shape
carat
color
clarity

Could anyone please give me your opinions on these Sapphires

SapphireShopper

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
4
Hi guys,
I'm in need of your expertise .
Could you guys kindly assess these two sapphires and give me some feedback on them?

www.jamesallen.com

1.21 carat Oval Natural Blue Sapphire
25959 - This 1.21 Oval Blue Sapphire is sold exclusively by James Allen
www.jamesallen.com
www.jamesallen.com
www.jamesallen.com

1.31 carat Oval Natural Blue Sapphire
22365 - This 1.31 Oval Blue Sapphire is sold exclusively by James Allen
www.jamesallen.com
www.jamesallen.com

Thank you in advance!
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
I wouldn't buy gemstones from James Allen. They are good for diamonds, but not for gemstones. They dont have any real certificates (just their own in house one, which is pretty useless), and they dont sell well cut or top color sapphires.

What is your budget, color preference, size preference, shape, etc? We can help you find something much better.

I would look at the "trusted dealers" sticky to see the list of vendors that we recommend .
 

voce

Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
5,161
Both of these are too dark for me, and the top one has a window. I agree, James Allen sapphires don't come with certificates from a lab; I would never buy from James Allen.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
Here are some options from gemfix that I much prefer:

I was operating under the assumption that your budget was 2K, but if it goes up to 3K then this one might work too:
 

pokerface

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Sep 12, 2011
Messages
892
"Natural" sapphire means pretty much nothing these days when sapphires are routinely subjected to high heat/beryllium treatments. Guarantee that the James Allen sapphires fall into this category and are of extremely low value.
 

Rfisher

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
5,485
Agree with previous assessments of JA for colored stones.
Gemfix is super easy to deal with if you are located in USA.
@MainSequence did an awesome vendor vs owner pic comparison of some gemfix blue sapphires, so you can get an idea of how to ‘read’ his photos.
 

SapphireShopper

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
4
Thank you all! I appreciate all your help.
Now I'm actually trying to buy a sapphire engagement ring.
So I want to buy it with a setting

BTW is this any better?
 

chroman

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 18, 2015
Messages
1,087
Many jewelers will set stones they didnt sell - finding a nice sapphire is the hard part.

You likely can find a local jeweler to handle the setting. It’s not required to get the stone and setting in one shot.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,014
Thank you all! I appreciate all your help.
Now I'm actually trying to buy a sapphire engagement ring.
So I want to buy it with a setting

BTW is this any better?

The sapphire is the most important part of the ring, and you can easily get a setting from a local jeweler and have them set a stone. None of the james allen options will be high quality. Definitely figure out the sapphire first and setting second.
 

Rfisher

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
5,485
Congratulations on your upcoming engagement.
What are your/ your intended’s priority on a sapphire?
How super specific is the wanted blue color?
If it shifts to a violet or a muddy grey in certain lighting- is that an issue?
If it sparkles in some lighting but doesn’t in others is that an issue?
If it only looks somewhat like the vendor picture in very bright focused light is that an issue?
If you can see flaws or naturals or no color areas to your naked eye is that an issue?
If half of the stone ‘blacks out’ a majority of the time, is that an issue?
If you don’t get the finished ring by Valentine’s Day is that ok?
If any of the above matters (and you both don’t care to really know the extent of treatment) order the stone loose for you to view in your multiple daily environments. You’ll pay to ship back and forth but you’ll know what you are getting (appearance wise) before it becomes unreturnable.
Know the 25% off is still no bargain.
As for the setting - my question would be if they custom make it to the shape of the stone. The same setting just can’t fit shape of stone #1 the same as stone #3.

Best wishes
 

Rfisher

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
5,485
Who knows a vendor that upfront sells BE treated blue sapphires, so OP can compare the price?
 

whitewave

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
12,331
Are you truly set on James Allen given we don’t recommend it?

What is your timeline?

How about if we guide you and show you how to buy a stone and then have it made into a ring.

I just sent my yellow sapphire off to David Klass in LA who is making a halo ring for me.

Or is James Allen good enough for you?
 

whitewave

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
12,331
Have you checked diamonds by Lauren? I really like David’s sapphires and he usually has rings ready to go.


What about this one?


1.65 unheated $1980.00


Oh, one last thing, sapphires face up very small. Have you seen a 1.3 carat in person?

What setting do you like?
 

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Messages
6,532
Hi, James Allen sapphires and setting are nice but they are way too expensive for their quality.
if the thought of finding a sapphire and then a setting and then someone to set it all is too much, there 1E4C9C9F-6764-4740-AA6A-E218B305B7A2.jpeg are better options for a new, ready to go ring.
Diamonds by Lauren is a highly regarded vendor. Not only are her gemstones excellent quality, her settings are stunning. so for your money you get a much better sapphire and a higher quality setting.
this is an example, the sapphire is 1.6 carats plus another .60 carats of diamonds.
 

SapphireShopper

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
4
Hi All!
Thank you again for your input.
I'm not set to buy the James Allen one,I just didn't know any better.

Congratulations on your upcoming engagement.
What are your/ your intended’s priority on a sapphire?
How super specific is the wanted blue color?
If it shifts to a violet or a muddy grey in certain lighting- is that an issue?
If it sparkles in some lighting but doesn’t in others is that an issue?
If it only looks somewhat like the vendor picture in very bright focused light is that an issue?
If you can see flaws or naturals or no color areas to your naked eye is that an issue?
If half of the stone ‘blacks out’ a majority of the time, is that an issue?
If you don’t get the finished ring by Valentine’s Day is that ok?
If any of the above matters (and you both don’t care to really know the extent of treatment) order the stone loose for you to view in your multiple daily environments. You’ll pay to ship back and forth but you’ll know what you are getting (appearance wise) before it becomes unreturnable.
Know the 25% off is still no bargain.
As for the setting - my question would be if they custom make it to the shape of the stone. The same setting just can’t fit shape of stone #1 the same as stone #3.

Best wishes

Thank you!
I'm looking for a saturated blue ( not too dark, but not light).
I don't mind if I finish after Valentine's day.
I'm actually worried that the actual sapphires aren't faithful to the images/ 360 views.
But sadly I'm not in US ( I'm actually in Japan), so moving things back and forth might be costly.
Again thank you very much!
 

icy_jade

Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
6,131
Then why buy in the US? Surely you can buy from Japan. Can you visit the ongoing Jewellery show to buy/look? Will give you a much better idea of what you like/ what sapphires are like in real life

 
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