Sapphire
A deep, saturated blue named after the sapphire gemstone
Sapphire is a strong, vivid blue shade named after the gemstone, which is best known for its blue varieties. The colour name 'sapphire' was first recorded in English in 1430. Several variants exist, including medium sapphire in Crayola crayons and king blue, which has a violet tint.
Share on WhatsAppOpen in the lab
- Sapphire is a saturated blue named after the gemstone.
- The colour name was first recorded in English in 1430.
- Medium sapphire is a Crayola crayon shade.
- King blue is a violet-toned variant of sapphire.
- Pantone lists a Blue Sapphire in its colour system.
What colour is Sapphire?
Sapphire is a rich and saturated blue, closely linked to the gemstone that shares its name. The colour stands out for its intensity and depth, making it distinct from lighter or more muted blues. While sapphires as gems can come in many colours, the term 'sapphire' as a colour almost always refers to this vivid blue.
Where does Sapphire come from?
The name comes from the sapphire gemstone, which is most famous for its blue varieties. The use of 'sapphire' to describe a colour in English dates back to 1430. Over time, the colour has become associated with the deep blue found in the most prized sapphires.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
Lapis lazuli has been mined in the mountains of Badakhshan for more than six thousand years. Ground to powder it gave ultramarine, the costliest blue in European painting.
Royalty and powerSacred and holyAweSource: Lapis lazuliThe chadari is a full-length covering for women with a mesh panel over the eyes. In Kabul and the north it is most often a light blue.
Protection and healingSource: BurqaThe blue band of the flag stands for the wish of the Armenian people to live under peaceful skies. The red above it is for the highlands and the struggle to survive.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is sky blue, white and sky blue, created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812. National teams are called the Albiceleste, the white and sky blue.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of ArgentinaBoca Juniors play in blue and gold. The club's story is that in 1907 it took the colours of the flag of the next ship into port, which was Swedish.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Boca JuniorsTo be true blue is to be honestly and loyally Australian. The phrase is older than the country, but Australians have made it their own.
Politics and protestTrustSource: True Blue (John Williamson song)Shades and relatives of Sapphire
Several shades are related to sapphire. Medium sapphire is the version used in Crayola Gem Tones crayons. King blue is a variant with a hint of violet, while dark sapphire is a deeper, darker tone. Blue Sapphire is also listed in Pantone's colour system. B'dazzled blue is a metallic crayon shade related to sapphire.
Colours that go with Sapphire
Harmonies are worked out from the value #0F52BA. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Sapphire
What colour is sapphire?
Sapphire is a deep, vivid blue, named after the gemstone most known for its blue shades.
Where does the name 'sapphire' come from?
The name comes from the sapphire gemstone, which is especially valued for its blue varieties.
When was sapphire first used as a colour name in English?
The first recorded use of sapphire as a colour name in English was in 1430.
Are there different shades of sapphire?
Yes, variants include medium sapphire (a Crayola crayon shade), king blue (with a violet tint), and dark sapphire.
Is sapphire always blue?
As a colour name, sapphire refers to blue, though the gemstone itself can occur in many colours.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Shades of blue" (the section "Sapphire"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More of the blue family
All of blue
#6A5DFF
Indigo
A deep blue named for the dye once exported from IndiaNamed shade 路 馃嚠馃嚦 India +5
#120A8F
Ultramarine
A deep blue pigment once made from lapis lazuli, prized for centuries in artPigment 路 馃嚘馃嚝 Afghanistan +2
#007FFF
Azure
A clear sky blue, halfway between blue and cyan on the colour wheelNamed shade 路 馃嚠馃嚬 Italy +2
#87CEEB
Sky blue
A light blue named for the colour of a clear daytime skyNamed shade 路 馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina +5
#0047AB
Cobalt blue
A strong, stable blue pigment made from cobalt and alumina since the early 1800sPigment 路 馃嚝馃嚪 France +3
#000080
Navy blue
A deep blue shade named for the uniforms of the Royal NavyNamed shade 路 馃嚭馃嚫 United States +2
#007BA7
Cerulean
A blue-green colour once made from cobalt stannate and linked with the skyNamed shade 路 馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom
#002366
Royal blue
A strong, deep blue linked with royalty and national flagsNamed shade 路 馃嚝馃嚪 France +4