Understanding Color Psychology: What Makes Deep Blue So Captivating?

What do Taylor Swift, Michael Ealy, and Alexandra Daddario have in common? They have the deepest blue eyes. Mesmerizing and enigmatic, it’s like looking into an ocean.

That’s what makes them more alluring. Even Billie Eilish sings about those Ocean Eyes, her voice quivering as she vocalizes “Fifteen flares inside those ocean eyes”.

It’s not a coincidence that most of us see beauty in the color blue. And not just blue, the deepest blue. It’s by design. Color psychology plays a significant role. We’ll explain how below.

Feeling all the Feels

Why do we associate feeling melancholy with the shade of blue? Your sadness becomes profound when looking at a painting washed in blue.

Some of the world’s most famous artists used the color to convey emotion. Picasso comes to mind. During his “blue period,” the Spanish painter produced some of his best works.

Then again, it can have the opposite effect. According to Verywell Mind, when individuals were asked to characterize the color as an emotion, most described it as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.

Blue Bloods

Decades later, the late Princess Diana’s engagement ring remains the most illustrious in the world.

The iconic royal blue sapphire ring sparked a frenzy. Young brides clamored for copycat versions, proudly showing them off to envious friends. Sourced from Sri Lanka, the 12-carat oval-cut sapphire stone was the pièce de résistance for one main reason. The precious stone was an intense blue, almost hypnotic.

The symbolism was also hard to ignore; blue was associated with royalty and nobility. Today, the British royal family continues to use the shade in all its correspondence.

Diamonds are Forever, But Sapphires are Stunning

Diamonds are losing their sparkle. Consumer appetites are changing. Forbes reports that the decline of fancy color diamonds and white diamonds as a store of wealth is accelerating.

It was only a matter of time. From unethical diamond mining to the influx of lab-grown varieties, the writing was clearly on the wall for the diamond industry.

Taking its place are sapphires. Their rich symbolism and exceptional durability make them the darlings of the gemstone world. One only needs to look at sapphire designs from the Leibish store to know you’re in exquisite company.

Enter Stage Left

Costume design has taken inspiration from deep blue since the dawn of the arts. To you, it might look like any other piece of clothing, but every piece is selected to enhance the storytelling, says Loop Talent.

Dark blues (navy or midnight blue) are used for uniforms (police, military) to project reliability, professionalism, and strength. In film, characters in deep blue often command respect and appear competent.

Deep blue feels calm and soothing, like the ocean or a quiet night sky. Writers use this color for characters who are peaceful or bring a sense of calm when everything around them is chaotic.

Notes from a Color Theory Expert

Isabella Meyer knows color. She’s made a career of it. She writes that deep blue is one of the most versatile shades and is linked to calmness, peace, and stability.

That’s why you see it being used everywhere, from art to fashion to interior design. Why? Because it works well in many settings and carries strong, reliable symbolism.

Pointing to ancient Egypt, Mayer explains that the first synthetic blue pigment, called Egyptian blue, was created here. The color was highly valued, believed to offer protection, and associated with the divine.

Nature’s Elusive Color Palette

Dark or deep blue is everywhere in nature. It reflects the ocean and the sky. Yet the European Wilderness Society calls it “the phantom color of the natural world.”

You may not know this, but this particular shade is surprisingly rare in plants and animals. Less than 10% of plant species have blue flowers, and even fewer animals are naturally blue, claims the environmental advocacy NPO.

Blue is rare in nature because it doesn’t come from a common or stable pigment in living things. Unlike red, yellow, or green, blue usually isn’t a true pigment at all. Instead, it’s an optical illusion, created by the way light interacts with surfaces rather than by chemistry. How’s that for mind-blowing?

The Deepest Blue

Who would have known that a simple shade of blue could elicit such emotion and symbolism?

In a world of multiple colors, the deepest blue remains the choice of nobility, the military, and love. Skip the diamonds and emeralds in your next jewelry purchase. Choose pieces you love but make them sapphire. And the next time you’re stuck on a color choice, go blue… deep blue.