James Allen Sapphires - Need help deciding

[TwilightBlue]

Hi,
What are your thoughts on a James Allen sapphire? I am looking at a sapphire in the $400-$500 range. Does anyone have any experience with sapphires from James Allen? I like sapphires to be medium blue and not dark almost black.

Any guidance would be helpful. I've attached a photo of one that I'm considering from James Allen and a different vendor. Thanks.

Photo Number 1 is from James Allen

Photo number two is Sapphire from a different vendor. The sapphire is Portuguese cut and not a perfect round but is quite a bit more expensive at $900

 

[lovedogs]

I don't recommend buying colored stones from James allen. They never look great. The second one looks much better, but a bit dark. Who is the second one from?

 

[TwilightBlue]

I don't recommend buying colored stones from James allen. They never look great. The second one looks much better, but a bit dark. Who is the second one from?

The second is from a vendor on Etsy.

 

[lovedogs]

The second is from a vendor on Etsy.

I think I know who it's from. I worry about it being overly dark in person.

 

[lovedogs]

What size do you want?

 

[TwilightBlue]

What size do you want?

No more than a 1ct to 1.5 ct

 

[ordinaryrainbow]

I am no expert, but this looks pretty:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p358/0.97_ct_Unheated_Violetish-Blue_Sapphire.html

 

[lovedogs]

I am no expert, but this looks pretty:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p358/0.97_ct_Unheated_Violetish-Blue_Sapphire.html

YES! This color is exactly what I would recommend, bc these always look darker once set (see hand pics vs static pics off the hand).

 

[TwilightBlue]

I am no expert, but this looks pretty:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p358/0.97_ct_Unheated_Violetish-Blue_Sapphire.html

Yes, that is beautiful. It would indeed look darker once set. I love it. Thanks for pointing me in that direction.

 

[chroman]

Will your budget stretch to 1k (of the finewater link)? Funding nice blue sapphires in the $500 range can be a challenge.

 

[chroman]

This is probably a budget stretcher, but:
https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1320

 

[qubitasaurus]

You could ask about this one

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx1eHNOn9QV/?hl=en

You may want to ask about the policy on returns, and about getting a lab report for it. As this is not a vendor I am terribly familar with. But meeting a $500 budget will require some creativity.