Is this sapphire too pale?

[winnietucker]

I’m nap trapped and am spending waaay too much time browsing the internet. I’ve come across this one again and had an idea to have it recut and set as a 3 stone like this:



I like a paler yellow - kind of post it note colored. This one is 7.3 ct - so large enough to recut since I don’t like my gemstones huge. It would be approx $1200 after scrapping the setting. I’m assuming natural based on the cut and am hoping untreated/ basic heat based on the color. I have the hardest time discerning color from vendor photos. Thoughts?

 

[Autumn in New England]

I love how you described your preferred shade as "post-it note" yellow. I feel like I know exactly what you're after. lol So I would just ask for more photos and a video in daylight (indirect sun). Then you'll know just what to expect. It could be right on the money if you want that pastel yellow shade. Two things... depending on how much weight is lost when recutting, she may also lose some color. On the flip side of that, if the loss in weight is minor, you might gain color from a better cut. It's tough to predict sometimes. Just wanted to mention the possibilities!

 

[LC2016]

I like the color tone but would prefer a more saturated color one so that the color can stand out more

 

[winnietucker]

I love how you described your preferred shade as "post-it note" yellow. I feel like I know exactly what you're after. lol So I would just ask for more photos and a video in daylight (indirect sun). Then you'll know just what to expect. It could be right on the money if you want that pastel yellow shade. Two things... depending on how much weight is lost when recutting, she may also lose some color. On the flip side of that, if the loss in weight is minor, you might gain color from a better cut. It's tough to predict sometimes. Just wanted to mention the possibilities!

Unfortunately this vendor doesn’t do additional photos so I’d have to order but it’s encouraging that you think it could work!

Do you think it’s natural/ nothing more than basic heat? My whole basis is that it’s yellow/ not orange and the cut isn’t very good but I’m not sure I’m correct in my thinking.

I like the color tone but would prefer a more saturated color one so that the color can stand out more

As in a more lemon color? Do you think it would look washed out in YG?

 

[LC2016]

Unfortunately this vendor doesn’t do additional photos so I’d have to order but it’s encouraging that you think it could work!

Do you think it’s natural/ nothing more than basic heat? My whole basis is that it’s yellow/ not orange and the cut isn’t very good but I’m not sure I’m correct in my thinking.



As in a more lemon color? Do you think it would look washed out in YG?

I wonder why they dont do additional photos, is that they dont have the ring on hand?

 

[winnietucker]

I wonder why they dont do additional photos, is that they dont have the ring on hand?

IME they’re not particularly helpful. They’re a well known vendor though.

 

[LilAlex]

I don't see how you will get from A to B on this, and I love B.

If you are more interested in the distraction and challenge of a re-cut gamble and unknown vendor roll-of-the-dice, then go for it. If you are expecting to end up with a killer piece of jewelry when all is said and done, I think it's a hard pass.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

on my screen its a delicate apricot
maybe too delicate colour wise
i want to love it for you but unless your post in notes are different to our ones that colour is far from the yellow you describe
but i do not dislike its colour

 

[winnietucker]

I don't see how you will get from A to B on this, and I love B.

If you are more interested in the distraction and challenge of a re-cut gamble and unknown vendor roll-of-the-dice, then go for it. If you are expecting to end up with a killer piece of jewelry when all is said and done, I think it's a hard pass.

Oh no I don’t like the color of the 2nd ring, I just like the style and thats my plan for it. I don’t like my yellows too vibrant for some reason.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Oh no I don’t like the color of the 2nd ring, I just like the style and thats my plan for it. I don’t like my yellows too vibrant for some reason.

what colour gold will you set it in ?

 

[winnietucker]

on my screen its a delicate apricot
maybe too delicate colour wise
i want to love it for you but unless your post in notes are different to our ones that colour is far from the yellow you describe
but i do not dislike its colour

I hadn’t thought that post its come in several different colors… I have a big pack of light yellow ones but this is the color I’m thinking of.

 

[winnietucker]

what colour gold will you set it in ?

Yellow for sure.

 

[LC2016]

I used to think these type of close up shot will make the stone looks brigher (it might have some grey tone viewing in person), and I think this stone is still abit far from your idea color. Maybe a more saturated stone works better, like this.
It shouldnt be hard to find another stone with better color and cut from a more responsive vendor.

 

[winnietucker]

I used to think these type of close up shot will make the stone looks brigher (it might have some grey tone viewing in person), and I think this stone is still abit far from your idea color. Maybe a more saturated stone works better, like this.
It shouldnt be hard to find another stone with better color and cut from a more responsive vendor.

Ah I see what you mean now. Thank you for doing that, I needed to actually see it to understand.

 

[Avondale]

If you like the colour then no, it isn't too pale. I'm like you, I prefer the more gentle yellows.

However.

You're not just after the stone as is, you want to recut it. Which means you can't actually be sure you'll end up with the same colour. What if the stone ends up being too pale for you after the cutter is done with it?

Colour saturation of the finished gem is a product of the cut just as much as of the material. The longer the light's travel path inside the stone, the more saturated the colour. We sometimes complain about small face up for the size and too much depth without always considering how much that contributes to the way the gem looks.

With this stone, you want to recut it into a completely different shape. That alone will take a good chunk of the weight. But what's more, you want to close the window. However, if that window is due to insufficient depth, you stand to lose even more material. If this is a 7ct stone now, and it ends up at half that, it's safe to assume the colour will be impacted and will lose saturation. Will you still like it then?

 

[Autumn in New England]

Unfortunately this vendor doesn’t do additional photos so I’d have to order but it’s encouraging that you think it could work!

Do you think it’s natural/ nothing more than basic heat? My whole basis is that it’s yellow/ not orange and the cut isn’t very good but I’m not sure I’m correct in my thinking.

Yes, I think it would be safe to assume that this shade of sapphire would at most be heated. Diffused sapphires are typically quite "loud" in color. But if treatment is important to you, I always suggest sending the stone out just in case.

In all honesty, it's a very pretty pastel, but I don't think it's a pure yellow. I don't see orange, per se, but it almost has a warm vanilla or creamy banana tone to it. Like @Avondale said, if you like the color, that's what matters, as long as you take into account how that may change after recutting. But yes, the stone as it is now is in desperate need of a trim to close the window, straighten the pavilion, and refine the shape. The more I look at it, the more I see a subtle oval octagon. I wonder if that was purposeful. In any event, were you planning to recut as an emerald? I just thought that was an example design. You'll lose a lot of weight, just bear that in mind. I would keep it as an oval for a 3-stone design and just change the accent diamond shape... you'll have great yield that way! But I also understand wanting what we want.