Sapphire colours: the complete shade guide
François Deprez5/8/2026
The Sapphire Guide
François Deprez
April 29, 2026
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5 min read
Bonnot Paris · The Precious Stones Journal 2026
The sapphire ring: colours, value, styles
Engagement, cocktail, anniversary gift: the complete guide to the sapphire ring — which colour, which value, which setting — by our Parisian jewellers.
Of all coloured gemstones, the sapphire is the one that lends itself to every ring project: durable enough for everyday wear, rich enough in nuance to belong to no one but you.
This guide covers the sapphire ring in all its forms — engagement, cocktail, gift. If your project is specifically a marriage proposal, our dedicated guide to the sapphire engagement ring goes into detail on budget, heat treatment and the atelier journey.
01
The palette
Sapphire colours in a ring
Sapphire is corundum in every colour except red (which is called ruby). In rings, four families dominate:
Blue
The timeless
From royal blue to Ceylon cornflower: the reference, the one that crosses decades without ever dating.
Teal
The contemporary
Blue-green, shifting with the light — the hallmark of modern rings.
Padparadscha
The rare
Lotus-blossom pink-orange, the rarest colour in the world — a collector's ring.
To go further
Shade-by-shade detail can be found in our guide to sapphire colours. One golden rule: never choose a colour on screen — it is the real stone, in natural daylight, that has the final say.
02
The budget
What value for a sapphire ring?
The price of a sapphire ring is first and foremost the price of its stone: carat, colour, clarity, origin and treatment — then the setting (metal, diamonds, complexity of the mount). At Bonnot, creations start from around €2,500, with the heart of the collection between €4,500 and €12,000.
Detailed price ranges by carat and colour — and the pitfalls to avoid, such as "price per gram" — are set out in our complete sapphire price guide. Remember the golden rule: at equal weight, it is colour saturation that drives value, and only an independent laboratory certificate makes two stones truly comparable.
Two rings, two spirits
Engagement
Vintage, oval blue sapphire 2.17 ct
Sri Lanka, vintage-spirit yellow gold setting: the archetype of the sapphire engagement ring, designed around the actual stone.
Character
Shouldered, padparadscha 2.02 ct
Madagascar, the rarest colour in the world set in a shouldered mounting: as much a collector's piece as an everyday ring.
03
The symbol
What the sapphire means
A stone of fidelity, sincerity and wisdom since Antiquity, the sapphire is the gemstone of pledges — it was worn by Lady Diana, and is worn today by the Princess of Wales. Given as a ring, it speaks of constancy; at the sapphire anniversary, it celebrates 16 years of marriage.
The full story — royal connections, beliefs, virtues attributed to the stone — is in our guide to the meaning of the sapphire, and the subject of 16 years in sapphire anniversary: the guide.
04
The styles
Engagement, cocktail, gift: which sapphire ring?
01
The timeless classic. Budget, colour, heat treatment, setting: everything is covered in our dedicated guide.
02
The cocktail ring
A bold stone, worn for its own sake — often a teal, a yellow or a fine two-toned example of generous proportions.
03
The anniversary gift
A September birthday (the sapphire is its birthstone), a sapphire anniversary, or simply a desire for blue.
04
The toi-et-moi & the signet ring
Two stones in dialogue, or a sapphire cut in a masculine spirit: bespoke opens every possibility.
The metal
Yellow gold to warm deep blues, white gold or platinum to make teals vibrate, rose gold to soften pinks and padparadscha. And to ensure the ring lasts: see how to clean and care for a sapphire.
05
The atelier
Created bespoke in our atelier
At Bonnot, the ring is built around the stone, never the other way round: selection of a certified sapphire (online or in our showroom), gouache drawing of the setting, 3D rendering, then hand craftsmanship. Allow 4 to 8 weeks between design approval and delivery of the ring.
Our sapphires are selected directly at the source, in Sri Lanka and Madagascar — your budget goes to the stone and the craft, not to intermediaries. Discover bespoke creation →
06
Frequently asked questions
The sapphire ring in questions
Which colour for a ring worn every day?
Any of them: hardness (9/10) does not depend on the hue. Blue for the timeless choice, teal for a contemporary feel, pink or padparadscha for softness. Try them in natural daylight before deciding.
How much does a sapphire ring cost?
From €2,500, with the heart of the collection ranging from €4,500 to €12,000. The stone-by-stone breakdown is in our sapphire price guide.
Can a sapphire be worn every day?
Yes, that is one of its greatest qualities. Simply remove the ring for sport, housework and swimming — the right habits are outlined in our care guide.
Which setting best showcases a sapphire?
A solitaire for purity of line, a halo for brilliance, a toi-et-moi for colour pairings. The metal is chosen against the actual stone, in the atelier.
Yellow gold, white gold or platinum?
Yellow gold for deep blues and a vintage spirit; white gold and platinum for teals and a modern aesthetic; rose gold for warm hues. And it is a matter of skin tone — which is why trying is essential.
Your sapphire ring, designed for you
Browse our certified sapphires, or let us discuss your project — in Paris or remotely.
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François Deprez
Founder of Bonnot Paris
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