Input on cushion ~6mm square sapphires

[BobBlue_UK]

Hi Folks,

I'd recently started a thread to get some advice on a pear sapphire: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-finding-pear-sapphire-for-engagement-ring.204028/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-finding-pear-sapphire-for-engagement-ring.204028/..[/URL]. Taking on board some useful advice here and having spoken to a few designers, the brief has changed

I'm still looking for a sapphire but have refocussed my search on cushion cut. Approx 6mm square. Same colour as before which Chrono described as "slightly violetish blue, medium to medium dark with strong to very strong saturation." Have started a new thread as the old title is no longer accurate.

I'm talking to a few UK suppliers at the minute. A couple of suggestions have come up and I'd welcome your thoughts:

Stone 1

The dealer tells me this is Sri Lankan, heat treated. Per the dimensions on the 3rd picture it's 1.52ct, 6.5x5.8mm:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e0985g9dr51u4mh/Emailed%20IMG_1970.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/14fvr4usziy7ixt/IMG_20140728_164543.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tjnhwn99t8k8qh4/IMG_20140728_164709_edit.jpg

Priced at £2188 so approx £1440/$2440 per ct. I'm early in the journey so have no idea if that is in the ballpark of reasonable for a stone such as this or not?

Stones 2 & 3

I've only got one very poor quality photos of these at the minute. I've asked for better but in the meantime, have been told:

The sapphire on the left is a slightly deeper colour and is approx. .95ct 5.5 x 5.5mm cushion cut AAAA quality. £1300.00
The sapphire on the right is a slightly lighter and more purple colour and is approx. .85ct 5.5 x 5.5mm cushion cut AAAA quality. £1150.00

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hdk7fnxoul210p6/EJ.jpg

I guess these must be shallower cut than stone 1 based on the relative sizes? Is the AAAA quality rating the dealer refers to a consistently applied standard or is that just sales mumbo jumbo?

Thanks All

 

[MrsCornishWed]

I'm just marking my place here as also in UK.

 

[chrono]

Pictures first, then comments.

 

[chrono]

None of these pictures are helpful for us to evaluate anything.

Sapphire 1
It is best to have a straight on picture to evaluate cut (windowing, extinction) and colour (zoning). A profile picture to see potential cut issues (bulge, off centered culet, shallow/deep, inclusions, etc). The lighting is also so dim/poor that I cannot make out the colour accurately. The pictures are blurry and all show the sapphire in a tilted position.

Sapphire 2
I think flash photography was used, which distorts the true colour of gems, making them look better than they really are IRL. Same blurry issues as sapphire 1 pictures.

 

[BobBlue_UK]

I'll try to get some better shots and come back to you. In the meantime - any thoughts on what carat weight / mm depth you would consider to be within normal range for a 6-7mm square stone - what would you guys be concerned was cut too shallow / too deep?

Thanks

 

[chrono]

Anything around 70 to 75% depth is fine, give or take, depending on colour quality and price. There are positives with shallow and deep stones.

A shallow cut faces up bigger but if cut right, a good setting can mask minor window issues.
A deep cut helps concentrate colour better so I can forgive a deep cut (not too deep though) if the price and colour is right.

 

[BobBlue_UK]

Can I get the communities thoughts on these two stones please. The seller tells me that stone 5 is more saturated than stone 4 although to my untrained eyes, it looks the other way around.

Stone 4:

Weight: 1.29cts
Measurements: 6.5x6mm, depth 4mm
Clarity: VVS
Origin: Sri Lanka
Enhancements: None
Price: $ 1695.00




Stone 5:

Weight: 2.32 cts
Measurements: 7.9x6.8 mm (have requested the depth)
Clarity: VVS
Origin: Sri Lanka
Enhancements: None
Price: $ 2320.00



Thanks

 

[chrono]

Gemfix will not ship any gemstones that cost greater than USD$1000 out of the country, which effectively strikes him off your supplier list.

 

[BobBlue_UK]

Hi Chrono - Yes I'm aware of that which is why I was slightly surprised you recommended them in the first place ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-finding-pear-sapphire-for-engagement-ring.204028/#post-3713878#p3714322']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-finding-pear-sapphire-for-engagement-ring.204028/#post-3713878#p3714322[/URL]). Nevertheless I've spoken with them about the challenges they face with shipping overseas and I have contacts in the US who can act as an intermediary so it wouldn't be an issue.

Any input on the stones?

 

[chrono]

Hi Chrono - Yes I'm aware of that which is why I was slightly surprised you recommended them in the first place ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-finding-pear-sapphire-for-engagement-ring.204028/#post-3713878#p3714322']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-finding-pear-sapphire-for-engagement-ring.204028/#post-3713878#p3714322[/URL]). Nevertheless I've spoken with them about the challenges they face with shipping overseas and I have contacts in the US who can act as an intermediary so it wouldn't be an issue.

Any input on the stones?

My apologies; I must not have realized you were in the UK at that time even though it is clearly obvious from your handle.

I have two main concerns if you go the Intermediary route:
1. How does that affect your return period? Does your Intermediary ship the stones to you in the UK? If so, then you could be outside of the return window by the time you receive the stones for review. If not, I would presume your Intermediary will be your "eyes" to make the final judgement on your behalf.
2. What recourse do you have should the stone be damaged in-transit (if he/she ships the stone to you)? Is this the responsibility of the Intermediary or will that fall on you? Is your Intermediary well versed enough with gemstones to know what to look for in terms of damage, shipping, etc.?

I recall another PSer who tried to purchased from GemFix through an Intermediary and Gemfix refused due to the reasons I stated above.

Stone 4 is nicer than Stone 5, both colour and cut-wise.