Help me pick out a star sapphire!

[viridian]

Hi again! I am back and on a hunt for another star sapphire for a ring project. Thanks to all of you I was able to find a lovely star sapphire and am still enjoying the stone!
Here's how it looks in its new setting

This time, I'm specifically looking for star stones with high transparency. My first star sapphire was not that opaque but not transparent either, so I want to find a more clearer stone this time. Mainly focusing on pink/purple hues as I found to really love these colors.

I've talked to some vendors and these are the 4 main stones I'm interested in, listed from lowest to highest price.
All of them are eye clean clarity (according to them) and are priced below $400

1. 1.54 ct plum purple (5.72 x 5.31 x 5.28 mm)


This one seems to have a slight pinkish-purple color, similar to that of a rhodolite garnet. I think the color is nice and the star is clear enough to be seen. However, the vendor's video is low quality which makes it difficult to clearly see the stone. Second photo was taken with a loupe by the vendor to see the inclusions.

2. 1.44 ct purplish-pink (6.46 x 5.76 x 4.28 mm)
Link to website
This one has good clarity and cut, polished even on the bottom and has just a tiny brown inclusion on its side. The legs of the star do seem a bit short (doesn't reach the girdles) but that's fine with me.

3. 3.65 ct bluish-purple (7.77 x 6.38 x 7.16 mm)

video 1
video 2
video 3
This one is very high dome and is very transparent but does seem to have more inclusions that others. I was able to get more pics from the seller that show the sides and back of the stone.

4. 2.88 ct bluish-purple (8.18 x 6.58 x 6.02 mm)
video 1
video 2
The axis of the star is different for this one but it has a lovely violet color! It does have a few inclusions and the vendor says that they are usually not visible unless light shines from the back of the stone. Asterism does seem a bit faint so I'm wondering how it'd look in person.

These are the options I like so far and I want to hear your thoughts on them! All opinions are appreciated and I'm always grateful for all of your kind support

 

[LilAlex]

I think all of them are super-deep with very flat domes -- basically a squat cylinder that's a little rounded on top. Then again, I'm not sure how to benchmark a < $400 highly translucent vs. transparent star sapphire; there will certainly be a ton of compromises to make. I don't think you can get a fine example for 10X that price.

I would not be inclined to invest in a ring for any of those -- but a custom ring here is a few thousand (US) dollars.

Hopefully, @Starstruck8 will be along.

I love your ring in the first photo!

 

[viridian]

I think all of them are super-deep with very flat domes -- basically a squat cylinder that's a little rounded on top. Then again, I'm not sure how to benchmark a < $400 highly translucent vs. transparent star sapphire; there will certainly be a ton of compromises to make. I don't think you can get a fine example for 10X that price.

I would not be inclined to invest in a ring for any of those -- but a custom ring here is a few thousand (US) dollars.

Hopefully, @Starstruck8 will be along.

I love your ring in the first photo!

Thank you for your reply!
Yes, I'm not looking for a high quality stone at this price, I just want to find a more transparent one to add to my collection

Thank you for complimenting my ring btw! I really love how it turned out!

 

[Starstruck8]

Then again, I'm not sure how to benchmark a < $400 highly translucent vs. transparent star sapphire; there will certainly be a ton of compromises to make. I don't think you can get a fine example for 10X that price.

I would not be inclined to invest in a ring for any of those -- but a custom ring here is a few thousand (US) dollars.

Yes, I'm not looking for a high quality stone at this price, I just want to find a more transparent one to add to my collection

LilAlex has a point. I've spent way too much money on 'inexpensive' stones. It's depressing to think what I could have bought for the same money if I'd waited for I what really wanted. Just sayin'... That said, since compromise is inevitable, you have to think about what you value most.

(1) has attractive colour (I prefer plums to blues, but that's just me) but a weak star. I wouldn't choose it.

(2) has attractive colour and good uniformity, but the star doesn't go right across the stone, nor does is penetrate into the stone, as in (3).

(3) has a high dome and a great combination of good translucency and bright star. The way the star seems to go right through the stone is fascinating. Of these, this is the one I'd take. But can you live with the prominent inclusion and the zoning?

(4) Attractive colour and good translucency but weak star. I'm not so keen on the crosswise oriented star. I have one like this, and I find that the 'stretched out' diagonal rays look a bit unbalanced. I much prefer the 'normal' orientation, with a ray along the long axis, as in (3).

I think these are good value for what they are, but I also think you may do better to pay more money for less compromise. Your taste, your money, your choice, of course.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Beautiful! I like 3 too!