Help me find a Sapphire for an engagement ring

[Bones90]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum but have found it a great place full of info that has already taught me a lot about gemstones and now I'm after a bit more specific help.

So I am after a blue round cut sapphire of around 1ct for an engagement ring, I would like it to be a nice deep blue but not too dark, I live in the UK so it will probably be viewed indoors most of the time. I could also do with a little help on picking a setting. I haven't decided on the setting yet and my SO isn't letting much slip, is all I know is that she does't want a diamond, she doesn't want a high setting and she doesn't like really fancy rings that may look a bit like dress rings. She does really like rose gold so it would be cool to try and do that or maybe two-tone. I've got a few ideas but basically I want something simple with a little twist. Budget is around £1000 for the sapphire, I have set aside around another 20-30% for the VAT and duty I will have to pay on bringing it into the UK.

With regards to colour the one below from Jeff White looks perfect to me;



With the setting a like something like this,






Any help or advice would be great - my idea at the moment is to get a stone from somewhere and then have the ring made in the UK, I have emailed Jeff White to see if he has anything as most of the gems I see on here that I like seem to come from him.

 

[Niel]

Hey I'm not good at conversions and working in vat. Could you give me, in USD, already removing the tax, how much money you have for a sapphire?

 

[Bones90]

In dollars I'm looking at around $1300

 

[Niel]

In dollars I'm looking at around $1300

Awesome thanks. Let me see here. Sapphire first, the we can see about the setting. How much did you set aside for that

 

[Bones90]

Thanks!

So for the setting I have around another $1000 but probably won't need anywhere near that much as I don't think I will be having any other stones in it, or if I do they will only be small ones. So I could go a little more on the Sapphire if it's something really special - I've found it pretty difficult to know what sort of price I should be paying for a nice sapphire

 

[lovedogs]

Hi there

So a deep blue color you're after is a bit tricky in 1,300, but I did find some potential things that might work.

Montana sapphires are gorgeous and often come in these deep blues, but not exactly the same as the traditional blue (more of a "teal"). Just wanted to show you some alternatives, but if you aren't a fan that's completely fine.
http://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-montana-771
http://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-montana-739
http://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-montana-739


Here are some more "traditional" options in terms of color:
https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-301-ANAGEE_Sri_Lanka_Gems/8046-Sri_Lanka_Blue_Sapphire_1_69_ct-GemMedia.php?FromPage=1&ProductMediaID=31742 **a little more expensive, but so beautiful!
https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-301-ANAGEE_Sri_Lanka_Gems/7726-Sri_Lanka_Fine_Color_Shift_Sapphire_1_81_carat-GemMedia.php?FromPage=1&ProductMediaID=29743 **Not round, but I think it's beautiful so wanted to add it
https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-301-ANAGEE_Sri_Lanka_Gems/7712-Sri_Lanka_Natural_Blue_Sapphire_1_20_carat-GemMedia.php?FromPage=1&ProductMediaID=29667


One last option that's an entire ring. I doubt you'll be a huge fan since it's a halo, but it's beautiful and a GREAT price so wanted to add it just in case
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/sapphire-ring-81ct-blue-round-brilliant-sapphire-and-diamond-halo-ring-r6645

 

[Bones90]

Thanks for having a look.

I have looked at the montana sapphire but I think they aren't the colour I'm looking for unfortunately.

I love the look of the first blue sapphire at $1675, the colour of it in the third picture is spot on but maybe a little dark in the first picture - based on the colour in the pictures will sapphires generally look a little darker once set into a ring?

I also like the sapphire in the whole ring but not keen on the actual ring.

Price wise if $1300 is a bit on the cheap side I would prefer to pay a bit more and hold off getting it made until I can save a bit more in order to get the right stone.

 

[chroman]

I know you said you wanted a round, but would ovals be of any interest to widen the options a bit?

If so, this stone:
http://www.spectralgems.net/sapphire/sapphireblueoval1_09ct_1539/

got a lot of ohhs and ahhs over in this thread:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/blue-sapphire-on-tight-budget-help.223576/

but in the end wasnt the perfect fit for the OP. If its still available and ovals arnt a turn off, it might be one to ponder

 

[lovedogs]

Thanks for having a look.

I have looked at the montana sapphire but I think they aren't the colour I'm looking for unfortunately.

I love the look of the first blue sapphire at $1675, the colour of it in the third picture is spot on but maybe a little dark in the first picture - based on the colour in the pictures will sapphires generally look a little darker once set into a ring?

I also like the sapphire in the whole ring but not keen on the actual ring.

Price wise if $1300 is a bit on the cheap side I would prefer to pay a bit more and hold off getting it made until I can save a bit more in order to get the right stone.

No worries on the montanas, some people love them and others aren't a huge fan. Yeah, the 1675 one is just incredible IMHO. I think it will still look great in a setting and not get too dark. Sapphires do darken once they are set, but that one looks lively enough that I don't think it'll be an issue. If you're interested in the 1675 one I'd go ahead and contact Dana (owner of Mastercut gems) and see what he thinks about the color and potentially darkening upon setting. You can also ask if there's any flexibility in the price. He's a great guy and in my experience happy to answer questions and help people out if he can.

Also, there's a chance you might be able to spend more on the stone since you want a relatively simple setting without tons of diamonds, etc. Here are some that might work from Stuller (if you do end up liking the Mastercut one). You'd have to go through a jeweler to ask about pricing since Stuller doesn't sell to the public, but I think these should all be under 1K and can be ordered in rose gold if that's what your GF wants. I especially like the one that can be 2-tone, since those are unique. Just some options--and all fit 8mm round stones, which hopefully would be fine since this one is 7.8mm.

http://www.stuller.com/products/build/71840/12385460/?groupId=193302
http://www.stuller.com/products/build/122903/12278024/?groupId=193107
http://www.stuller.com/products/build/71751/11438196/?groupId=122780
http://www.stuller.com/products/build/122510/11267135/?groupId=122262

 

[Niel]

Did she say specifically she liked that of setting?

 

[Niel]

Ok, so I know brilliant earth isn't where we normally suggest. But as you can get the stone and setting at the same place this way, might be worth inquiring. Maybe a if they have photos of the stone face on? What the treatments are? (You'll be paying more here but again, what's the treatments? Is it worth it to have it all done at one place? Is she one who might like the "green" aspect of it) eta: it's heat treated
http://www.brilliantearth.com/rings/cyorings/view_diamond/1151211/?is_tab=1&sid=1153244

Here's an example of a ring they did that would be in budget I don't know if you meant classic with a "twist " or actually twisty bits, but if it was the former....

 

[Niel]

This?
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/gemstones/?type=&shape=&color=&minct=&maxct=&min=&max=&sku=7715

There must be a stuller setting to put that in.

 

[chrono]

This?
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/gemstones/?type=&shape=&color=&minct=&maxct=&min=&max=&sku=7715
There must be a stuller setting to put that in.

That looks like a nice one. Perhaps Pearlman's can help you look for a similar setting.

 

[Bones90]

Thanks for all the help guys!

Some of those stuller settings are really nice - I think I would prefer to try and get the setting made in the UK, firstly because import tax is less on a loose stone that an entire ring - secondly because I would like to see the stone before its set incase I don't like it in real life.

That ring from brilliant earth is nice and within budget - is there a reason you guys don't usually recommend brilliant earth?

The pearlmans one is pretty much the perfect colour in my opinion, but would this look a lot darker when viewed indoors?

Jeff White has got back to me with a gem that he would be willing to cut, he says he would probably get it to around 1.1-1.3 ct and would be slightly over budget at $1575, what do you guys think - I think it might be a bit light as he says it will be like the lighter areas of the stone currently? I'm also thinking if it ends up being closer to 1.3ct it may be a bit big

 

[Bones90]

I have also found this ring from the UK, its a bit pricey as they play on the ethically sourced etc but would save the hassle of importing etc. Apparently the sapphire in the photo is the actual ring as they only make 1 at a time.

 

[Niel]

Thanks for all the help guys!

Some of those stuller settings are really nice - I think I would prefer to try and get the setting made in the UK, firstly because import tax is less on a loose stone that an entire ring - secondly because I would like to see the stone before its set incase I don't like it in real life.

That ring from brilliant earth is nice and within budget - is there a reason you guys don't usually recommend brilliant earth?

The pearlmans one is pretty much the perfect colour in my opinion, but would this look a lot darker when viewed indoors?

Jeff White has got back to me with a gem that he would be willing to cut, he says he would probably get it to around 1.1-1.3 ct and would be slightly over budget at $1575, what do you guys think - I think it might be a bit light as he says it will be like the lighter areas of the stone currently? I'm also thinking if it ends up being closer to 1.3ct it may be a bit big

hmm i worry that, though i personally LOVE this color, that it wouldnt be too light for what you're after