cat's eye sapphire exist?

[liao]

Newbie here just popping in after lurking for a while I found this weird cat's eye sapphire

http://www.thegemtrader.com/Aug14CESapphirePage.htm

Is cat's eye sapphire even exist? I am not sure if this is just my computer playing tricks, but I think the color of the stone is purplish gray rather than "Dark Reddish-Purple". How accurate is his picture?

 

[Marlow]

Yes they exist - they vendor describes it - most are one leg of a star but sometimes you find a real cat eye with only one system of parallel inclusions like this one. The pic is accurate imo course he wants to show the eye - maybe that is why it look a bit grayish.

But I think it is not a gem for jewellery - a pure collector item!

 

[eastjavaman]

Yes, it does, similar occurrence is Star Sapphire which has similar phenomenon to Cat's eye(chatoyancy), even in other gemstones e.g. moonstone chatoyancy exist. However, the highly prized one is Chrysoberyl Cat's eye.

 

[liao]

Yes they exist - they vendor describes it - most are one leg of a star but sometimes you find a real cat eye with only one system of parallel inclusions like this one. The pic is accurate imo course he wants to show the eye - maybe that is why it look a bit grayish.

But I think it is not a gem for jewellery - a pure collector item!

a pure collector item? how rare are those cat's eye sapphire? Have you seen them before?

 

[Marlow]

No, I haven't seen one and this one I wouldn't buy....

But it is rare!!!

 

[liao]

No, I haven't seen one and this one I wouldn't buy....

But it is rare!!!

why? too small? unattractive color? bad seller?

 

[LoversKites]

No, I haven't seen one and this one I wouldn't buy....

But it is rare!!!

why? too small? unattractive color? bad seller?

The seller is very reputable.

Personally, I don't like the colour...and I like coloured stones for their colour. I understand why people would buy this for the rarity factor, though.

 

[Marlow]

No, I haven't seen one and this one I wouldn't buy....

But it is rare!!!

why? too small? unattractive color? bad seller?

TOP seller!!!!!

The eye and the color is not what I want - the price is absolutely o.k.!!!

 

[liao]

No, I haven't seen one and this one I wouldn't buy....

But it is rare!!!

why? too small? unattractive color? bad seller?

TOP seller!!!!!

The eye and the color is not what I want - the price is absolutely o.k.!!!

what's wrong with the eye?

 

[Marlow]

Please take a look at eastjavamans avatar - I want a sharp eye.

 

[chrono]

I wouldn't buy it because I don't like the colour (not a nice colour to me) and the eye (uneven and squiggly eye). The seller is a reputable and honest vendor.

 

[iLander]

I think the color may be better in real life. If you notice, the tweezers are very dark, not silver, so the photo may be dark. But perhaps the dark lighting is the only way the eye will show up.

I think it's worth emailing the vendor (he's well-known here) and asking questions. Or you can order it and return it if you don't like it.

 

[chrono]

The tweezer used has an outer protective layer, which is why it looks dark.

 

[dm-smith]

how rare are we talking here? rarer than a 5ct+ untreated clean cornflower blue sapphire?

wow, if cat's eye sapphire is rare, "perfect" cat's eye sapphire must be the rarest of the rare

 

[liao]

I need your opinion! if I do not buy this beautiful cat's eye sapphire, what's the odd that I will not find any similar or better cat's eye sapphire in the future?

 

[digdeep]

That's the risk you take if you don't buy it...........

 

[chrono]

Buy it if you personally love it. Don't buy it on the account that a cat's eye sapphire isn't common.

 

[liao]

Buy it if you personally love it. Don't buy it on the account that a cat's eye sapphire isn't common.

I love all uncommon stone, but I do not really love purple sapphire. I prefer the blue one

 

[liao]

That stone has been reserved for someone else

Can you help me find other true cat's eye sapphire?

 

[LoversKites]

That stone has been reserved for someone else

Can you help me find other true cat's eye sapphire?

Honestly that vendor is your best bet because he specialises in uncommon gems. Ask him if he can source another one. If not, you can either wait or settle for an 'eye' that is actually a single ray of a star sapphire.

 

[digdeep]

Agree with LK..........there are no vendors that carry them to my knowledge. Good Luck!

 

[liao]

seems like cat's eye sapphire is extremely rare. I just spend a whole day looking for cat's eye sapphire in NY, but no jeweler/gem dealer has it. Some of them even told me that true cat's eye sapphire does not exist

 

[chrono]

In a way, there's really no true cat's eye sapphire. It comes about when the 6 rayed star sapphire doesn't form well, allowing only 2 legs to be clearer than the rest. So I think it is rare but a nice one will be a challenge to find.

 

[purplesparklies]

This sapphire was returned to the vendor. They should have it back in office by now.

 

[liao]

This sapphire was returned to the vendor. They should have it back in office by now.

how did you that the sapphire was returned?

 

[purplesparklies]

I purchased it and I returned it because it did not exhibit the cats-eye effect I was looking for under typical lighting conditions.

 

[liao]

I purchased it and I returned it because it did not exhibit the cats-eye effect I was looking for under typical lighting conditions.

How's the cat's eye effect under natural sunlight / regular room's light? does it move like normal chrysoberyl cat's eye? what do you mean by "did not exhibit the cat's eye effect you I was looking for under typical lighting conditions"? how bad is it?

 

[digdeep]

I suggest that you order the stone and see it first hand..........you are getting a second chance. In this case you already know there aren't any other cats eye sapphire's available. The only way you'll know if it 'works' for you........is for you to see it. If it doesn't, then you can return it but at least you will have seen it first hand............

 

[Marlow]

I purchased it and I returned it because it did not exhibit the cats-eye effect I was looking for under typical lighting conditions.

How's the cat's eye effect under natural sunlight / regular room's light? does it move like normal chrysoberyl cat's eye? what do you mean by "did not exhibit the cat's eye effect you I was looking for under typical lighting conditions"? how bad is it?

There are not many gems with a cat eye effect you can compare with a chrysoberyl cateye! Some ( beryl, tourmaline) have a weak eye, other like kornerupine or sillimanite often an ugly color!

So don't do that - you will always be disappointed.

This sapphire is a curiousity for a collector - for jewellery I think it is better to buy a nice chrysoberyl cat eye or a star sapphire.

I expected that the eye is weak and not sharp - you will ask why so....

The system of the inclusions are visible ( vertical to the ray) and not fine enough.

 

[liao]

I purchased it and I returned it because it did not exhibit the cats-eye effect I was looking for under typical lighting conditions.

How's the cat's eye effect under natural sunlight / regular room's light? does it move like normal chrysoberyl cat's eye? what do you mean by "did not exhibit the cat's eye effect you I was looking for under typical lighting conditions"? how bad is it?

There are not many gems with a cat eye effect you can compare with a chrysoberyl cateye! Some ( beryl, tourmaline) have a weak eye, other like kornerupine or sillimanite often an ugly color!

So don't do that - you will always be disappointed.

This sapphire is a curiousity for a collector - for jewellery I think it is better to buy a nice chrysoberyl cat eye or a star sapphire.

I expected that the eye is weak and not sharp - you will ask why so....

The system of the inclusions are visible ( vertical to the ray) and not fine enough.

Well, I don't mind if the eye is not sharp. As long as the eye can move, does not break, and appear under normal sun light, it's good enough for my collection.