Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait?

[lilmosun]

After some out of control CS purchases in 2014, I've decided to focus on and save for a few wants in 2015. One is a standout deep blue sapphire ring. I've been reading and quite honestly, all the discussions about different blues and what's better has my head spinning. Because I wear/change my rings daily, I've never spent more than $3K on anything (and usually much less). So given that price ballpark, know that options are limited in terms of size and certainly looking at heated. Good color in all lights is most important and it can't black out.

With that in mind, my local jeweler has this ring which I've been eyeing. He's asking $2800. The sapphire is only 1.45 carats but the setting is substantial (probably close to 2 ctw in diamonds). In this case, its fine as it is something I would definitely wear (but not adverse to sourcing stones and settings separately if I didn't).

Like the cuprian tourmaline that brought me here, he said I can send it to AGL and he will guarantee that there is no treatment except possibly heat. Some lady sold him the stone, he sent it out to be recut and then set it.

I need to save but he said he would put it aside for a minimal deposit if I am sure I want it.
1) Forget about it because its not that great a stone or overpriced
2) Put it on hold before someone else grabs it because its a great deal.
3) Tell myself that if it was meant to be, it will still be there in a few months and I'll find other buys like this.

 

[BlingObsession]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

If you love it and it makes your heart sing, then buy it.

For what it's worth, I think it is a very pretty ring, nice colour sapphire and it looks really nice on your hand.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I don't think it's a bargain, but a fair retail price. At least he guarantees it via AGL, and you've seen it in person, and you seem to be enthusiastic about it if I'm reading you correctly (are you??). If you think you can do better, I would wait. I think you're paying mostly for the setting since there are so many diamonds in there. You have to ask yourself also, what is more important, the stone or the setting, that you want to invest in. You can always find a blingy setting with lots of diamonds, but does the stone seem irreplaceable to you in terms of your ideal sapphire?

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Yes - my jeweler stated that the majority of the cost was the setting. While I do love the total look, I would sacrifice some of the bling for a slightly larger stone.

And yes, the sapphire totally speaks to me but as much as I've read - blue sapphire pricing is beyond me so I don't know what a sapphire like this is worth or how hard one like this would be to find elsewhere in my price range. If not hard, I would rather wait. It's loupe clean, looks great in all lights and totally comes alive as you move it. To be honest, it looks like a good simulant/synthetic. My friend thought it looked like a swarovski.

But while its on my list, I am not really read to buy yet...just didn't want to kick myself later. So thank you.

 

[patricias]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I like it. I especially like the step cut of the sapphire.

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Yes - my jeweler stated that the majority of the cost was the setting. While I do love the total look, I would sacrifice some of the bling for a slightly larger stone.

And yes, the sapphire totally speaks to me but as much as I've read - blue sapphire pricing is beyond me so I don't know what a sapphire like this is worth or how hard one like this would be to find elsewhere in my price range. If not hard, I would rather wait. It's loupe clean, looks great in all lights and totally comes alive as you move it. To be honest, it looks like a good simulant/synthetic. My friend thought it looked like a swarovski.

But while its on my list, I am not really read to buy yet...just didn't want to kick myself later. So thank you.

Did you look at the stone in sunlight too, not just jeweler's lights (they make everything look like Swarovski crystal).

Would he sell the stone loose?

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Here's a picture of it taken outdoors. I didn't bother to post it because it didn't look that much different. While the photo's show the color, they don't pick up the flashes.

Another thing I liked, is that it seems to face up larger than it is (assume because of the cut or the setting). I was surprised when he said it was less than 1.5 carats.

I could ask him to sell the stone separately but since the setting is something I would wear and the total is in my budget, I would just as soon purchase together...I have others stones waiting to be set But again, the intent is to purchase a good sapphire ring or one that could be set in a ring.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I walked around outdoors trying all angles of sunlight to see if I could make it black out at all...here is the darkest I could get it.

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I think the sapphire would look nicer as a three stone, with side trillions or something, but that's just me. You want the sapphire to be the "star" of the show I guess. Now I'm all about bling, but for a small stone like that, perhaps I would go with a thinner band and a more subdued look (you could always stack it with eternity bands as well). That's just me though. If you love it, then go for it. As Elvis and I say, it's a fair retail value. Perhaps I need to see a video of all the bling to really be blown away by it, as still photos never do these types of rings justice.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Yes, the stone is clean (10x loupe) and the pictures look dull compared to the stone IRL. I've been carrying the picture around for a couple of months and done some casual looking using it as my benchmark. And even though I was quite familiar with the pictures, I was surprised by how nice it really was when I went back to look at it IRL.

My local jeweler is a small shop in a well-to-do area so the stone and setting could both be estate. He prides himself on being the old school neighborhood jeweler with good customer service and honest/fair prices. As I mentioned, he said the stone looked a mess when he got it and he sent it out for a recut so it didn't come in that setting. But I would say a large percentage of his inventory are things he either bought off customers/estates or things he designed and made. His markup when selling to me is usually quite low. (Prior to opening the store a few years ago, he spent 20 years designing and making jewelry for a high end jeweler). But while he has a great eye and bench, he really doesn't know colored stones in today's market...so his prices can be all over the place in terms of market and need to be questioned.

TL - I hear you on the stone being the star. I do stack a lot of my smaller stones with half eternity bands (or sometimes together) but also like having some pieces that I don't have to. I don't have tiny delicate hands so don't do well with settings that don't have good finger coverage.

Thanks Elvis, TL, BlingObssession and patricias for the feedback. Admittedly, kind of posted this hoping folks would say "don't do it!" but on the other hand, I do keep going back to it. I may wait a bit before deciding...it lasted through the Christmas rush (most of his customers seem more interest in named pieces) so hopefully will be around a bit more. Decisions, decisions

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I would be a bit concerned that the sapphire was clean under a loupe; I would personally be more comfortable that it is not a synthetic if there was something to see in it. Worse case scenario, $2800 for a setting with that much quality diamond weight (I can't recall whether you told us the karat of gold) is not a bad price at all.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I would be a bit concerned that the sapphire was clean under a loupe; I would personally be more comfortable that it is not a synthetic if there was something to see in it. Worse case scenario, $2800 for a setting with that much quality diamond weight (I can't recall whether you told us the karat of gold) is not a bad price at all.

Yes, I agree minous...my concern too...the stone seemed too perfect compared to other sapphires I've seen in my price range (not that I've done more than window shop on-line and at gem shows). But he did offer that I could send to AGL and he would provide a full refund if it wasn't a sapphire or had any treatment other than heat. Same deal he offered with my cuprian but in this case, a basic $80 gem report should be sufficient, right?

To be honest, I wasn't in the store to buy but set another stone so I didn't get the carat weight of gold. I've been carrying the picture and just wanted to see if it was still there. I mentioned that I wanted to save up for it and he offered to set it aside for me (but I don't want him to do that unless I was definitely going to buy). And to be honest, the loupe assessment of "no flaws" was his as I didn't have time to double check him. So his definition may be different then clean. But definitely eye clean. I would do so before buying for sure.

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Sounds like you do not have much to lose - go for it!

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Laughing...thanks for thinking like me.

It would have to be my one big purchase until mid-year...so the big hesitation is whether I have the willpower to say "this is it" with the year just started It would have been so much easier if you guys just told me it wasn't worth the money But maybe I will try to do the fiscally responsible thing and wait a month or so...if it was meant to be, it will still be there. At least I know it isn't a totally crazy idea to buy

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

My local jeweler is a small shop in a well-to-do area so the stone and setting could both be estate.

I supsect it is early 90's from the style.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Oops.. I didn't mean to imply vintage More like passed down or inherited and sold off. He gets a lot of people selling their mother's jewelry they don't want or older women selling jewelry their kids have no interest in. I think he said the stone came from a ring that some woman who showed him a receipt from the 80's. He took it out and had it recut, so it isn't the original setting that came with the stone.

 

[chrono]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Seems like a very fair price. As mentioned by everyone else above:
1. Make sure the stone is heat only (which you've said that he's fine with sending it off to AGL)
2. You are clearly aware that the setting costs more than the stone and are fine with that
3. How badly you want it....

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

One more note, if you do send it to AGL, and from what I hear, the stone is very clean. It may cost at least an extra $100 to check it for diffusion if they cannot diagnostically check it for it via types of inclusions.

Just an FYI.

 

[lkredhat]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I like the stone and the setting, but not crazy about the two together. I think the stone would look better in a different, less opulent setting (perhap a white gold or platinum wide filigree band with some diamonds) like this:
http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery_detail.aspx?ImgID=84057
or this: http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/pics/final/87143 (3).jpg
http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/pics/final/57051.jpg

and the setting would look better with a slightly larger stone.

Since you asked. That being said, I haven't seen it in real life and you're the one who will wear it, so if that advice doesn't work for you, ignore it!

But I do sense that you're concerned about buyer's remorse--i.e., will you find something during the year you like better? So I guess a good way to decide about something like that is not in terms of purchases this year, but purchases 5-10 years from now: will you still love it then, even if you don't buy anything else?

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I like the stone and the setting, but not crazy about the two together. I think the stone would look better in a different, less opulent setting (perhap a white gold or platinum wide filigree band with some diamonds) like this:
http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery_detail.aspx?ImgID=84057
or this: http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/pics/final/87143 (3).jpg
http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/pics/final/57051.jpg

and the setting would look better with a slightly larger stone.

Since you asked. That being said, I haven't seen it in real life and you're the one who will wear it, so if that advice doesn't work for you, ignore it!

But I do sense that you're concerned about buyer's remorse--i.e., will you find something during the year you like better? So I guess a good way to decide about something like that is not in terms of purchases this year, but purchases 5-10 years from now: will you still love it then, even if you don't buy anything else?

Maybe that's what's driving me nuts about the ring. For some reason, it doesn't appeal to me, and I can't figure it out. I think it's the proportions of the stone to the setting. Both are nice, but not together, which is probably why I asked if you could get the stone loose.

However, if YOU like them together, than that's a different story. I'm not the one who has to like it.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Yes, good points - I agree the center stone should be the star of the ring.

Would I be able to get a nicer sapphire, if I were willing to spend $2K on the stone? I guess another thought is to buy the ring and try wearing it...and if I find the sapphire doesn't stand out enough, I could reset the stone and use the setting for a larger stone.

Thanks all for of the careful thoughts and input.

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Yes, good points - I agree the center stone should be the star of the ring.

Would I be able to get a nicer sapphire, if I were willing to spend $2K on the stone? I guess another thought is to buy the ring and try wearing it...and if I find the sapphire doesn't stand out enough, I could reset the stone and use the setting for a larger stone.

Thanks all for of the careful thoughts and input.

I wouldn't waste all that money on the setting if you're not going to be using it for a while, or you have to find the "right stone" for it. I would try to buy the stone loose if you can, or have your jeweler reset it in something more appropriate for its size. The setting really overwhelms the stone IMO. If you absolutely adore the setting too, that's a different issue, but it seems you're way more enamored with the stone. JMO.

I've seen blingy settings online for similar prices, so it's not like the setting is a "give away" to me, although some people here disagree, and that's fine. How are the diamonds in that setting by the way? Are they clean and white? It's hard to tell from the photos.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

That makes sense and thank you for talking some sense into me (what I needed and why I posted). I may buy it eventually if I don't find another stone that speaks to me...but should take my time.

I actually have a sapphire that was bought as unheated blue - but shifts to purple in most indoor lighting. I can wear it in the meantime because it is blue outdoors Btw- I just was playing with it and it fluoresces pink-red big time under UV...I didn't realize sapphires fluoresced like that, do I need to worry about that one as well?

 

[T L]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

That makes sense and thank you for talking some sense into me (what I needed and why I posted). I may buy it eventually if I don't find another stone that speaks to me...but should take my time.

I actually have a sapphire that was bought as unheated blue - but shifts to purple in most indoor lighting. I can wear it in the meantime because it is blue outdoors Btw- I just was playing with it and it fluoresces pink-red big time under UV...I didn't realize sapphires fluoresced like that, do I need to worry about that one as well?

Beautiful ring, and yes, some blue sapphires do fluoresce.

 

[pregcurious]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I like the ring you have better, but I do like step cuts. I agree with the comments of the other posters. If you like the whole package, however, I would get it. It's hard to find a setting for a specific stone sometimes (at least it is for me).

 

[chrono]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Your current sapphire looks nicer to me than the emerald cut sapphire so I wouldn't purchase it.

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I love my other sapphire too but it is purple indoors sooo...

After taking the feedback provided, I decided to keep looking but kept going back to this ring. Anything close to what I was looking for was way out of my budget. I wanted this kind of blue without going dark and finger coveage. Yeah, I have champagne tastes and beer budget

So when my jeweler offered to drop the price quite a bit and still guaranteed heat only, I bought it. Sent it to AGL and they confirmed that it was sapphire basic heat only and assured me no diffusion or other treatments. I really appreciate all the opinions even if I didn't listen as it gave me some things to think about. Not to everyone's taste but I wouldn't have considered the ring if I didn't love it on me. So thank you to everyone for speaking up

 

[katharath]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I think the sapphire is a beauty! I'm glad you got it after all - if I can't get a piece of jewelry off of my mind like that, then I know I need it - so it sounds to me like you made the right choice

 

[lilmosun]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

Thanks katharath...it was a major purchase for me so I was glad that folks here gave me reason to think hard before buying. But I figured that if I still loved it when others didn't so much, it was right for me

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Blue sapphire ring..forget about it, put on hold or wait

I think the sapphire is a beauty! I'm glad you got it after all - if I can't get a piece of jewelry off of my mind like that, then I know I need it - so it sounds to me like you made the right choice

Well said. When I can't get something out of my mind, I find that I typically have no regrets if and when I finally buy it. LMS, you know what you like. You loved it when you first saw it and you still do. Good thing you bought it, and fantastic that you got such a good price from the vendor!