Sapphire Colours for Two Engagement Rings: Pairs That Work

Two sapphire colours make a matching pair of engagement rings when the two colours share something, such as a common tone or the same strength of colour. Blue with pink, blue with white, yellow with white, padparadscha with pink, and teal with blue are all pairs that hold together. Two shades of the same colour, such as a light blue and a deep blue, also work for couples who want a close match. GIA says sapphire comes in violet, green, yellow, orange, pink and purple as well as blue, so there are many combinations to try. Once you choose the colours, keep the metal, the cut or the setting the same on both rings. Look at the two stones side by side in daylight before you decide.

Sapphire is one step below diamond on the Mohs hardness scale, which ranks how well a stone resists scratches. GIA lists sapphire at 9 and diamond at 10 on that scale. GIA also says a diamond at 10 is many times harder than corundum, the mineral that makes sapphire, and for an engagement ring both stones handle daily wear well. GIA says corundum has excellent toughness and no cleavage, which means it resists chipping and breaking when knocked. So a couple with one sapphire ring and one diamond ring can both wear their rings every day without worry. Still, take both rings off for heavy work, such as moving furniture, gardening or lifting weights at the gym, to protect the settings.

A padparadscha sapphire is a rare pink-orange sapphire, and GIA describes it as both rare and valuable. GIA says the name comes from the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom, which matches its soft mix of pink and orange. Because it has pink in it, a padparadscha pairs well with a pink sapphire in a second ring, so two women can each wear a related colour. Yellow gold or rose gold settings warm up its colour, while white gold makes it look cooler. GIA lists sapphire at 9 on the Mohs scale, so a padparadscha is hard enough for a ring worn every day. Ask to see several stones in daylight, since the balance of pink and orange differs from stone to stone.

A teal sapphire is a sapphire whose colour sits between blue and green. GIA lists green among the colours sapphire comes in, and it says blue sapphire ranges from blue with a green tint to blue with a violet tint. A teal stone falls in that area between the two colours. For two engagement rings, teal pairs well with a blue sapphire, because the two colours sit next to each other and look calm together. Teal also suits white gold, which keeps the colour cool, or yellow gold, which makes the green in it show more. Look at teal stones in both daylight and indoor light, since a blue and green stone can lean one way or the other as the light changes.

A white sapphire is a good partner for a diamond ring when a couple wants two clear, bright stones that look related. GIA says pure corundum is colourless, and that colourless sapphires have made a comeback as accent stones in recent years. A white sapphire ring next to a diamond ring gives a pair with the same colour and a different stone. GIA lists sapphire at 9 on the Mohs scale and diamond at 10, so both suit a ring worn every day. You can tie the rings closer by using the same metal, the same shape and the same setting style. Clean both rings with warm, soapy water, which GIA says is always safe for sapphire, and dry them with a soft cloth.

Yes, a sapphire ring pairs well with a diamond ring when the two rings share a design detail. One partner may want a diamond and the other a sapphire, and both stones are hard enough for daily wear, with GIA listing sapphire at 9 and diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale. To link the rings, add a small diamond accent to the sapphire ring, or a small sapphire to the diamond ring. You can place that small stone on the side of the band, where it stays private to the two of you. Using the same metal and the same setting style also makes the pair clear at a glance. Our page on engagement rings for two women shows more pairing ideas.

White gold and platinum suit blue, white and teal sapphires, because they keep the colour cool and clear. Yellow gold suits yellow, orange and padparadscha sapphires, because the warm metal makes the warm colours in the stone look stronger. Rose gold sits close to pink and suits pink or padparadscha stones. These are starting points, and the best choice is the one you will want to wear every day. If each of you prefers a different metal, keep the same setting style and the same cut on both rings, so the pair still looks matched. Ask to hold each stone against each metal in the shop, since a photo on a phone or computer screen can change how a colour looks.

Yes, sapphire treatments change how you care for the rings, so ask whether each stone has been treated, and how, before you buy either ring. GIA says warm, soapy water is always safe for sapphire. It says ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated, heat-treated and lattice diffusion treated stones. GIA also says fracture-filled, cavity-filled and dyed sapphires should only be cleaned with a damp cloth, and that mild acids such as lemon juice can damage them. If your two rings have stones with different treatments, each ring may need its own cleaning routine at home. Write the treatment for each stone on your ring papers, and tell any jeweller who cleans, resizes or repairs either ring later on.