Sapphire vs Cobalt
Can you tell them apart?
#0F52BA
#0047AB
Perceptual difference (ΔE): 4.8 — very similar.
Sapphire and cobalt are both vivid, rich mid-to-deep blues that appear in jewellery, art, and luxury branding. Sapphire takes its name from the gemstone: a clear, bright royal-to-deep blue with some warmth and luminosity, the reference colour for prestigious blues. Cobalt is named after the mineral cobalt aluminate, the pigment responsible for the distinctive blue in pottery glazes, stained glass, and Yves Klein's famous monochromes — slightly cooler, more intensely saturated, and marginally darker. Both are 'true blues' with strong presence, but cobalt is a touch cooler and deeper while sapphire is fractionally warmer and more open.
How to tell them apart
Cobalt is cooler and deeper; sapphire is fractionally warmer and brighter. If it looks like a Van Gogh sky, Delft pottery, or Klein Blue, it's cobalt; if it looks like a precious gemstone, a luxury jewellery advertisement, or a rich royal uniform, it's sapphire.
Color values
| HEX | #0F52BA |
|---|---|
| RGB | 15, 82, 186 |
| HSL | 216°, 85%, 39% |
| CMYK | 92, 56, 0, 27 |
| HEX | #0047AB |
|---|---|
| RGB | 0, 71, 171 |
| HSL | 215°, 100%, 34% |
| CMYK | 100, 58, 0, 33 |
FAQ
- Is sapphire the same as cobalt blue?
- They're close but distinct. Cobalt is slightly cooler and more intensely saturated; sapphire is marginally warmer and associated with the gemstone.
- Which is darker, sapphire or cobalt?
- Cobalt is marginally darker and cooler; sapphire is fractionally lighter and warmer.