My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help pls?

[pearaffair]

Hi!!

You all have been so incredible in helping my last friend prepare for his engagement, and I'm hoping I can impose upon you again to help me track down the best stone for my buddy J! He's proposing in a month, and will be setting a round (open to oval) sapphire in a yellow gold setting.

This is the colour he's looking for:

Now, from what I can tell, $168 is a really good price for a natural sapphire. Why? Why is it so affordable? He'd buy this one in a second if we could get some confirmation that it's decent. It can be found here:

https://gemhunters.com.au/product/australian-blue-sapphire-8/

Let us know if it's the one he should go with, or if you can find something far superior, that's cool too!

Size: 5-6mm
Shape: Round (also open to Oval, but preference for round)
Budget: Up to $2000

If you need more details, I'll post 'em! Just say the word! Here's another pic of the shade he likes:



Thank you!!! You're such a fabulous team of selfless people that ensure guys aren't going out buying crap without realizing it !! Your time is much appreciated!

 

[Niel]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Is 2k for a setting too? How will it be set? Why only 5-6mm?

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I imagine that the stone you posted will be exceedingly dark (like black) in almost all but very bright light. I would ask the vendor how dark the stone is and how it looks in regular, not bright, light.

 

[lovedogs]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

yup, I agree with Minous that the stone will likely be quite dark. But the owners of gem hunters are extremely nice (I've emailed back and further with them a bit), so they might be able to tell you more about how the stone will look in more natural light.

Also, just so you have a sense of what it might look like in real life, I got a center stone for my 5-stone ring that looked similar to that one (an aussie sapphire). Here's a pic of what it looks like in general just in case it might help to see it without bright backlighting. It is dark in most lights, but I don't mind it, and it was quite affordable versus the brighter stones that I never could have afforded:

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Is 2k for a setting too? How will it be set? Why only 5-6mm?

2k is max for centre stone. He has another 1k set aside for the setting.

He's still figuring out the setting: probably solitaire, possibility of bezel. I'll post details once he has decided.

5-6mm for his budget, and also she has verrrry small hands.

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

yup, I agree with Minous that the stone will likely be quite dark. But the owners of gem hunters are extremely nice (I've emailed back and further with them a bit), so they might be able to tell you more about how the stone will look in more natural light.

Also, just so you have a sense of what it might look like in real life, I got a center stone for my 5-stone ring that looked similar to that one (an aussie sapphire). Here's a pic of what it looks like in general just in case it might help to see it without bright backlighting. It is dark in most lights, but I don't mind it, and it was quite affordable versus the brighter stones that I never could have afforded:

That's gorgeous! What size is the centre stone?

 

[lovedogs]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

The center stone is 7.7mm--thanks for the kind words! BTW Michael E of Gem Shoppe (on the recommended vendor list) cut it for me from a larger stone that he had from old stock. Maybe your friend could reach out to him if that color appeals to you? He is very kind and helpful, and if he doesn't have something in stock right now he might be able to find something that works.

 

[Niel]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Is 2k for a setting too? How will it be set? Why only 5-6mm?

2k is max for centre stone. He has another 1k set aside for the setting.

He's still figuring out the setting: probably solitaire, possibility of bezel. I'll post details once he has decided.

5-6mm for his budget, and also she has verrrry small hands.

A soli sounds lovely, and a bezel would make it special vs say a plain old prong setting. However, a bezel will darken the stone, if he goes that route try and consider going a tad lighter than you want it to end up.

So if a stone is in budget bit a bit larger, you wouldn't kick it out of bed?

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Is 2k for a setting too? How will it be set? Why only 5-6mm?

2k is max for centre stone. He has another 1k set aside for the setting.

He's still figuring out the setting: probably solitaire, possibility of bezel. I'll post details once he has decided.

5-6mm for his budget, and also she has verrrry small hands.

A soli sounds lovely, and a bezel would make it special vs say a plain old prong setting. However, a bezel will darken the stone, if he goes that route try and consider going a tad lighter than you want it to end up.

So if a stone is in budget bit a bit larger, you wouldn't kick it out of bed?

Good point. I think for that reason, he wouldn't be happy with a bezel.

It's going to be set in yellow gold.

Definitely will not throw stones out of bed, so long as they're the right colour!

Order of preferences:

-colour, brightness, sparkle
-budget
-size

And we definitely do not need to use the whole $2k. Only if it makes a big difference. He sincerely wants to get her a high quality stone with phenomenal colour. He hates it when sapphires look dark or black. Let me know if I can give you more info! Help is much appreciated. I don't know much about coloured stones.

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

The center stone is 7.7mm--thanks for the kind words! BTW Michael E of Gem Shoppe (on the recommended vendor list) cut it for me from a larger stone that he had from old stock. Maybe your friend could reach out to him if that color appeals to you? He is very kind and helpful, and if he doesn't have something in stock right now he might be able to find something that works.

Gorgeous! I'll show my friend. Maybe 7mm is more appropriate

Her finger size is 5.5 and her fingers are very short. She's a petite gal.

 

[lovedogs]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

The center stone is 7.7mm--thanks for the kind words! BTW Michael E of Gem Shoppe (on the recommended vendor list) cut it for me from a larger stone that he had from old stock. Maybe your friend could reach out to him if that color appeals to you? He is very kind and helpful, and if he doesn't have something in stock right now he might be able to find something that works.

Gorgeous! I'll show my friend. Maybe 7mm is more appropriate

Her finger size is 5.5 and her fingers are very short. She's a petite gal.

My fingers aren't quite that petite I am around a size 7, so obviously it would look larger on her hands. But I think that 7mm would be a great size, even on a 5.5 size finger

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Hmm for group consideration, this one: https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-251-Ruby_and_Sapphire/8804-Madagascar_Natural_Blue_Sapphire_1_22_ct-Gem.php?FromPage=1

 

[lovedogs]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Hmm for group consideration, this one: https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-251-Ruby_and_Sapphire/8804-Madagascar_Natural_Blue_Sapphire_1_22_ct-Gem.php?FromPage=1

That one is pretty, but is oval and I know there was a preference for rounds. What about these two?

https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-301-ANAGEE_Sri_Lanka_Gems/7712-Sri_Lanka_Natural_Blue_Sapphire_1_20_carat-GemMedia.php?FromPage=1&ProductMediaID=29670

https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-301-ANAGEE_Sri_Lanka_Gems/6593-Natural_Blue_Sapphire_Unheated_1_15_carat-GemMedia.php?FromPage=2&ProductMediaID=24620

EDIT:

He has some montana sapphires too, which are nice since they have a nice color play and look fairly unique. Don't know if these look good, but take a look just in case:
Also the second one will be slightly lighter which is good.

https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-294-GUEST_CUTTER/7924-Color_Shift_Montana_Sapphire_1_15_ct-GemMedia.php?FromPage=1&ProductMediaID=31026

https://www.mastercutgems.com/Products-294-GUEST_CUTTER/7916-Montana_Sapphire_1_08_ct-GemMedia.php?FromPage=1&ProductMediaID=30980

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I like the brightness, but the shade doesn't look to be that peacock blue sea green colour he's looking for. Is that colour unrealistic?

 

[lovedogs]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I like the brightness, but the shade doesn't look to be that peacock blue sea green colour he's looking for. Is that colour unrealistic?

No I don't think that color is unrealistic--just wanted to post some additional options. Here is another montana sapphire posted on an FB group for fine faceted gems (if you search FB for that the group should come up) which supposedly shifts to a greenish color in certain lights. Here's a photo:





Actually, I think given the colors he prefers Australian sapphire is a better choice. Seda gems is a nice vendor (from what I've heard, and I've spoken to them a bit). Here's a link to what they have in stock currently:

https://sedagems.com/product-category/sapphire/

 

[Niel]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I like the brightness, but the shade doesn't look to be that peacock blue sea green colour he's looking for. Is that colour unrealistic?

Problem is sapphires aren't the best green gemstones. So yes, blue green that isn't too dark or too yellow or too grey can be tricky

 

[Niel]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I wonder if Jeff white has any more of this.

 

[lovedogs]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Here are a few other options (maybe)? All from Seda Gems, but from a different website that I think has more inventory.

 

[picante27]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I don't think he does, Niel. I asked him a couple months back and he said he was out, unfortunately.

He does have a pretty Montana though. But it looks to be a bit lighter than the desired color.

 

[Niel]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I don't think he does, Niel. I asked him a couple months back and he said he was out, unfortunately.

Nooooooo!

 

[Niel]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Here are a few other options (maybe)? All from Seda Gems, but from a different website that I think has more inventory.

Oh I like the first one

 

[VirginiaZee]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Earth's Treasury has a few that might fit the bill:

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-51-carat-medium-robins-egg-blue-montana-sapphire/ It's a few hundred over budget, but if he's setting it in a solitaire he should still have more than enough for that and still stay within the $3k max overall budget.

http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-80-carat-robins-egg-blue-montana-sapphire/ (That one's a bit more "silky" though.)

Or this (he mentions this one is very brilliant)? http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/1-40-carat-light-teal-blue-montana-sapphire/

(Sorry, I can't seem to figure out how to add photos from his site!)

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

We had a great Aussie poster here who was mining and cutting his own stones. He was prolific in cutting lovely Aussie sapphires and eventually decided to become a Trade member with a website. Jamie Irvine is his name and he is a lovely, easy to deal with, vendor. Try looking at his stones here - they are also really well priced, imo: http://www.genuineaussiegems.com.au/

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Oh boy! What a bunch o' lovely gems!!!

Here are the ones that I feel most closely match what my friend is looking for. Please let me know if there are any that should not be considered. Otherwise, I'll have him choose from these!

1. $730 http://www.earthstreasury.com/product/0-87-carat-deep-blue-green-montana-sapphire/


2. $250 http://www.genuineaussiegems.com.au/product/0-44ct-blue-sapphire-4-5mm/


3. $250 http://www.genuineaussiegems.com.au/product/0-49ct-blue-green-sapphire-4-5mm/


4. $1063 https://sedagems.com/shop/sapphire/blue-sapphire/1-40cts-teal-blue-australian-sapphire/

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

5. $1329 https://sedagems.com/shop/sapphire/blue-sapphire/1-97cts-teal-blue-australian-sapphire/


6. $168 https://gemhunters.com.au/product/australian-blue-sapphire-8/


7. $270 https://mastercutgems.com/Products-251-Ruby_and_Sapphire/8804-Madagascar_Natural_Blue_Sapphire_1_22_ct-GemMedia.php?FromPage=1&ProductMediaID=35654


Anything I should note about the photography? Like sometimes gems look better when you have a better lit photo...

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I'm leaning towards #1, but I also like #7.

 

[lovedogs]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I love #1, and also #5, but all look good. I dont feel like any of them are "bad" choices--just a matter of personal taste

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

Awesome! I'll just send them all to my friend and see which one he likes best.

 

[Niel]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

number 5 gets my vote

 

[pearaffair]

Re: My friend is looking for a 5-6mm round sapphire - help p

I've got two votes for #5. Reasons please? That way I can explain it to my friend