Calling Chrono and LD and anyone else

[ilovegemstones]

Which of these sapphires would you pick to go in the centre of a ring flanked by 2 .5 ct round diamonds? The one that is badly windowed has a great colour, but I don't know how it would look once set because of the window.

http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/12743/10792
http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/12743/15878
http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10883/13221
http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/13821

This one would also be beautiful. I have a dark skin tone so this warm colour might look better on me.
http://www.thegemtrader.com/July12OSapphirePage.htm

 

[chrono]

http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/12743/10792
Very shallow at 52%. You can see the window and even bigger tilt window in the second picture. Colour is nice but not phenomenal. The rectangular shape will not go well with round sidestones unless you square off the setting to make the rounds look squarish.

http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/12743/15878
Rather deep at 83% with very minor colour shifting. The primary colour is violet, not blue, if that matters to you. It is also likely to be a bit dark in person, as evidenced by the last 2 pictures, unless you use strong lighting.

http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10883/13221
The nicest colour of all 4 but it has too many issues. The cut is terrible and shallow at 56%. I agree with Ed that this sapphire is better suited as a pendant, not a ring.

http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/13821
The nicest cut but colour is lacking (grayish). A bit off round by 1 mm if that bothers you.

All in all, I find the pricing high for the quality. Yes, it is high for a reason and it is up to you do decide if that is your priority.

http://www.thegemtrader.com/July12OSapphirePage.htm[/quote]
A very different look, with the potential to look very pretty.

 

[innerkitten]

I love the color on the last one.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thanks guys. Please post links if you find other fitting stones. Your help has been invaluable -especially you Chrono - you saved me from making a $1250 mistake!

 

[chrono]

What are you looking for in your sapphire? Specifically, what colour? Is there a minimum mm size in your head?

 

[ilovegemstones]

I love blue with a purplish tint and also light orangish pink. I think purplish blue one would be amazing. Mostly blue, but when you tilt it seeing flashes of violet. I have no minimum size in mind.

 

[chrono]

Unheated?

 

[ilovegemstones]

Yes, unheated please.

 

[chrono]

Just personal preference for an unheated stone? All the nicer unheated stones are priced way above your budget, regardless of size. I did find a decent one from Roger Dery but no price was posted.

 

[LD]

Apologies - just seen this thread!

I actually like the 1.47ct from Wildfish and I'd be tempted to find out more. The cut isn't too awful and lots of issues can be disguised by a setting but Ed is the man on the ground and I'd ask him for his opinion on this one.

I do agree with Chrono that they are quite highly priced so you may be able to get more for your money.

Do you have a specific shape in mind? From your selection it doesn't seem that you have. Also you've added in a pink with all the blues so are we looking for a blue or will other colours work as well? Again, looking at your choices, I'm guessing that the budget is around $1k? If so .....

http://www.simplysapphires.com/blue/ceylon-blue-sapphire-cushion-cut-1.53-cts-6.8x5.5x4.7mm This has a small bowtie but looks nice. I would ask for a hand shot.

http://www.simplysapphires.com/blue/ceylon-cushion-cut-blue-sapphire-1.14-cts-6.5x5.2x3.9mm May have some cut issues but is well within budget and I think the cut issues would disappear in a good setting

http://www.simplysapphires.com/pink/ceylon-pink-oval-sapphire-1.05-cts-5.9x4.6mm So far within budget it's silly! The handshot is probably the most realistic and isn't too far from the pink you've linked to above. It has a small window that I think could be disguised.

http://www.simplysapphires.com/jewelry/agta-unheated-untreated-violet-blue-sapphire-diamond-platinum-ring Over budget but this is already set into jewellery so you wouldn't have a setting cost. I absolutely love this sapphire.

http://www.simplysapphires.com/jewelry/blue-sapphire-diamond-baguette-ring-14kwg-2.10-ctw Again, a set stone and cheaper than the one above.

http://www.simplysapphires.com/jewelry/brilliant-purple-sapphire-diamond-ring-14kyg-1.56-ctw This is my absolute favourite in terms of stones. I would take it out of the setting and sell the setting! It has a small window but honestly the colour is so unique that wouldn't stop me from buying it. Love love love it!

 

[ilovegemstones]

That is nice and I asked about the price and am waiting for a reply. It is probably out of my budget as well! Yes, it is personal preference for an unheated stone. Our budget is a bit flexible for a really special stone but I have not seen one yet.

 

[innerkitten]

Just personal preference for an unheated stone? All the nicer unheated stones are priced way above your budget, regardless of size. I did find a decent one from Roger Dery but no price was posted.

Very nice.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thanks LD! I love the last stone too but too much hassle. I will ask for more pics of the 1.47 one and the 1.07 purplish greyish blue one. Hopefully it is not too grey!

 

[erinl]

I really like the gem trader one--that would look lovely in rose or yellow gold. My only concern is the crown, it looks like it might be a little shallow? I am kind of a stickler for crown height

 

[LD]

Thanks LD! I love the last stone too but too much hassle. I will ask for more pics of the 1.47 one and the 1.07 purplish greyish blue one. Hopefully it is not too grey!

I hate seeing grey in blue sapphires and I'm not sensitive to greys in these than any other gemstones. When you look at the extra photos you get, ask for handshots in different lighting conditions. The one Chrono has linked to has too much grey for me but is a lovely stone. Good luck!

BTW, taking a stone out of a setting is easy peasie and won't cost much. Whether you could sell that setting is another matter however BUT the stone and setting are almost within your budget so the setting is almost for free (if you know what I mean)!

 

[VapidLapid]

I really like the gen trader one too. In the first photo the crown height is visible in the reflection and it looks good to me.

 

[chrono]

I really like the gen trader one too. In the first photo the crown height is visible in the reflection and it looks good to me.

Good eye, VL. The sapphire has a really nice and high crown coupled with a small table.

 

[ilovegemstones]

The orangish one is gone I like the one in the post below quite a bit. The colour is great. I am not sure about the cut. The inclusion does not bother much at all. Would it show much since the stone is blue? Do you see a touch of purple in it or am I imagining it?

 

[ilovegemstones]

Re: Calling Chrono and LD NEW PIC PLS LOOK

I have always liked this one even though there is a big brown inclusion in it. Please give me opinions on this one from Tan
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-13ct-CERTIFIED-UNHEATED-Oval-Cornflower-Blue-Sapphire-/330819134842?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d065b657a

 

[VapidLapid]

Never post stones on ps for opinions is you haven't at least put them on hold; the lurkers will steal good things out from under you.
Sometimes you can get away with posting the photo from a vendor's site without any identifying logos that might tip them off, rather than posting links to the seller. The seasoned psers will likely know who the vendor is just from photographic style, but it gives you a slight edge on some of the lurkers. I would have bought that stone from tgt. But it is important to remember, there will always be other stones.

eta: I could not live with the boogers in that stone from tan.

 

[LD]

I think that particular GemTrader stone was in another thread last week - so I would think it was snapped up pretty quickly.

I've got to admit that even a 4ct sapphire couldn't make me love that inclusion. I would focus on it all the time unless it could be cleverly disguised with a setting and I doubt that very much.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Other than that, how do you think it is? It doesn't bother me because it's a rock but I can see how it would bother other people.

 

[ilovegemstones]

I really like this one:
http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/1086/14516

Any input?

 

[chrono]

Tan's 4 ct unheated sapphire is well priced because the brown inclusion mars the beautiful blue colouration like a rust stain. My eye would always focus on it instead of the rest of the sapphire unless it can be hidden with fairly large prongs, perhaps ribbon prongs.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thanks Chrono. I decided to skip that stone a while back. I am leaning towards the 2.82 you suggested first. Do you have any more links to send?

 

[chrono]

I really like this one:
http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/1086/14516
Any input?

I'm of two minds about this. A quick looks show such an amazing blue until I get into the details. It is described as medium dark but it looks like a medium light stone. How can this be? Was strong lighting used? The picture of the sapphire in the lab memo shows what I consider medium dark in tone. Secondly, whilst I like some silk in my gems, the silk must be evenly distributed. In this one, you have areas where it is transparent and areas where it is cloudy or hazy due to the silk. This is the reason why Wildfish priced this one less than others on his website.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thanks Chrono. Everything you say about it is true when I look at it again. Do you still think the 2.82 one is a good one to go for? It is the only one I see with intense colour and a good cut. I am liking the intense colour more and more as I look at stones.

 

[chrono]

The 2.82 ct has colour that just popped out on my screen as I scrolled through his website. The tone is just right and the saturation is very strong. If you like it, please contact Tan ASAP to reserve it before it is "stolen" by lurkers. I don't know if it helps but he might be open to your offer if you mention being a Pricescoper. It might not work but is still worth a try.

 

[ilovegemstones]

We just can't afford that one. If you see any around half that price that are really nice, please let me know. I am really open to colour, but I would rather no heat treatment.

 

[minousbijoux]

I like the color of the 2.82 as well. I don't love the cutting and the flattish crown, but other than that, its pretty nice. I guess that's the price of unheated stones these days?