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help a novice pick a nice blue sapphire

cristid

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Aug 3, 2016
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Hello ladies & gentlemen,

Steering away from the "diamonds" path, I'm looking to pick a blue sapphire as the main stone for the engagement ring.

My perfect stone would be cornflower blue, transparent and very sparkly, with no "dead" windows and no significant dark areas. 1 ct weight, pear or marquise shape.

With my local jewelers i didn't have too much luck finding a stone that I like.

I have 0 experience purchasing gems online, so I want to show what I found to you perhaps you can give me a bit of advice.

Here are the links:

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/p-59932-pear-blue-sapphire-b6620/
http://www.israel-diamonds.com/product/BlueSapphire/sg/32973.aspx
http://www.africagems.com/marquise-blue-sapphire-gemstone-88616023.html
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?723548329
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-834004332

What do you think? Any other recommendations?

Thanks,
Cristi
 

chrono

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http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/p-59932-pear-blue-sapphire-b6620/
Might be eye clean in person but there is an inclusion right across the table, made more obvious by the window.

http://www.israel-diamonds.com/product/BlueSapphire/sg/32973.aspx
Could be nice but could also have a bowtie, which is common with elongated shapes

http://www.africagems.com/marquise-blue-sapphire-gemstone-88616023.html
Much smaller bowtie but as with elongated shapes, colour tends to concentrate at the tips so you have a dark - light - dark effect. A marquise will be one of the hardest to shop for in a coloured stone.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?723548329
Probably not eye clean in person.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-834004332
Windowed

Between the 2 shapes, it will be easier to find a well cut and evenly coloured pear sapphire than a marquise.
 

Niel

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What do you think of this: he says this
2.23cttw Sapphire Set

The 1.43ct navette is a fine stone; a very beautiful medium-light tone cornflowerish color. We have given it a careful repolishing. No zoning and fully eyeclean. Well worth the asking price by itself.
The windowing hinted in picture closes in hand. Large face-up for the weight: 11.15 x 5.40mm with 3.29mm depth.

Attached is a pair of 6x4mm white oval brilliant cut sapphires with 0.80cttw. At this price, you are getting them as a bonus.

Last I saw he was asking 620

picsart_08-03-04.jpg
 

cristid

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Aug 3, 2016
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Thanks for your answers and suggestions! I don't feel prepared to buy from private sellers with no return policy.

I did not know about the bow tie effect, interesting to learn.

Looking forward to other suggestions.
 

cristid

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Niel|1470255349|4062210 said:
What do you think of this: he says this
2.23cttw Sapphire Set...
Is this a private seller? Any link to the sale? Thank you!
 

chrono

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Niel,
Looks like a very good set at a good price!
 

Niel

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cristid|1470304478|4062401 said:
Niel|1470255349|4062210 said:
What do you think of this: he says this
2.23cttw Sapphire Set...
Is this a private seller? Any link to the sale? Thank you!

I don't have a link as he posted it in a Facebook page but you can find him on Facebook his name is johannes orstadius. He is a dealer and he has a return policy and very nice to deal with.
The white sapphires I wowouldn't put in your ring, but honestly hes basically giving those away. Might be nice to make her maybe silver stud earrings with them or something.

How would you set a marquise sapphire I'm very curious as I love the above stone! ::)
 

cristid

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Niel|1470255349|4062210 said:
How would you set a marquise sapphire I'm very curious as I love the above stone! ::)

Was thinking of a halo ring.

But after reading what Chronos said ("Between the 2 shapes, it will be easier to find a well cut and evenly coloured pear sapphire than a marquise."), I think i would lean towards pear cut.
 

Niel

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cristid|1470323394|4062487 said:
Niel|1470255349|4062210 said:
How would you set a marquise sapphire I'm very curious as I love the above stone! ::)

Was thinking of a halo ring.

But after reading what Chronos said ("Between the 2 shapes, it will be easier to find a well cut and evenly coloured pear sapphire than a marquise."), I think i would lean towards pear cut.

Dont misunderstand what she is saying. Shes saying dont expect to find a well cut marquise she's not saying don't choose one if you find it. I do think the one above is well cut and would leave you with a nice size and a lot left of your budget for the setting. Don't disregard it so quickly. I actually think it might be nicer becuase as they are harder to find, it'll be a more unique ring when finished.

Just in him on Facebook. See if it's still available. Ask him what his best price is on it.
 

chrono

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Niel|1470325566|4062502 said:
Dont misunderstand what she is saying. Shes saying dont expect to find a well cut marquise she's not saying don't choose one if you find it.
The above is what I meant. A good marquise is difficult to find but if you do find a good one and you love it, by all means get it!
 

chrono

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The windowing looks very small; it is within my personal tolerance. I think the original picture made the window look worse because the stone was angled.
 

Niel

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Can they provideone with it on their hand in more natural lighting?
 

minousbijoux

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Niel|1470329723|4062523 said:
Can they provideone with it on their hand in more natural lighting?

Agreed. A hand shot will definitively determine whether any windowing is a concern.
 

cristid

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Hello,

Here is the handshot. What do you think ?

ybs147ae-hand.jpg

Thanks!
 

chrono

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I like it! This stone is coming from Bangkok where there is intense sunshine all year round, so when you receive it, it might look lighter than pictured.
 

Niel

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Yes it looks nice definitely worth getting home to see in person. Expect, like Chrono said, it definitely won't always look like that.
 

minousbijoux

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Based on that photo, I'd not be worried about a window - it may not be precision cut, but it looks great in the photos and definitely worth seeing in hand. Good luck!
 

cristid

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Thanks guys! I am getting excited !

One note about the color - so far I was fearing that the sapphire will be darker in reality than it looks in the pictures. Now I understand that it may be lighter in reality. Weird :)

From your experience, how would you describe this stone's color? Is it blue? Or violet? Do you like the intensity of the color? I hate to have a washed out color.

I am asking those questions partly because you have more experience than me reading those photos and partly because i am a bit color blind.

Thanks!
 

cristid

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Aug 3, 2016
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Pulled the trigger on the stone above. Eagerly awaiting to see how it looks in real life.

Thanks for your help gents!

Cristian
 

lovedogs

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cristid|1470934965|4064802 said:
Pulled the trigger on the stone above. Eagerly awaiting to see how it looks in real life.

Thanks for your help gents!

Cristian

I think you made a great choice--I'm excited to see how it looks in person! I think the color is nice and saturated so I wouldn't worry about it being "washed out", but definitely it might be lighter than the pics. I think it'll be really pretty :wavey:
 

minousbijoux

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So any sense of when its due to arrive?
 

cristid

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Aug 3, 2016
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It arrived today, i am happy. At a quick look - color is really nice, shape and cut are great, it sparkles as i wanted, not sure what to think about the window though.

I need to snap some picks for you while my other half is not around :)
 
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