Montana Sapphire with inclusions help!

[zachm23]

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for something that I'm starting to believe is a bit out of the ordinary as far as Montana sapphires are concerned: A pear cut Montana WITH inclusions.

I'm in the process of teaming up with a goldsmith and making an engagement ring for my girlfriend. She's wanting something in a blue/green color, which I can find, but she's a fan of sapphires with inclusions in them and the "rustic" look that comes with that (that may be poor wording).

I've searched everywhere, and I can't find any anywhere. I understand why this is, as most want gemstones with as few inclusions as possible.

My girlfriend is very partial to Montana sapphires, because of the ethical implications of having it sources humanely and in-country, so I'm confined to Montanas. I don't think I have time to buy a raw and cut it, nor the budget (I'm a teacher). I completely underestimated how involved of a process that is. It seems like really really hard work!

I;ve checked everywhere I possibly can, and while I can find plenty of rough stones, it's been very difficult to find a pear cut with notable inclusions. I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I have a picture of a ring made by a jeweler on Etsy that has already been sold. SHe informed me that she purchased it from India, but as I mentioned before, I'm confined to Montanas:



I've checked Blazengems, Mountain Momma, all of the basics, but I need your help, as I'm coming up dry. I've emailed Blaze already about a few of his sapphires, so once he emails me back I'll ask more about what I'm asking all of you about.

Any ideas? I'm coming up empty here

Thank you so much!

 

[MissouriRiverSapphireCo]

Most dealers (myself included) would not bother to stock an included pear for fear of it never selling. Blaze has recently lost his only son in a car wreck, so he may be slow getting back to you I believe a custom cutter is your best bet anyways. If it's important to your soon-to-be betrothed that the stone be ethically mined, then wouldn't she also want something that was ethically cut by someone making a fair wage? A custom cut like this could probably be had in the vicinity of 2-300$, total, as the rough itself will be very inexpensive and you will really only be paying cutting fees. Best of luck!

 

[lovedogs]

Most dealers (myself included) would not bother to stock an included pear for fear of it never selling. Blaze has recently lost his only son in a car wreck, so he may be slow getting back to you I believe a custom cutter is your best bet anyways. If it's important to your soon-to-be betrothed that the stone be ethically mined, then wouldn't she also want something that was ethically cut by someone making a fair wage? A custom cut like this could probably be had in the vicinity of 2-300$, total, as the rough itself will be very inexpensive and you will really only be paying cutting fees. Best of luck!

Was going to post this,but then felt uncomfortable doing so since I am not close to the family. I know you are, so I appreciate you posting it instead! I feel so incredibly sorry for his loss, and hope he is taking time to heal.

 

[arkieb1]

I'm not sure finding a sapphire with a lot of inclusions is a great idea and here is why, if she bumps it hard and the wrong way the thing will shatter or crumble or both, that's why most dealers don't stock really low grade stones, having said that you can find cheap stuff from India and Asia. What I think might be a better option is a bi/party coloured sapphire (two or more combined colours in one stone) or indeed one with colour zoning or different bands of colour these can be like stripes. That will be a lot more durable than something full of inclusions. What is your budget and we will make suggestions. A lot of the ethically mined Aussie sapphire places have these sorts of stones.

 

[zachm23]

Oh this is such sad news. That's so so so terrible No parent should ever have to go through that.

 

[zachm23]

I'm not sure finding a sapphire with a lot of inclusions is a great idea and here is why, if she bumps it hard and the wrong way the thing will shatter or crumble or both, that's why most dealers don't stock really low grade stones. What I think might be a better option is a bi/party coloured sapphire (two or more combined colours in one stone) or indeed one with colour zoning or different bands of colour these can be like stripes. That will be a lot more durable than something full of inclusions. What is your budget and we will make suggestions. A lot of the ethically mined Aussie sapphire places have these sorts of stones.

That's definitely information that I never would have been able to figure out myself! Thanks for the input!

My budget is probably around $300-$500. Somewhat low, I know, but a lot of the expense is going towards the gold and goldsmith, unfortunately.

 

[arkieb1]

That's an O.K budget, there are plenty of rusting looking sapphire rings on Etsy like this;

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/268221299/blue-sapphire-ring-14k-gold-september?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pear%20sapphire&ref=sr_gallery_48

Or this;

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/468817299/solid-14-k-yellow-gold-small-pear-13-x-9?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pear%20sapphire&ref=sr_gallery_1

But the other issue you have is you need to be asking how they have been treated, heat is fine but if they have been BE treated or diffused you can do better. I think you can do better than these heavily included stones too and find something that is pretty and durable on that budget.

Another option might be a colour change sapphire so for example it looks blue in some light and purple in others.

Jerry is a possible option if you want to get a Montana in your price range cut for you;

http://www.gemartservices.com/stones.php?id=monsapp001

 

[Niel]

Truly I think it being rose cut will be rustic enough. I think as Arkie said, you might want to forgo it being obviously included and just look for a rose cut sapphire from Montana shaped like a pear. Already a fair undertaking .

Let me see what I can find.

 

[theredspinel]

I don't think you need to look for something heavily damaged in order to get a rustic look. Just get a rustic setting...

Why would you want something that's at the edge of falling apart especially for everyday wear.

 

[lovedogs]

So not pear shaped, but I think this vendor does lovely work, and has excellent feedback on Etsy. You could ask about the possibility of a pear shape and see what they say.

Here are 2 rose cut options from that store:

This one is in sterling--I'd ask if they can make it in gold for an engagement ring since silver doesnt hold up as well. But I love it and think it's rustic
https://nodeform.com/products/rose-cut-montana-sapphire-textured-bezel-diamond-accented-engagement-ring


This one is gold but the ring itself is more plain.
https://nodeform.com/products/rose-cut-montana-sapphire-bezel-solitaire-engagement-ring

 

[partgypsy]

I don't know this vendor, but these are on sale
http://www.montanasapphirecompany.com/pear-cut-
You can ask this vendor if they can source a pear. I don't see too many pear shaped Montana sapphires, most are round or oval. Is she flexible on the shape?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/223966207/cushion-cut-ring-cushion-engagement-ring?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=montana sapphire&ref=sc_gallery_6&plkey=0bc4d3611cb0ba7d2f679886a041e110f34b0b02:223966207

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JReneau?ref=listing-shop2-all-items-count&search_query=montana

https://www.etsy.com/listing/271499998/7mm-1ct-montana-sapphire-ladies?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=montana sapphire&ref=sr_gallery_28

 

[Vidalia]

What a unique idea for an engagement ring! Don't know if it's too small or the clarity on this is too clear for you and your intended, but this vendor has a blue-green, pear-cut Montana sapphire that's listed for $400. Hard to tell from the photo, but it might have some interesting color-zoning that could give it a more rustic, one-of-a-kind look.
http://www.gemmountainmt.com/_p/prd1/620854081/product/teal-blue-pear-sapphire
Note that it's been heat-treated per the vendor.

 

[GregS]

You can get a rustic look without sacrificing quality. A lot of the settings in this thread are extremely poorly made, not rustic. I doubt your fiance wants the "made by candle light with a rock as my only tool" look. You can achieve that rustic look with different textures, matte/oxidized finishes etc... However, the stone should be secured properly. NO sloppy bezels or clunky prongs.

 

[zachm23]

Thanks for the input! I'll be making the ring myself with the help of a goldsmith instructor, so I'll make sure the setting it right! I'm just looking for the perfect loose stone to match it!

 

[the_mother_thing]

I just stumbled upon this one while I was browsing Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/222951528/15ct-precision-cut-montana-sapphire?ref=shop_home_active_18

Not sure if it is what you had in mind in terms of the visible inclusions, but it's a blue (heated) Montana, per the seller (who is a PSer).

ETA - Crud, I forgot it needed to be a pear; my bad. But will leave the post in the event there ends up being flexibility with regard to shape.

 

[mochiko42]

A few more Montana sapphire vendors that you might want to look into:

http://missouririversapphire.co/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/KosnarGemCo

 

[Niel]

I wonder if you might contact this seller. Tell him your budget your color and that you're looking for a pear Montana sapphire.

He's a tad expensive, but take a look at his cutting. It's very organic and I think would lend itself to an organic design without having to be included.

http://topnotchfaceting.com/home.html

 

[GregS]

I wonder if you might contact this seller. Tell him your budget your color and that you're looking for a pear Montana sapphire.

He's a tad expensive, but take a look at his cutting. It's very organic and I think would lend itself to an organic design without having to be included.

http://topnotchfaceting.com/home.html

He appears to embrace windows.

 

[the_mother_thing]

He appears to embrace windows.

I don't mind tats in the least, but I do find that the abundance of them in his photos detract from my ability to focus on his gems.

 

[zachm23]

wow! This is beautiful work! I'm emailing him now!

 

[zachm23]

Also, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the advice on straying away from heavily-included stones. I relayed that information to my girlfriend, who said she didn't know that and definitely doesn't want the stone to break! She's back on just focusing on a blue-green colored pear for right now, something along the lines of this color:




Blaze got back to me and his stuff is GORGEOUS. The top one is the closest I've found to a pear in the color of the picture above:



Thank you all SO MUCH for continuing to help me in my search. This has been incredible!