Help finding/buying first sapphire

[Lovecarats]

Hi, All.
Another person looking for their first BLUE sapphire (I don't want to hijack the other people's searches if they're still looking).
I've read through the info. What I've learned is that this is harder than diamonds!!!! Goodness!


Color-wise, I know that I love the nice, deep, vivid blues (darker than cornflower).
Preference is oval, but I also like cushion cuts. Looking for 9-10mm.
I always hear about windowing, which concerns me because I'm not sure how much is "okay."
Heated or unheated. It just needs to be a 100% natural sapphire, well-cut, sapphire.
Finally, my budget is $5000.

Thanks in advance for any help received!

 

[whitewave]

I haven’t been able to find 8 mm heated for your budget, but I’m still looking.

Also, because of Covid, many vendors haven’t been able to travel to reup their stock.

 

[whitewave]

 

[Lovecarats]

I haven’t been able to find 8 mm heated for your budget, but I’m still looking.

Also, because of Covid, many vendors haven’t been able to travel to reup their stock.

Thank you. If I need to up my budget a bit, I can. $5000 is a ballpark.

 

[whitewave]

 

[whitewave]

Could you give me some help on how close I am getting to your desired color?

my favorite is that second one, number 1985

 

[Lovecarats]

Hi! I like the color of the second and fourth stones the best (1985 and 6285).

Could you give me some help on how close I am getting to your desired color?

my favorite is that second one, number 1985

You're amazing!

1985 and 6285 are my faves colorwise. I almost feel like if there were a color right in the middle it would be perfect (like Goldilocks).

 

[whitewave]

Gotcha, I’ll keep looking today

 

[whitewave]

3ct GIA CERTIFIED SAPPHIRE CUSHION CUT ROYAL BLUE NATURAL LOOSE 3 CARAT OVAL

This gorgeous cushion cut GIA certified sapphire is a gorgeous royal blue color. It is a richly saturated and perfectly even deep blue color. The play of light in this sizeable 2.92ct sapphire creates a mesmerizing range of blue tones that radiate and shimmer as the stone moves. The effect is...

ivyandrose.com

 

[whitewave]

2.17ct Blue Cushion Sapphire Ring

This is a lovely 2.17ct Blue Cushion Cut Sapphire. The color on this one is so vibrant and pure blue! Truly remarkable!

www.diamondsbylauren.com

just throwing this out in case you wanted a ready made ring

 

[whitewave]

You could also contact Inken and see if she is going to any gem shows to see if she can find you one.

Loose Gemstones — Enhoerning Jewelry — Enhoerning Jewelry

We specialize in unheated and untreated sapphires from Ceylon, Burma, Kashmir (upon special order), Madagascar, as well as rubies from Burma, and other classic locations. We always carry a selection of fine rubies and sapphires in our inventory. If you are looking for a gemstone of a specific size

www.enhoerning-jewelry.com

 

[Lovecarats]

Wow. I went to go work-out and came back to some more pretties.
Thanks so much @whitewave! I'll take a look.

 

[fantapanda]

If you go on IG and check out desert rose's IG story, she's at the gem fair now and posted an oval royal blue sapphire 3+ ct and slightly above $5000 if you want her to get that for you.

 

[Lovecarats]

If you go on IG and check out desert rose's IG story, she's at the gem fair now and posted an oval royal blue sapphire 3+ ct and slightly above $5000 if you want her to get that for you.

Thank you. I just sent her a message.

 

[Lovecarats]

If you go on IG and check out desert rose's IG story, she's at the gem fair now and posted an oval royal blue sapphire 3+ ct and slightly above $5000 if you want her to get that for you.

Well she picked the stone up for me! Thanks so much.

 

[marymm]

^ Wow! Personally I would be hesitant to go for a $5K+ purchase from a vendor who doesn't do returns, but you seem very confident you found your sapphire - congrats! I hope you post photos and your thoughts upon receipt!

 

[Lovecarats]

^ Wow! Personally I would be hesitant to go for a $5K+ purchase from a vendor who doesn't do returns, but you seem very confident you found your sapphire - congrats! I hope you post photos and your thoughts upon receipt!

Yeah. We shall see.

 

[whitewave]

Well she picked the stone up for me! Thanks so much.

I didn’t see it on IG, can you post a pic?!

 

[Lovecarats]

I didn’t see it on IG, can you post a pic?!

It was in her instagram stories. I would have never found it because I am completely inept at navigating those!

 

[whitewave]

It was in her instagram stories. I would have never found it because I am completely inept at navigating those!

Oooh, it is pretty.

I don’t know how IG stories work either or how to find them

 

[Cerulean]

^ Wow! Personally I would be hesitant to go for a $5K+ purchase from a vendor who doesn't do returns, but you seem very confident you found your sapphire - congrats! I hope you post photos and your thoughts upon receipt!

Curious - do you mean desert rose in particular doesn't take returns? Wasn't aware of that!

 

[Cerulean]

It was in her instagram stories. I would have never found it because I am completely inept at navigating those!

Very pretty stone!

 

[marymm]

Curious - do you mean desert rose in particular doesn't take returns? Wasn't aware of that!

I was going by the Shop Policies on her Insta ...

 

[Cerulean]

I was going by the Shop Policies on her Insta ...

Oh doi- you are more observant than me! Interesting- for a US based vendor that’s too bad. But everyone has a different level of risk tolerance

 

[Bron357]

It’s tricky these days for sellers. PayPal for example now keeps the 3% fee even if it’s a mutually agreed return / refund. Also credit card companies charge merchant fees and returns still cost the seller money.
I guess with a “one or two person show” and a low overhead business model to keep prices down, returns for change of mind take up too much time, energy and that means $$$.
The big vendors with “padded prices” are able to offer returns as they are getting their profit from bigger volumes and higher prices at the outset.

 

[ShinyPink]

Desert_Rose is upfront about a stone's strengths, weaknesss, etc. She doesn't sugarcoat descriptions or make everything seem like "you have to buy it or you'll regret it til the day you die," like some sellers. Her photos are pretty accurate, too. That's not to say there's no risk in purchasing, but she's one of the better IG sellers out there.