ENGAGEMENT RINGS

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

First, coloured gemstones offer an infinite palette 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 unique tones of a tourmaline. Every stone is unique in its colour, its inclusions, its character — just like your story.

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

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

Maison Bonnot Paris is a gem dealer and jeweller with deep expertise in coloured stones. We source every stone ourselves, with no middlemen, through our offices in Asia. Here are the most sought-after stones for engagement rings:

Sapphire: the ultimate engagement stone

Sapphire is the premier engagement stone after diamond. Available in a 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 from our office in Sri Lanka, the birthplace of the world's finest specimens. Explore our full sapphire collection.

Emerald: a declaration of love in green

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

Ruby: passion embodied

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

Tourmaline: originality in its purest form

For couples who want to stand out from the crowd, tourmaline offers extraordinary colours: vivid pink, forest green, or the incredible neon blue of Paraíba tourmaline. Discover our tourmaline selection.

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

The solitaire remains a timeless classic: a centre stone showcased by a clean, uncluttered setting. With a coloured gemstone, the solitaire takes on an entirely different dimension than with a diamond — the 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 illusion of a more impressive 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 and future. It also allows you to play with colour combinations — a central sapphire flanked by two diamonds, for example. The toi-et-moi ring, with two stones side by side, is enjoying a revival and lends itself especially well to pairings of different coloured stones.

Vintage, Art Deco, Edwardian and Victorian styles appeal to those who love intricate details: milgrain, engravings and openwork settings. Conversely, contemporary designs favour clean lines and allow the stone to speak for itself. Whatever style appeals to you, we create it bespoke around your stone.

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

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

Then the design. Classic solitaire, diamond halo, three-stone, toi-et-moi, vintage or contemporary — the possibilities are endless. You can draw inspiration from our existing creations, send us a reference image, or start from a blank page. Our design team transforms your idea into a tangible piece of jewellery.

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

The budget. Our engagement rings start from a few thousand euros and can reach considerably higher budgets for rare, exceptional stones. There is no minimum or maximum spend: we tailor our proposals to your budget 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 simple, transparent process, designed so that you are never left in the dark.

1. Initial consultation. You get in touch with us by WhatsApp, email or phone. We discuss your project, your inspirations and your budget. This conversation is free and without obligation.

2. Stone selection. We present you with a selection of stones matching your criteria, sourced directly from our offices in Bangkok (Thailand), Beruwala (Sri Lanka) and Jaipur (India). Every 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. Artisan craftsmanship. Your ring is crafted in our partner atelier in Bangkok by experienced master jewellers. The average lead time is 4 to 6 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 gem dealer and jeweller, we buy our stones directly at source, with no middlemen whatsoever. This unique model allows us to offer stones of exceptional quality at their true value — whereas a traditional supply chain multiplies margins at every step.

We are the only French house to be a member of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), the world reference for the coloured gemstone 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 cold boutique, no hurried sales assistant: direct exchanges 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 varies primarily according to the chosen stone: its type, size, quality and 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 4 to 6 weeks between design approval and delivery of your ring. This lead time includes artisan craftsmanship and quality checks. If your project is urgent, let our team know — we do everything we can to accommodate your timeline.

Sapphire and ruby have a hardness of 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, just below diamond. They are perfectly suited to everyday wear. Emerald (7.5 to 8) and tourmaline (7 to 7.5) require a protective, appropriate setting — which we are fully equipped to provide — and also offer excellent durability for daily wear.

Absolutely. We send you detailed photos and videos of every stone we propose, accompanied by 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 gem dealer and jeweller: we buy our stones directly at source, in Asia, with no middlemen. This means access to a far wider inventory than a traditional jeweller, full traceability for every stone, and fair prices — free from the accumulated margins of conventional supply chains. Moreover, every creation is truly bespoke: we start from your stone and your vision, not from a predefined catalogue.