Beginner question

[diamondseeker2006]

I''ve always loved colored gemstones and would like to get some fine quality ones, particularly sapphires, now that I have my diamond wedding/anniversary rings settled. But what I want to clarify is, is it safe to choose a stone myself based on the grading that you see on a site such as the Natural Sapphire Company or Cherry-Picked or do I go through a vendor such as Wink or Gary? Does it not add to the cost to do it that way, or are they getting a discount on the stone so that I am not paying two mark-ups?

 

[AGBF]

Date: 11/12/2006 8:24:55 AM
Author:diamondseeker2006
I''ve always loved colored gemstones and would like to get some fine quality ones, particularly sapphires, now that I have my diamond wedding/anniversary rings settled. But what I want to clarify is, is it safe to choose a stone myself based on the grading that you see on a site such as the Natural Sapphire Company or Cherry-Picked or do I go through a vendor such as Wink or Gary? Does it not add to the cost to do it that way, or are they getting a discount on the stone so that I am not paying two mark-ups?

Colored stones are a world unto themselves. I do not mean to brush this aside, but I have had more trouble with one of my two colored stone purchases than with all of my diamond purchases combined! My other colored stone purchase involved sending stones back and forth (something I do not like to do). When I saw myself getting into this once again (with Wink and green tsavorite) I stopped looking at tsavorite. I will tell you the saga of my red spinel one day. Right now I am glad just to have one and to have it safely in a ring and to have a tanzanite, also safely set in a ring!

Wherever you can find the stone you like, buy it. Just be sure it is not internally flawed.

Deb

 

[strmrdr]

Id use Gary or Wink even if it costs a few bucks more its worth it.
Or I had have them shipped directly to Richard Sherwood for an opinion and appraisal.

edit: for a couple hundred buck stone then I might consider other options but on a several thousand dollar one then thats what I would do.

Richard M. or Micheal E. would be another couple people Id consider along with Wink and Gary.

 

[colorchange]

I don''t think that Cherrypicked will, but The Natural Sapphire Company will give a discount to member of the trades on which your jeweller whomever he is will make a good margin, you may try to negociate a discount on the setting based on this.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 11/14/2006 6:26:13 AM
Author: colorchange
I don''t think that Cherrypicked will, but The Natural Sapphire Company will give a discount to member of the trades on which your jeweller whomever he is will make a good margin, you may try to negociate a discount on the setting based on this.

This is great to know, thanks!

And thanks to everyone for your help!

 

[Linda W]

I always buy my Padparadscha Sapphires from The Natural Sapphire Company. I cannot say good enough things about this company. I talk to Steven Bliss. He is wonderful. Very kind and so helpful. I told him last week that I am completely addicted to this stone. He said he would open a Padparadscha Anonymous Class for me at their store in New York. LOL. Their sapphires are beautiful and unheated. If that is what you prefer, which I do. At times, they do have some, which are heated. They are a wonderful company and I highly recommend them


Linda