Help with Sapphires

[Neptuned]

Hello! This is my first post on PriceScope--this forum is exactly what I've been looking for! There seems to be an abundance of knowledgeable people here, and I am in need of some help. I'm looking for an oval cut sapphire for an engagement ring. Overall I'm thinking 3.5 - 4 carats, with two half moon diamond baguettes on a simple platinum ring. I am hoping to keep the overall budget for everything under $15k. I know next-to-nothing about stones, and am hesitant to start meeting with jewelers before getting some objective info, especially at this price point.

I know my girlfriend likes unheated stones, so I feel that this is important. We both like the "intense blue" color, and good brilliance and clarity are important. Am I already out of my price range looking for something like this? I am also in the NYC area--can anyone suggest a good local resource where I won't get ripped off or mislead? I have been looking at GemsNY's website, wondering if they are worth meeting with.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated, thank you!

 

[chrono]

Take a look here to see what colours you like and the pricing associated with that colour, size and treatment.
http://litnon.com/index.php?page=view&cat=402

 

[minousbijoux]

Not to saddle you with a bunch of reading, but these two threads should not take you too long to read and should help you feel more confident when dealing with know-it-all sales people.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/looking-for-a-blue-sapphire-start-here.185711/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/looking-for-a-blue-sapphire-start-here.185711/[/URL]

I'm sure others will bop along shortly to suggest places to shop/view sapphires/rings in NYC. Another way to go is to check out one of the local Intergem shows, which must be in various locations in the greater metro area.

 

[MollyMalone]

Following up on minousbijoux's InterGem suggestion, they are hosting one of their shows next month (weekend of December 6) at the Westchester County Center, which is within walking distance of Metro North's White Plains train station:
http://www.countycenter.biz/facility_directions.html

List of vendors who have signed up so far to be at this particular show; hopefully, others here can tell you whether any of them seem likely to be good sources for you & therefore worth your while to make the trip (this show has yet to attract as many vendors as, e.g., the one in Marlborough, MA this upcoming weekend)
http://www.intergem.com/shows/upcoming-shows/white-plains-ny-december-6-8

As an aside, Antoinette Matlin's consumer-oriented guide to colored gemstones is the one that my ex-father-in-law, who was "in the trade" until recently, frequently recommended; here's the latest edition on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Colored-Gemstones-3rd-Antoinette-Guide--How/dp/094376372X/

 

[FrekeChild]

Your ring idea made me think of Joe Escobar. They are located in the Bay Area, but Ryan is their colored stone guru, and they make beautiful settings. I'd contact them! (Plus their designer Maia's ering is a blue sapphire with half moons, but with the addition of a halo around all of it, so they know their sapphires with half moons!)

http://www.escobardiamonds.com/