Looking for Round Blue Sapphire

[goldie_locks]

Hello! DH has decided he'd like to buy me a sapphire necklace for our first wedding anniversary. I'll likely go with a full or half bezel setting, but am having a hard time deciding on a sapphire. Yesterday we went to the local jeweler where we bought our wedding rings, and they had 5 stones brought in for us. Our favorite was a beautiful, eye clean, royal blue 1.10 ct stone for ~ $3600 (sorry I don't have pics or a measurement, but I will say it's definitely a top of the line stone). This morning I searched through the vendor list provided in this forum for similar color/weight/clarity stones, and there seems to be a ton a variation. My top contenders are the following:

From Africa Gems:
http://www.africagems.com/round-blue-sapphire-gemstone-15814414.html
http://www.africagems.com/round-blue-sapphire-gemstone-14814313.html
http://www.africagems.com/round-blue-sapphire-gemstone-03835717.html

From Gem Line Inc:
https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=9941

From Gem Fix:
https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1176
https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1198
https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1110

I think just based on pictures, videos and description, that last ones under Africa Gems and Gem Fix are the two I'm leaning toward the most. Any feedback or thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[crescentgems]

wish you all the best in finding the perfect stone.

 

[Arkteia]

All stones are beautiful. I am somewhat concerned about the tone. I love dark, juicy sapphires, but they will darken in a bezel. All mine were in open settings and set as high as possible.

 

[goldie_locks]

All stones are beautiful. I am somewhat concerned about the tone. I love dark, juicy sapphires, but they will darken in a bezel. All mine were in open settings and set as high as possible.

I was worried about this, and asked the jeweler when I saw the stones. They said that the bezel set wouldn't really affect the color or sparkle. This is the style of bezel that I am looking at - with an open back on it.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond-pendants/the-barbara-pendant-18k-white-gold-5352w18

But now you've got me thinking that I should be looking for a shade or two lighter but with the same vividness.

 

[goldie_locks]

I wonder if this shade would be a little more approrpirate for a bezel

 

[minousbijoux]

I agree with Ark that the majority of those sapphires are brightly lit and therefore in normal lighting will appear darker. Also, there are many that have a greyish or greenish tone to them, and I would classify as far less that vivid in saturation (iirc, the ones you linked to which seemed to have the highest saturation were Africagems). You might want to check out Roger Dery as well.

 

[minousbijoux]

Oh, forgot to say that this latest one you posted would not make the cut for me, as it appears low in saturation in the still photo (as seen by the greyish blue coloration).

 

[goldie_locks]

Thanks, I had looked at him before and the only stone in my size range with a picture was this one, which looks a little greenish to my eye, though is very pretty: http://rogerdery.com/gems/blue-sapphire-classic-round-3/

There is another in my size range without a pic. I will contact him about that one.

White flash located this one for me, but i think it is too dark based on previous comments:

 

[rockysalamander]

Have a look at Brume Jeroh (@bayoto on Instagram). He's a really nice guy and offers some lovely stones. Some of the trade member might be able to re-assure you that while located in Africa, he is a real seller and cutter. I've found his prices really good. He's has some royal blue rough from Cameroon and Nigeria that he has been posting. Yummy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVufXuqncaP/?taken-by=bayoto {bit smaller}
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWcLBLdH-0k/?taken-by=bayoto {different shape, but awesome}

 

[goldie_locks]

Oh, forgot to say that this latest one you posted would not make the cut for me, as it appears low in saturation in the still photo (as seen by the greyish blue coloration).

I have to be honest, I'm having a hard time seeing much grey in that picture, so now I'm wondering if I'm missing it when I look at other stones. I did come across this one at Earth's Treasury caught my eye.

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-90-carat-royal-blue-montana-sapphire-heated/



It looks a little greenish to my eye, but the description says its royal blue. It's a bit lighter than the other stones I was looking at so perhaps it would be better in a bezel setting?

@rockysalamander - I looked at Brume's gems and while absolutely stunning, he does not have any pure blue stones in stock right now (I messaged him) - his are mostly of the green-blue variety.

 

[chroman]

I'm with minousbijoux about the gray issue (same with one of the gemfix stones), and I agree the white flash pics look very dark.

Color wise I think my favorite is the last from africa gems, though the cut is a little wonky, and who knows how dark it is in person.

The ET stone looks nice if you like that hue - but it seems different from your original set.

Have you seen this one?
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/gemstones/?sku=G88245

I've also seen Jeff Davies posting some nice sapphires lately, though no rounds. Might be worth an email to him and see if he has any rounds in the queue.

Wasn't someone looking at a potential Jeff White recut of a round in the near past? Matbe my memory is going.. He might be another person to try.

 

[chroman]

I'm with minousbijoux about the gray issue (same with one of the gemfix stones), and I agree the white flash pics look very dark.

Color wise I think my favorite is the last from africa gems, though the cut is a little wonky, and who knows how dark it is in person.

The ET stone looks nice if you like that hue - but it seems different from your original set.

Have you seen this one?
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/gemstones/?sku=G88245

I've also seen Jeff Davies posting some nice sapphires lately, though no rounds. Might be worth an email to him and see if he has any rounds in the queue.

Wasn't someone looking at a potential Jeff White recut of a round in the near past? Matbe my memory is going.. He might be another person to try.

 

[goldie_locks]

Thanks, chroman.

I actually have an email out to Jeff White, he was going to check what he has for raw material - same with Dan Stair.

I hadn't seen the gems at Pearlmans. That one is lovely, but a bit over budget for me. I will check to see if they have anything similar in my budget.

This one is starting to grow on me each time I look at it: http://rogerdery.com/gems/blue-sapphire-classic-round-3/ but I'm just realizing that he only sells through retailers - does anyone know if that's correct?

I can't believe how much harder this is than I thought it would be - harder than it was for me to pick a diamond!

 

[chroman]

A lot of the stones listed at pearlmans are also listed at africa gems, so you might see a number of things you've already seen there.

And I believe Roger does sell direct, so if you like that stone I'd definatly inquire!

 

[Arkteia]

Thanks, chroman.

I actually have an email out to Jeff White, he was going to check what he has for raw material - same with Dan Stair.

I hadn't seen the gems at Pearlmans. That one is lovely, but a bit over budget for me. I will check to see if they have anything similar in my budget.

This one is starting to grow on me each time I look at it: http://rogerdery.com/gems/blue-sapphire-classic-round-3/ but I'm just realizing that he only sells through retailers - does anyone know if that's correct?

I can't believe how much harder this is than I thought it would be - harder than it was for me to pick a diamond!

Diamonds are not rare, and good rough for sapphires is hard to come by, the cut is for maximum yield and it often dictates the shape. Sapphires usually shift colours in different lights, another thing to consider when you are choosing a stone. Maybe it is my pet peeve (bezeling sapphires, I mean), but while I have not yet found a Montana sapphire to my heart, they have certain heavy gleam...hard to explain, very sparkly, reminding a droplet of mercury, maybe professionals could say what it is...perhaps a Montana sapphire will look well when bezeled? I would also mention that Gary Braun has a good eye for sapphires, he did not list any round ones on his site, but could he have the rough?

 

[goldie_locks]

Ark, funny you mention the Montana sapphires. I have been exchanging emails with Jeff at earth's treasury and he was kind enough to take and send me additional pics and videos of two sapphires I found on his site - a side by side shot below (I don't think I can post the video as an attachment). I'm actually quite liking both of them, though slightly preferring the smaller one (it's also unheated whereas the larger one is not). I think that these would look brighter in a bezel setting, though I have to admit the comments here are making me think I should be looking for a different setting type!

 

[minousbijoux]

What are the dimensions of those two from ET? I love the smaller one, as the crystal clarity allows the faceting to be seen well and will probably be quite sparkly. But it does look on the smaller side, unless those are giant hands!

 

[goldie_locks]

What are the dimensions of those two from ET? I love the smaller one, as the crystal clarity allows the faceting to be seen well and will probably be quite sparkly. But it does look on the smaller side, unless those are giant hands!

It's 6.0mm X 4.0mm, 1.04 cts. Given that's it's well within my budget I wish I could buy it in a larger size, but I'm learning that's not really possible with these stones .

 

[goldie_locks]

FYI - the bigger one is 7.2 X 4.8, 1.90 ct.

 

[digdeep]

What size ring will it be? That gives a bit of relation to size. In your shoe's if there is a good return policy, I'd purchase to see it in person. The $$ you save on the stone can go towards a setting of your choice and perhaps a custom setting through someone like David Klass or ???? Just something to consider. My gems sometimes tell me what they want vs what I started with before seeing them!!

 

[goldie_locks]

What size ring will it be? That gives a bit of relation to size. In your shoe's if there is a good return policy, I'd purchase to see it in person. The $$ you save on the stone can go towards a setting of your choice and perhaps a custom setting through someone like David Klass or ???? Just something to consider. My gems sometimes tell me what they want vs what I started with before seeing them!!

It's actually for a necklace. Originally I was thinking a bezel setting with an open (or mostly open) back. Based on some comments here, I might look at a prong setting.

 

[digdeep]

Oops! Sorry, 'bout that! I still think seeing it in person is an important step.......If she knows about this then her opinion would be important too. Given I missed the necklace part you probably also have said that it's a secret........I'll apologize in advance. L-O-N-G Weekend here...........

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

A late, but is round 1.x carat not too small for a pendant?

 

[goldie_locks]

Ok, so those of you that are still with me (and I can't say enough how much I appreciate the feedback from the more experience CS admirers), I have two new stones from Earth's Treasury. These are more of a royal blue that I was initially going for versus the green-blue of the montana stones. Any thoughts on these?

Here are the links for each stone also:
http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-44-carat-royal-blue-to-blue-violet-umba-sapphire/
http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-19-carat-cornflower-blue-umba-sapphire/

 

[indigoblue]

Don't be too afraid of a bezel setting. My sapphire didn't change much after its reset. Here it is in its first setting and now in the bezel setting. I prefer the bezel with the open gallery that lets in plenty of light. My pictures don't do it justice because now the stone really glows a beautiful blue.

 

[goldie_locks]

Oooh, @indigoblue , that is a gorgeous stone! Do you know what color that is generally referred to?

 

[indigoblue]

Oooh, @indigoblue , that is a gorgeous stone! Do you know what color that is generally referred to?

Thanks so much. I bought it from Gene Flanigan (http://www.precisiongem.com/) over four years ago but don't remember his description of the color. It's not too light and not too dark. It's one of those things that you can't describe, but you'll know it when you see it.

 

[goldie_locks]

Thanks so much. I bought it from Gene Flanigan (http://www.precisiongem.com/) over four years ago but don't remember his description of the color. It's not too light and not too dark. It's one of those things that you can't describe, but you'll know it when you see it.

Funny, Gene just sent out an email update with two new round sapphires:

http://www.precisiongem.com/gemstackpage/gems.php?product/page/1170/Gem+1929+-+Blue+Sapphire

http://www.precisiongem.com/gemstackpage/gems.php?product/page/1174/Gem+1929+-+Blue+Sapphire

I like the first one, but compared to yours it just doesn't have the vibrancy I'm looking for. Perhaps I just need to patiently wait for the perfect one.

 

[Bex]

I actually just popped over here to post those two stones! I think the smaller one (1.36 ct) looks wonderful. Might be worth seeing in person?

 

[goldie_locks]

@Bex I was thinking the same thing, and then Jeff Hapeman just sent me this one that he was just about to post online. It's not the color I was originally looking at, but there's something very special about this one, I think.