Take a scroll through our engagement rings, and you’ll notice sapphires are ever-present alongside diamonds. Thanks to their durability (diamonds are the only harder stone!) and their timeless look, they’re a favorite among couples shopping for rings. But while you’ve probably heard all about the 4 Cs of diamond, those considerations don’t necessarily translate to shopping for a sapphire engagement ring.

Sapphires are nuanced. They come in a wide range of colors, and it’s not necessarily the same straightforward process of looking for the absolute perfectly colored stone with zero flaws. Beauty is more in the eye of the beholder when it comes to sapphires. Each one is so incredibly unique, and, while it helps to know what you’re looking for, the right stone is the one that resonates with you.

If you’re exploring proposing with a sapphire engagement ring, here’s what I, as a jeweler, would want you to know.

Shape, Cut, and Setting

The sapphires you’ll see most often in my designs are round, oval, and cushion. These shapes work beautifully with the watery hues of the stone. But anything is on the table — pear, marquise, radiant, and so on. Sapphires pair beautifully with the warmth of yellow gold, but you also can’t go wrong with the cool combination of a white gold or platinum next to an icy blue.

Color Range

Sapphires are most closely associated with blue, but the range is broad. You’ll find colors from yellow to pink to dark teal, green, and all shades of blue. One of our favorite unusual options is a parti sapphire, which combines two colors. You might find a sapphire that displays yellow fading into green-blue or a vibrant blue and violet. 

Provenance

As lab diamonds become an increasingly popular choice, there’s something about sapphires coming straight from the earth that becomes more appealing. They’re natural and created through a process that takes thousands of years. They’re unique and beautifully flawed. They represent something that simply can’t be grown in a lab. 

Because I focus on ethical stones and sourcing, I work closely with American miners to find the most stunning sapphires out of places like Montana.

Choosing the Right Sapphire

With diamonds, many customers will come in knowing that they want a 2.0 carat diamond with near colorless E grading that has no visible inclusions. Sapphires don’t work along this quantifiable rubric.

The right sapphire is the one that speaks to you. It’s not the carat size or the fewest imperfections. There are some many nuances to these richly colored stones. Look at what faces up as you stare at the stone. Does it move you? That’s your sapphire.

Proposing with a Custom vs. In-Stock Ring

I’ve designed a collection of one-of-a-kind sapphire engagement rings, each one created to show off the unique sapphires that I’ve sourced from some of my favorite miners across the country. For many customers, they find their ring among these designs.

However, if you have a custom vision in mind, I would love to connect. You’ll find more information about my custom process here, and we can chat about your dream sapphire engagement ring and how to bring that to life.