Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Prongs)

[find45di2]

So I'm having my trusty jeweler build a pair of sapphire earrings for my wife. He has given me a few options and I wanted to get some feedback an opinions to help me make up my mind.

I'm building a halo style sapphire earring with diamonds that looks like this:
http://www.bluenile.com/sapphire-diamond-earrings_8147


Size
I am debating between 5mm or 6mm stones. My gut says go with the 5mm in case the 6mm's look slightly too large and then she needs to pick and choose when she wears them. I realize we are talking a minimal difference, but wanted some opinions. I want to make them so my wife can wear them every day and they won't look too big to wear with anything. Her last pair she wore daily but she lost one, so here I am rebuilding them.

Natural Stone Vs. Lab
My jeweler is happy to get me whatever I want. He says that the lab grown are beautiful, not as brilliant, but overall extremely nice and they would save me a decent amount of money. I'm old fashioned so I'm leaning towards the natural stone, but wanted some feedback on natural vs. lab. Any benefits to lab stones except for the price? I assume my jeweler will be buying a medium-high grade natural stone that has great color and light play, but they will not be high end stones as my budget won't support it. If I do go with lab stones, he would take the time to find nice ones as well. I'm fine with spending the money he quoted for the natural stones, but it seems like I could save some bucks, or go with the 6mm lab stones and still be saving a decent amount. Obviously spending less is always nice, but if there are downsides to the lab stones I will rule them out.

All feedback appreciated!

 

[ephsea]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

The biggest downside is that they have no resale value. That bit about the brilliance is hogwash, if anything most synthetic gems would be more brilliant due to unnatural clarity, assuming the cutting is as good.

 

[texaskj]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

Get the real ones. I've never seen fakes that didn't look fake.

 

[chrono]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

Synthetic stones do not hold their value well but they are a great way to make beautifully coloured stones available at a low price.

 

[cookies]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

For everyday wear, I think 5mm is better, especially since you are going to halo it.

 

[kgizo]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

I would go with the natural stones if you're using precious metals and diamonds for the earrings. If you're going to make a quality product all the components should be of the same quality. Nothing against synthetics, I just think for the project you're talking about the natural stones are a better fit.
If your budget allows, you may want to ask your jeweler about making the halo an earring jacket. This would allow you to get your wife to accessorize with different studs in the future.

 

[ephsea]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

quote="kgizo"]I would go with the natural stones if you're using precious metals and diamonds for the earrings. If you're going to make a quality product all the components should be of the same quality. Nothing against synthetics, I just think for the project you're talking about the natural stones are a better fit.
+1 Why bother setting fake stones in precious metal? Just because your jeweler can't source quality sapphires within your budget, doesn't mean someone else can't. Is your jeweler a renowned specialist in colored stones in a major metropolis? If not, you might want to ask some of the experts here to see what kind of sapphires they can dig up for you that fit your color/size/budget. They will find some lovely gems at reasonable prices.

 

[LoversKites]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

Others have pretty much listed the pros and cons of both.

If your wife won't mind synthetics you could save a bunch of money, yes. I don't understand why one shouldn't set synthetics in precious metals with diamonds. Just like with any cheaper stone really. If you'd feel better going with naturals, that's great too, but I wouldn't rule them out just because.

Also, be careful your jeweler doesn't sell you heavily treated natural stones for untreated or heat-only prices. Be sure to know what you are buying.

 

[find45di2]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

Thanks for all the great feedback everyone. I have decided on a natural stone, call me old fashioned but I still think there is value in knowing the stone was naturally grown vs. man made. Glad to hear others still agree. There isn't a market for lab grown stones if they are the better quality ones? Seems like online some of the lab grown sell for a high price. Any insight as to why a lab grown does or does not have a resale market would be interesting to hear if anyone has insight.

I have also decided on 5mm as a size. My jeweler gave me an option for a setting which has larger diamonds around the center stone, but the cost difference is starting to put me out of the range so I decided to stick to the original plan there, but have spent slightly more to get better center stones.

Nice recommendation on the earring jacket, but I like the way the stone sits in the other 3 prong setting so i'm going to go that route, but i'll consider that for the future for sure.

How do you know how a stone is treated if they aren't certified? Is it an honor system where there the seller gives this info to the jeweler?Not sure about how the stone is treated or what not, will need to ask this. However the guy deals with nice stuff on the higher end of the spectrum, and isn't into dealing low end stuff so my guess is he is being fair with the stone, and giving me a quality stone. Guess I could always go out and have it appraised afterwards just to see. Maybe next time i'll post on here and see what some of the gem pro's come up with on price for a comparison.

 

[LoversKites]

Re: Sapphire Earring Help Needed (Size, Natural Vs. Lab, Pro

How do you know how a stone is treated if they aren't certified? Is it an honor system where there the seller gives this info to the jeweler?Not sure about how the stone is treated or what not, will need to ask this. However the guy deals with nice stuff on the higher end of the spectrum, and isn't into dealing low end stuff so my guess is he is being fair with the stone, and giving me a quality stone. Guess I could always go out and have it appraised afterwards just to see. Maybe next time i'll post on here and see what some of the gem pro's come up with on price for a comparison.

Trusted labs with the right equipment are best to determine treatment and the extent of treatment. Untreated stones command the highest prices while simple heat-only stones will come next, and thereafter stones with more invasive treatments like diffusion. Different people have different tolerance levels and purists will aim for untreated stones. I think most here on PS would be happy with a heat-only sapphire.

Could you request a lab report from a reputable lab? You really should insist. I'd never buy a sapphire without one. Even higher end jewelers sometimes deal with treated stones as it is commonplace to do so.