The diamond solitaire has long been the default choice for an engagement ring. Yet more and more couples are turning to coloured stones — sapphire, emerald, ruby, tourmaline — to express their individuality. And for good reason.

First, coloured stones offer an infinite range of hues: the deep blue of a blue sapphire, the velvety green of an emerald, the intense red of a ruby, the delicate pink of a pink sapphire, or the singular tones of a tourmaline. Each stone is unique in its colour, its inclusions, its character — much like your own story.

Beyond beauty, stones such as sapphire and ruby (hardness 9 on the Mohs scale) are perfectly suited to everyday wear. They resist knocks and scratches with the same resilience as a diamond. The emerald, with a hardness of 7.5 to 8, is also a durable choice when properly set.

Finally, for an equivalent budget, an exceptional coloured stone delivers a visual impact and a rarity that a standardised diamond simply cannot match. For the same investment, you acquire a truly extraordinary stone.

Maison Bonnot Paris is a stone dealer and jeweller with a deep specialisation in coloured stones. We source every stone ourselves, without intermediaries, through our offices in Asia. Here are the stones most requested for engagements:

Sapphire: the quintessential engagement stone

The sapphire is the engagement stone par excellence after the diamond. Available in a wide spectrum of colours — blue, pink, teal, violet, padparadscha, yellow — it combines exceptional hardness (9/10) with colours that captivate the eye. Our sapphires are sourced directly through our office in Sri Lanka, home to some of the finest specimens in the world. Discover our full sapphire collection.

Emerald: a declaration of love in green

The emerald engagement ring captivates with its deep green, a symbol of renewal and growth. Our emeralds are sourced directly through our office in Jaipur, a gateway to the finest stones from Colombia and Zambia. The emerald calls for a tailored protective setting — and that is where our expertise comes into its own. Explore our emerald selection.

Ruby: passion made stone

The stone of passion and courage, the ruby is a bold choice for an engagement. Its intense red gives every ring a striking character. The finest rubies come from Burma and Mozambique. Browse our ruby collection.

Tourmaline: originality in its purest form

For couples who wish to go beyond the conventional, the tourmaline offers extraordinary colours: vivid pink, forest green, or the remarkable neon blue of the Paraíba tourmaline. Discover our tourmaline selection.

At Bonnot Paris, every engagement ring is created bespoke, yet certain styles come up time and again in our clients' requests. Knowing them will help you refine your vision.

The solitaire remains the great classic: a centre stone showcased in a refined, understated mount. With a coloured stone, the solitaire takes on an entirely different dimension — colour becomes the absolute focal point of the jewel. The halo, where a surround of small diamonds frames the centre stone, amplifies its brilliance and creates the impression of a more substantial stone. It is a style particularly well suited to emeralds and more modest-sized sapphires.

The three-stone ring (or trilogy) carries a powerful symbolism: past, present, future. It also invites a play on colour combinations — a central sapphire flanked by two diamonds, for example. The toi-et-moi ring, with two stones set side by side, is enjoying a revival and lends itself beautifully to pairings of different coloured stones.

Vintage styles — Art Deco, Edwardian, Victorian — appeal to those who love intricate detailing: milgrain edging, engraving, openwork mounts. Conversely, contemporary designs favour purity of line and allow the stone to speak for itself. Whatever style draws you, we create it bespoke around your stone.

Choosing an engagement ring can feel daunting, especially when exploring the world of coloured stones for the first time. Here are the essential criteria for making the right choice.

The stone comes first. In a coloured-stone engagement ring, the stone is everything. Its colour, its cut, its carat weight and its clarity determine its brilliance and character. At Maison Bonnot, we help you understand these criteria and find the stone that matches your taste and your budget. Every stone is accompanied by a gemmological certificate issued by an independent laboratory.

Then the design. Classic solitaire, diamond halo, three stones, toi-et-moi, vintage or contemporary — the possibilities are endless. You may draw inspiration from our existing creations, send us a reference image, or start entirely from scratch. Our design team transforms your idea into a tangible jewel.

The metal. Yellow gold, rose gold, white gold or platinum: each metal creates a different mood and flatters the stone in its own way. We will advise you on the ideal pairing between your stone and its mount.

The budget. Our engagement rings start from a few thousand euros and can extend to significantly higher budgets for rare and exceptional stones. There is no minimum or maximum: we tailor our proposals to your envelope and always seek to maximise the quality of the stone for your investment. Contact us for a personalised quote.

Creating a bespoke engagement ring with Maison Bonnot follows a straightforward and transparent process, designed so that you are never left in the dark.

1. First conversation. You reach us by WhatsApp, email or phone. We discuss your project, your inspirations and your budget. This exchange is entirely free and without obligation.

2. Stone selection. We propose a selection of stones matching your criteria, sourced directly through our offices in Bangkok (Thailand), Beruwala (Sri Lanka) and Jaipur (India). Each stone is certified by a recognised gemmological laboratory.

3. Design and approval. You choose or co-create the design of your ring. We send you a 3D render for approval before production begins.

4. Skilled manufacture. Your ring is crafted by experienced jewellery makers at our partner workshop in Bangkok. The average lead time is four to six weeks.

5. Delivery and guarantee. Your creation is delivered with its gemmological certificate, its case and our guarantee. Should any adjustment be needed, we take care of it.

Bonnot Paris is not a jeweller like any other. As a stone dealer and jeweller, we purchase our stones directly at source, with no intermediaries. This distinctive model allows us to offer stones of exceptional quality at their true value — whereas a traditional supply chain adds margins at every step.

We are the only French house that is a member of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), the global reference for the coloured stone trade. Our founder, François Deprez, travels personally to source the most remarkable stones. It is these journeys and this expertise that make the difference between a beautiful stone and a truly extraordinary one.

Our support is personal from start to finish. No impersonal boutique, no hurried salesperson: a direct exchange with our team of experts who take the time to understand your project and guide you towards the very best choice.

The price of an engagement ring depends primarily on the stone chosen: its type, its size, its quality and its rarity. Our bespoke creations start from a few thousand euros. For a precise estimate tailored to your project and budget, we invite you to contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.

Allow an average of four to six weeks between design approval and delivery of your ring. This timeframe includes manufacture and quality checks. If your project is time-sensitive, please mention it to our team: we do our utmost to accommodate your schedule.

Sapphire and ruby have a hardness of 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, just below diamond. They are perfectly suited to daily wear. Emerald (7.5 to 8) and tourmaline (7 to 7.5) require a tailored protective setting — something we handle with great care — and also offer excellent durability for everyday use.

Of course. We send you detailed photographs and videos of each stone we propose, along with its gemmological certificate. If you are in Paris, you are also welcome to make an appointment to view the stones in person. No commitment is required until you have found the stone that is right for you.

Maison Bonnot is a stone dealer and jeweller: we purchase our stones directly at source, in Asia, with no intermediaries. This means access to a far broader selection than a traditional jeweller, complete traceability for every stone, and fair pricing — free from the cumulative margins of conventional supply chains. Moreover, every creation is genuinely bespoke: we begin with your stone and your desires, not a predefined catalogue.