Long time lurker, but I rarely post. I have enjoyed reading and learning so much from these forums over the past year.
Now, however, it is my turn to start the engagement ring designing process. After doing some extensive shopping with my girlfriend, I have a pretty good idea of what she likes, but now the hard part is finding a stone that fits the bill for under $8k.
What I am looking for is a medium blue, precision cut in a roughly rectangular shape (with similar dimensions to a traditional radiant, cushion, or emerald cut). Because to some degree, the cut would dictate the weight of the stone, I am looking for something under 7.2mm long by somewhere between 5 and 6mm wide, whatever carat weight that would be.
Before I got into searching for a sapphire, I was researching diamonds, so to put it in terms I am more familiar with, I am looking for an AGS 000 sapphire. That is, a flawless (or near flawless) stone of the highest polish and with the best cut possible. I would prefer a stone that wasn't heat treated, but if I have to give in on anything, heat treatment will be the first condition to go by the wayside.
I've been in touch with many, many precision cutters and gem dealers (hi jeff, gene, dan, ed, jerry, lisa, john, barry, and rick!) who have all been wonderful to deal with, but no one has a sapphire (or even rough) that has everything that I'm looking for.
I know Tucson is coming up, and a number of the people I have been in touch with have offered to look for sapphires for me that meet the bill, but I wanted to ask the PSers who are so knowledgeable and from whom I have learned so much: Am I crazy for trying to find all of these things in one stone, given the market for sapphires right now? Does such a stone even exist at my price range? And do you have any suggestions for things to look for to make the search a little more manageable?
Thankfully, I have until May to find a stone. But even that might not be enough time
Now, however, it is my turn to start the engagement ring designing process. After doing some extensive shopping with my girlfriend, I have a pretty good idea of what she likes, but now the hard part is finding a stone that fits the bill for under $8k.
What I am looking for is a medium blue, precision cut in a roughly rectangular shape (with similar dimensions to a traditional radiant, cushion, or emerald cut). Because to some degree, the cut would dictate the weight of the stone, I am looking for something under 7.2mm long by somewhere between 5 and 6mm wide, whatever carat weight that would be.
Before I got into searching for a sapphire, I was researching diamonds, so to put it in terms I am more familiar with, I am looking for an AGS 000 sapphire. That is, a flawless (or near flawless) stone of the highest polish and with the best cut possible. I would prefer a stone that wasn't heat treated, but if I have to give in on anything, heat treatment will be the first condition to go by the wayside.
I've been in touch with many, many precision cutters and gem dealers (hi jeff, gene, dan, ed, jerry, lisa, john, barry, and rick!) who have all been wonderful to deal with, but no one has a sapphire (or even rough) that has everything that I'm looking for.
I know Tucson is coming up, and a number of the people I have been in touch with have offered to look for sapphires for me that meet the bill, but I wanted to ask the PSers who are so knowledgeable and from whom I have learned so much: Am I crazy for trying to find all of these things in one stone, given the market for sapphires right now? Does such a stone even exist at my price range? And do you have any suggestions for things to look for to make the search a little more manageable?
Thankfully, I have until May to find a stone. But even that might not be enough time