstones. Gem-quality minerals form in specific environmental conditions that produce their signature colors. Here are a few of the deepest blue gems:
Blue Diamonds
Natural blue diamonds are extremely rare and valuable. These gems constitute less than 1% of all naturally occurring diamonds. Their color arises from the presence of the element boron within the diamond’s crystal structure. Intense blue diamonds are graded the Type IIb category. Famous examples include the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian and the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond sold for $24 million in 2008.
Lapis Lazuli
This rock is composed of vibrant blue lazurite, white calcite, and brassy pyrite. It has been prized as a gemstone for thousands of years, often being associated with royalty and spirituality. Lapis jewelry was found in ancient Egyptian tombs and the stone was used to adorn medieval churches. Finely powdered lapis was used to create the pigment ultramarine blue.
Blue Topaz
Topaz is an aluminum silicate mineral that can form pale blue crystals or be colorless. However, most blue topaz gems on the market are heat treated and irradiated to produce a saturated Swiss blue color. A rare natural blue topaz, the London Blue, was auctioned for $1.3 million in 2014.
Vibrant Blues in Nature
In addition to gemstones, there are many examples of vivid blues found in the natural world. Here are some of the most brilliant blue phenomena from oceans, lakes, and flowers:
Crater Lake, Oregon
This iconic lake in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains is famous for its deep blue color. Formed in the caldera crater left by an ancient volcano, it is one of the clearest lakes in the world. Its brilliant blue comes from its depth, purity, and lack of nitrogen-rich nutrients. Light reflects off suspended minerals to produce the stunning blue.
Blue Grotto Sea Cave, Italy
This sea cave on the coast of Capri exhibits an intense blue glow. A cavity in the cave allows sunlight to pass through a submarine opening and illuminate the interior with brilliant blue light. The water itself appears silvery blue. This optical phenomenon only occurs when tides and weather conditions are right.
Blue Orchids
Most orchid flowers display purple, white, yellow, or pink hues – blue is exceptionally rare in the orchid family. Through selective breeding, growers have produced vibrant blue orchid hybrids. Vanda and Phalaenopsis orchids can exhibit bluish flowers thanks to anthocyanin pigments responding to acidic cell conditions.
Bluebonnets
These are the state flower of Texas and put on an impressive floral display each spring. Fields of wild bluebonnets blooming with deep blue flowers are a quintessential natural scene. They thrive in Texas due to the poor, acidic soil that brings out the bluish pigment. Bluebonnets are actually purple, but can appear vivid blue in mass florals.
Hydrangeas
These ornamental shrubs produce large, showy flower heads in a variety of colors. Blue hydrangeas exhibit a brilliant, almost neon blue hue when grown in acidic soil. Aluminum ions are readily absorbed and interact with pigments in the flowers to produce intense blue.
Manmade Vibrant Blues
Beyond gems and nature, vibrant blues have also been produced through human engineering and invention. Here are some examples of stunning blue colors created artificially:
YInMn Blue Pigment
Discovered in 2009, this is one of the brightest blue pigments ever created. The chemical compound is made up of yttrium, indium, and manganese oxides. It was accidentally created in an attempt to form new electronic materials. The vibrant blue pigment is non-toxic and stable, with potential uses in paints, plastics, and coatings.
Anamorphic Blue Animals
Optical illusions applied to animals produce a shockingly blue effect. Using principles of augmented reality and computer vision, some zoos and aquariums have displayed vivid blue penguins, mandrills, birds, fish, and other creatures to the public. The combination of anamorphic projection and animals is highly engaging.
Blue LED Traffic Lights
Traditional incandescent bulbs have been replaced by energy-efficient LED lights in modern traffic signals. Blue LEDs in particular shine brightly and save energy. Lighter blue colors contrast sharply against the yellow lights. Blue LED traffic signals stand out vividly against other city lights and are easily visible.
Blue Hours Photographs
Photographers make use of an evening phenomenon called “blue hour” or “twilight time” to produce photos saturated in blue. It is the period after sunset or before sunrise when indirect sunlight scatters blue light through the atmosphere. Landscape images shot in blue hour display vivid blue skies and atmospheres.
Blue Football Fields
Vibrant blue football fields have become trendy at high schools and universities. Through the use of blue synthetic turf and Pantone-matched blue end zones, athletic fields take on a bold blue appearance. Examples include Eastern Washington University and Boise State. The blue turf stands out on TV broadcasts.
Most Vibrant Blues
After considering all these examples – gemstones, nature, and manmade objects – what takes the prize for the most vibrant blue thing? A few contenders stand out that exhibit nearly 100% color saturation in a rich blue.
Natural blue diamonds contain no impurities and transmit blue light. The Hope Diamond, for example, glows with intense blue brilliance. Though rare, these colored diamonds display one of the purest natural shades of blue.
For a manmade material, YInMn blue pigment developed in 2009 is arguably the most saturated vibrant blue created. This inorganic compound composed of yttrium, indium, and manganese reflects blue light stronger than any other known pigment. It appears more blue than cobalt blue pigments.
Finally, anamorphic projection of blue light onto objects can produce an extremely saturated blue effect. By digitally projecting pure blue light onto a solid surface, virtually any object can take on an unnaturally vivid blue appearance. Zoo animals, buildings, people, and more can appear shockingly blue.
While many beautiful blues exist in our world, these three contenders demonstrate the most saturated, brilliant blues by maximizing blue wavelengths through optical reflection, digital projection, or a pure molecular structure. A pure blue diamond, a pool of YInMn pigment, or a digitally projected blue penguin exhibit blues at their peak intensity.
Conclusion
The color blue abounds in nature, gems, and manmade creations. But what is something specifically known for being intensely, vividly blue? Precious blue diamonds contain pure blue color. The pigment YInMn blue is engineered to be the most saturated manmade blue. Anamorphic projection can digitally produce supersaturated blue on any surface. All demonstrate that blues found in geology, chemistry, physics, and digital media can produce a color that approaches 100% saturation in its richness, brightness, and hue. So if asked to visualize the epitome of blue, think of looking into the Hope Diamond, swimming in a pool of YInMn pigment, or standing before a digitally anamorphed blue lion. The color blue finds its maximum expression in these natural and manmade examples.
