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Second guessing purple sapphire purchase for ering- thoughts?

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IrisAccents

Shiny_Rock
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Hi everyone,


I have been a lurker for a while, especially in the colored stones forum. My boyfriend and I did a lot of looking to find a cushion cut purple sapphire for a halo ering. We found the setting that we wanted but it had an amethyst in it, which was too light purple for my taste, and I wanted a more durable stone for my ering.


We had a very hard time finding a purple sapphire in the cut and dimensions that we wanted, in a deep purple. We have been working with a local jeweler and none of the stones they found for us were really what we were looking for. About 3 weeks ago we found one online and purchased it. The gemologist at the jewelery store confirmed it was a real sapphire and said it was eye clean with no major inclusions or anything that would affect the durability of the stone. And it was the perfect size for the setting So we handed it over to have them place the stone in the setting.


But now, after reading more posts about windows and "dead stones" I am beginning to worry that the stone is to dark and has a large window.


I''m a little scared for feedback, but I would like to have some input.

Thanks everyone in advance- you guys are an amazing community and I am glad to take the plunge into participating!
The photos I took are pretty bad- I took them quickly in direct sunlight before we took the stone to the jeweler... let''s see if they attach...



Stone2-kp04101.gif
 

IrisAccents

Shiny_Rock
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Side view...

Stone3-kp04101.gif
 

IrisAccents

Shiny_Rock
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these seem a little pixelated...here''s the stone next to the setting under very different light

Stone-and-Settingkp04101.gif
 

AustenNut

Brilliant_Rock
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I hesitate to post any reply, because I really am not an expert at all. Not even an connoisseur. But from the first picture you posted, it would appear as though there is a rather large window. I''ve read about some windows closing up when set, and perhaps your sapphire would do the same. At the moment though, I''m somewhat hesitant.

What online sources did you search while looking for a sapphire? Did you speak to any cutters about getting one cut specifically for you? Anyway, I just wanted to respond so you wouldn''t feel ignored, but just remember that I am not a specialist here.

And one other thing. Do you love the stone? Does it make you happy? Because there are PS people who have stones with windows or other perceived "flaws" but love their stones anyway. If that''s the case here, then I wouldn''t worry.
 

IrisAccents

Shiny_Rock
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Thanks for replying Austen...I do really like it. I am brand new to the fine jewelry world- I have never really owned anything more expensive than $30 sterling silver rings. My SO and I have been wanting to get engaged for the past year and, as a result, have had to figure this whole ring thing out! I didn''t doubt it until looking further into these forums and discovering more about windows and other flaws.

I really like how deep the purple is. It''s almost an eggplant which I responded well to. It isn''t super sparkly, but I really wanted to make sure the piece as a whole wasn''t ostentatious, so I almost viewed that as a plus. Now I''m worried once it is set it will look too dark.

The jeweler estimated it would be finished November 5th. Even so, it is in my boyfriend''s hand at that point when he proposes, so I don''t know when I''ll see it as a final piece. So I''m sort of worrying now over things I can''t control.
20.gif


Thanks again for the response!
 

jstarfireb

Ideal_Rock
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Hard to say about the window as the first shot wasn''t taken straight-on, and almost all stones have a tilt window. I have to say that the color is gorgeous though! Perhaps you could see how it looks after being set, and if it isn''t your cup of tea, get it unset, make it into a pendant or RHR, and pick out a new stone together...?
 

DianaBanana

Shiny_Rock
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I shouldn't comment either since I don't know anything about purple sapphires, have never even seen one in real life! I think one of the most important things with colored stones is to find a *color* that you love...if the color is fab, you can forgive a cut that's not perfect. Do you love the color of your new stone?

Here is a beautiful example of a purple sapphire from Richard Wise's site.

If you're not sure about your stone, you might want to consider purple spinel as an option...here's a stunner in Jeff White's gallery.

Colored stone purchases can be lengthy and frustrating but they are so worth it in the end, I'd encourage you to look until you know it's the right one for you!
1.gif


ETA - took me too long to get this post done...I see you're happy with the stone, good for you! It's going to look beautiful in that setting!!
 

IrisAccents

Shiny_Rock
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Diana, that purple sapphire you gave the link for literally took my breath away- AMAZING!

I am sure it is quite out of our budget, but wow- gorgeous!

Thanks for the comments guys- I have calmed down a bit :)
 

LittleLovely

Rough_Rock
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Sep 18, 2009
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I''m not an expert. I''ve only begun to learn a little about gemstones, so I can''t give you any advice on windows or how dark it will be once set. All I know is that your opinion is the most important. If you like it, that''s great! You''ve already said that it''s the perfect color for you and a great fit for the setting and that you don''t care if it''s not very flashy, so it sounds like a good stone for you. Personally, I love the color. It''s quite rich and beautiful. I think you''ll be very happy once your boyfriend gives it to you. And if you aren''t.....we''ll, then you can worry.
 

LD

Super_Ideal_Rock
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I searched for 4 years to find the perfect (to me) purple sapphire so my advice to you is that if you love the stone then please dont worry whether it''s good, bad or ugly!!!

I had a sapphire with a window the size of a patio door and once it was set (in a similar setting to the one you''re going to use), it closed up almost completely. Your sapphire (although it''s difficult to tell from the photos you''ve taken) might have a window as it doesn''t look very deep BUT in some ways that might help prevent it from looking too dark.

The one way to test whether it''ll be too dark is to have the amethyst removed and then pop your sapphire into the setting. A jeweller (especially if he''s going to be the one to set the sapphire) could do that in 10 minutes. You could then get a rough idea whether the sapphire darkens too much by looking at it in the shop under the lights, in natural daylight outside the shop etc.

Please keep us updated won''t you?
 

LittleLovely

Rough_Rock
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oops....I was late in posting.

Glad you''re feeling better!
 

T L

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Date: 10/27/2009 6:26:48 PM
Author: IrisAccents
these seem a little pixelated...here's the stone next to the setting under very different light
I'm not loving how it looks next to the ring. It tends to go a bit dark, and I'm almost afraid to say the word . . . grey

By the way, just because the jeweler confirms it's a real sapphire doesn't mean it's not synthetic. Unless your jeweler understands how to read the inclusions that determine a natural from an synthetic stone, I would be sending it to a reputable lab or a gemologist with equipment that can determine it's natural status.
 

IrisAccents

Shiny_Rock
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Thanks LittleLovely!

LovingDiamonds- do you have pictures of your sapphire on PS? I''d love to see it!

I''ll definitely update- hopefully it''ll be coming back to me within the next month!
 

AustenNut

Brilliant_Rock
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Reading through the CS forum you've probably figured out that color is king here, and if you love your color, that's fabulous. There was another lady who was having a hard time finding an unusually colored sapphire and once she found a stone whose size and color she loved, but whose huge window annoyed her, she got it recut for ~$100. And now she's extraordinarily happy with her stone. Here's the link to the thread if you're interested. The picture of her stone and the recut is on page 2.
 

SB621

Ideal_Rock
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I second Richard's purple sapphire but that can be $$$$.

If you love that color then stick with it! See how it looks set. ultimately you are the only one who needs to be happy!
 

IrisAccents

Shiny_Rock
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AustenNut- thanks for the link! That was a neat thread to follow- this is a really wonderful community with lots of information and super helpful members.

Thanks again to all for your posts.

Only time will tell- I''ll update once it''s on my finger!
 

Spirit

Shiny_Rock
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Dec 13, 2007
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279
DianaBanana- both those stones you referred to are gorgeous! I love the cutting of the first one, and also the JW . Both are quite large so must be big bucks- any idea of the prices?
Irisaccents- there will always be something bigger and better . We find something we really enjoy that suits our budget. Your ring as is I find so beautiful- love the cushion cutting of that stone! If you find it too light, the sapphire you chose looks like it will do a great job for you set in that ring! Try it and see how it feels. Ultimately, if you feel you made the wrong decision, save up again and like one of the previous posters suggested, use it in a lovely pendant and replace the center stone with one that blows you away.
Let''s hope this one does the trick, though! It looks lovely!
1.gif
 

Lady_Disdain

Ideal_Rock
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I second the advice to wait and see. Remember - you loved the stone!

How attached are you to the idea of it as your engagement stone? Will you feel comfortable changing it later?
 

Arcadian

Ideal_Rock
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Its a lttle hard for me to tell much from the pictures because of the pixilation. But I can tell you that the color looks very very nice.

Like some here, I also had stones that had some decent sized windows that closed once set. I think you may also have the same happen.

There''s also going the route of recutting it to a precision cut. There''s a few cutters that will do it but it does add to the cost of the ring. But it may be worth your time tos explore it and see if thats the route you really want to take, especially since this stone is for your ering.

Color is certainly king in these parts but ultimately, you have to be the one that likes it since it will be on your finger.



-A
 

marcy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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It is a very lovely color. I like your ring too. I would get it set and see how you like it. We will be anxious to see it.
 

dancingflame

Shiny_Rock
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I love the color... I''d wait and see.
 
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