Are these the best two sapphires in my budget?

[davi_el_mejor]

These are from Tan:

1. 1.15ct, 6.4mm round $107 Heated

Video

2. 1.03ct 6.7 x 5.3 funky pear shape $85 "unheated"

Video

Do you know of any better sapphires less than $120 (including shipping) around the same size (or larger ) and not too dark? Heat treatment won't be spurned, but, if it hasn't been, all the better. I don't mind some gray and can't be particularly particular with this shoestring budget. 6mm is the smallest I think would work for this project.

 

[Aoife]

If you don't mind a bit of grey, have you considered spinels? Honestly, I wouldn't be inclined to buy either of the sapphires you've listed. The number and placement of inclusions in the first will probably have a strong negative impact on the appearance of the stone, and the second is a very odd shape that is probably going to be a challenge to set.

What are your plans for whatever gemstone you buy? That might help generate some suggestions.

Dan Stair seems to have a fair number of small sapphires and spinels, and his cutting guarantees you'd get a lot of bang for your buck.

From Gemrite:
http://www.gemrite.com/cubecart/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=47

Smaller than you wanted, but gives you an idea of what you could get in a better cut of spinel for the price.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Thanks Aoife, it would be the center stone for my grandma who has always wanted a sapphire bracelet. I thought about spinel too, but she's always wanted sapphires. There's another sapphire from Tan ( Video ) ($73) that I've thought about too, it's purple vice the typical blue people think of sapphire. ETA: It's 5mm too, like the spinel, I think I could live with something that size too.

The inclusions of the round bothered me too, but the color is better. The funky pear would have to be custom, but then again the hole piece would be custom, so I'm not worried about that.

That spinel is ly, I could tell her it was a spinel and she could tell everyone else it's a sapphire and people wouldn't even know lol

The center of the piece would be the sapphire (shape is up for whatever stone is best) and the sides would be about 3mm square spinels (in a coordinating color) and the hummingbirds would be gold on the silver piece.

 

[Aoife]

What a lovely idea, and what a good grandson!

On the purple sapphire from Tan: If the 5mm measurement on that is the longest measurement, the stone will face up quite a bit smaller visually than the round, IMO. I'm hoping TL or someone else with experience of Tan's videos will see this thread and comment, since I don't buy from Tan, and don't know how to read his videos very well. It seems like an option, but there is an inclusion (Or one of Tan's fingerprints!) right on the table that might affect the way it performs.

If you are open to colors other than blue, Barry Bridgestock has a very pretty pink sapphire in an elongated oval...Let me see if It's still there.

Yup:
http://www.acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=78&idproduct=3407 It does have an inclusion which might be an issue, however. You could ask him.

And a little higher price, from Dana:
http://www.mastercutgems.com/preview.php?cat=289&id=5856

The thing about Dana's gemstones is that they are always better IRL than his photos, and he often offers a small discount. I have no idea if he would on this sapphire, but it might be worth considering.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Thanks for that suggestion, that color is stunning! I just sent Barry some questions about it!

The one from Dana is nice too, but It's pushing the budget envelope, but it's huge compared to the others I've been looking at. I'll have to send him questions too!

 

[T L]

Don't buy heated sapphires unless you don't care about potential be-treatment. They're too pricey to test for be-treatment anyways. Try to get spinels instead. Not crazy about any of those stones.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Thanks TL. I know you're not a fan of sapphires to begin with for the reasons you stated. I'll have to ask my mom if grandma will settle for spinel. Or if she'll even care haha

I can get much more bang for the buck with spinel

 

[Aoife]

Thanks TL. I know you're not a fan of sapphires to begin with for the reasons you stated. I'll have to ask my mom if grandma will settle for spinel. Or if she'll even care haha

I can get much more bang for the buck with spinel

You can definitely get more for you money with spinel, which was why I posted the Gemrite stone. But to get something with a nice cut, in the size you want, with good color, even in a spinel, $100 is a tight budget. A sapphire for around $100 in that size is inevitably going to have some issues (color, cut, inclusions). So the big question, Davi, is what do you think is important to your grandmother? The "mystique" of having a real, live sapphire? Or something that is sapphire colored (blue)?

TL would be a good person to help you out since she has a great eye, and is very good at judging Tan's gemstones.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Thanks TL. I know you're not a fan of sapphires to begin with for the reasons you stated. I'll have to ask my mom if grandma will settle for spinel. Or if she'll even care haha

I can get much more bang for the buck with spinel

You can definitely get more for you money with spinel, which was why I posted the Gemrite stone. But to get something with a nice cut, in the size you want, with good color, even in a spinel, $100 is a tight budget. A sapphire for around $100 in that size is inevitably going to have some issues (color, cut, inclusions). So the big question, Davi, is what do you think is important to your grandmother? The "mystique" of having a real, live sapphire? Or something that is sapphire colored (blue)?

You pose the hard questions Aoife! lol

100 for a center stone is tight, but with family politics, it would be in bad form to give one gift to my great aunt and not my grandma, so two projects in the works calls for a tight budget. I can make it work though

In all honesty it will be cherished no matter what stone it has. Whether or not my grandma will correct people when they call it a sapphire will be another story

Decisions, decisions!

 

[Treenbean]

Hi Davi

I have been on a sapphire hunt too. The one I am looking for has to be pear shaped though. Have you considered Dan Stair? A lot of his stones are unheated or heat only, light in tone, precision cut and relatively in your budget. You could have a fancy shape too for the center!
http://www.customgemstones.com/SAPPHIRE/Sapphire.htm

 

[T L]

Thanks TL. I know you're not a fan of sapphires to begin with for the reasons you stated. I'll have to ask my mom if grandma will settle for spinel. Or if she'll even care haha

I can get much more bang for the buck with spinel

Spinels are rarer, so your grandmother isn't really "settling." They're just not marketed as highly, hence the lower price. I feel like a heated sapphire is "settling."

 

[T L]

TL would be a good person to help you out since she has a great eye, and is very good at judging Tan's gemstones.

Thanks Aoife, I do try.

 

[kelpie]

What about this Bob Kast? Dark and only 5.9mm but only $85 and a great cut.

 

[Aoife]

Davi, did you ever find a sapphire or spinel that met your needs?

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Thanks all!
I've been in contact with a few vendors. It's way different buying a stone for a project as opposed to buying one because it's pretty!

I will say that my budget doesn't seem to fit a sapphire I feel comfortable buying. I would rather not have a Be stone.

So, with that said, it's onto a blue spinel (Thanks for starting it off Aoife, and for the follow up, I've been working on this reply for about an hour LOL) search. I have sent out some questions to vendors about some of their stones. Plus, in my budget, I've found that 7.5mm is attainable (native and precision) woohoo!

Decisions decisions!

 

[Aoife]

That's great, Davi! I hope you'll keep updating as you go along.

Oh yeah, always harder to find something to fit a specific project!