My Opalescent Sapphire has arrived... finally

[Bron357]

Well, another day another jewellery delivery. Woo Hoo.
I didn’t know opalescent sapphires existed let alone that I MUST have one, but here we are.
Im an eBay shopper, not at all familiar with Etsy and how you can judge the reliability / quality of items if there’s only positive reviews posted. With eBay, as a buyer, it’s easier to research the sellers history and previous sales.
Nevertheless in I went.
I only spent $100 on the sapphire, best to be cautious with new adventures. Then I realised I needed a setting. I browsed eBay for both new and preloved ring mounts and figured that with setting costs here ($50) and rehab if a pre loved setting ($100 or so) maybe getting the Etsy vendor to set the sapphire would probably be most economical. I enquired. I received a quote of $480 for an 18ct white gold ring, size 8, with a diamond halo. No mention of diamond size or quality but ”in for a penny, in for a pound”.
My expectations of both the sapphire, 2.11 carats for $100 and a $480 setting were modest. I’m a realist.
well, what do you think?
Ring weight is 4.3 grams 18ct so that’s decent heft. The diamonds are white and eye clean and the setting, while simple well executed and finished.
Very happy with my new ring.

 

[pokerface]

Love that glow, and the sapphire fits the mount perfectly! We need hand shots! Also: are you willing to share the gem vendor?

 

[glitterata]

Wowza, Bron! Love!

 

[Bluemuse]

Super pretty, @Bron357 !! I love the distinct opalescence and the gorgeous pink/lavender color tones of the sapphire! The setting seems pretty perfect for the stone! Enjoy!

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I think ya gotta deal!
Where did you snag that sapphire?

 

[icy_jade]

I think you scored! Very impressed with your eBay skills as usual. If you ever have a how to find deals on eBay class, pls let me know!

 

[bright&shiny]

Fantastic! It’s beautiful

 

[lovedogs]

Wow! Very pretty, bron!!!

 

[Bron357]

Love that glow, and the sapphire fits the mount perfectly! We need hand shots! Also: are you willing to share the gem vendor?

Vendor on Etsy is LuckyStarGem. They are based in Thailand.
Be aware their photos are somewhat enhanced so check out the video they link. You will get a much more realistic idea of the gem from the video. Their gems are super cheap but are not “perfect”.
Im very pleased with the quality of the setting they created for the sapphire. I wasn’t expected too much as $480 for an 18ct Mount with diamonds is also a cheap price. Much better than the Chinese mounts, Chinese ones are good but more expensive, that I have previously bought.

 

[Cerulean]

I love it! Fabulous price

 

[ringbling17]

Beautiful and I love the color!

 

[femmemannequin]

love love love it @Bron357 . show us handshots when u have time hehehe

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

It's pink-purple so you already know I'm gonna love it And thanks for sharing the name of the vendor!

 

[YC]

Love the color of your stone. And as usual, you paid a very good price for the ring!

 

[OreoRosies86]

Gorgeous!

 

[Bron357]

Ive had some stones from vendors on eBay that came back as glass. Buyer beware! Please, have your stone checked by a gemologist. I’m not saying that yours is glass or a simulated stone but there are a lot of disreputable dealers out there. Try looking at Gemrockauctions. The dealers are reputable and you can find some great deals!
I do hope you have the real deal. Do you know the origin of your stone by chance? It’s a sweet stone.

Fortunately I have enough equipment and knowledge to identify sapphire from glass and most other things.
Ive been buying on eBay over 18 years now and yes, plenty of vendors selling rubbish, highly treated and fake as gemstones.
I always research my vendors. The Etsy vendor had made many sales and has a wide range of gemstones. However they are all “lower quality” in so much that some have significant colour zoning, eye visible inclusions and are in less favourable colours and tones.
This was a ”lucky” purchase. The photo was “edited” as they tend to be but the video was much more accurate. I wouldnt have bought it based on the photo, I wanted the look in the video. It’s got a lot of silk and colour zoning but the silk and zoning works in the stones favour. Some might think the gem “hazy and murky” but that’s the look I wanted.

 

[Bron357]

My ebay finds are many, fortunately with few mishaps. I’m a pretty cautious person with a good eye. I search out items “under described” items and decide whether or not to chance it. I have a bit of a “thing” with corundum, like I’m a corundum whisperer or something, they seem to “come to me”.
Here are some of my special eBay funds.

 

[Bron357]

AND another sapphire delivery.
This one was the princely sum of $10. Yup.
it’s an unusual sort of silver blue.

 

[Mreader]

I love it @Bron357 and I would love to see hand shots and also like to know the Etsy vendor if you’re willing to share!

 

[Mreader]

My ebay finds are many, fortunately with few mishaps. I’m a pretty cautious person with a good eye. I search out items “under described” items and decide whether or not to chance it. I have a bit of a “thing” with corundum, like I’m a corundum whisperer or something, they seem to “come to me”.
Here are some of my special eBay funds.

Ooooo I also want to see the front view of that lovely gold ring with the greenish stone!

 

[pokerface]

Darn - I was the first bidder on the silver blue sapphire It is WAY nicer than the photos. I decided not to bother after my blue opalescent arrived. I think of that color as Cinderella blue. One of my favorites. I think rose gold for sure!

 

[Bron357]

Ooooo I also want to see the front view of that lovely gold ring with the greenish stone!

That’s my massive Aquamarine ring. The last item on my “to have list”. Took 15 years because the challenge was to buy a huge Aquamarine ring for under $1,000. It came, for the $700 odd price, with matching earrings. The earrings were screw on, not for pierced ears.
The gems weren’t described as aquamarines and only the earrings were hallmarked for 14kt gold.
I looked at the settings, they are matching, and figured unlikely to be topaz or glass.
The stones are aquamarines and the ring is also 14kt gold. I had the earrings converted to studs. The aquamarin in the ring has a huge window but that’s typical for aquamarine. They are also toned to the green which is less popular these days.

 

[Mreader]

That’s my massive Aquamarine ring. The last item on my “to have list”. Took 15 years because the challenge was to buy a huge Aquamarine ring for under $1,000. It came, for the $700 odd price, with matching earrings. The earrings were screw on, not for pierced ears.
The gems weren’t described as aquamarines and only the earrings were hallmarked for 14kt gold.
I looked at the settings, they are matching, and figured unlikely to be topaz or glass.
The stones are aquamarines and the ring is also 14kt gold. I had the earrings converted to studs. The aquamarin in the ring has a huge window but that’s typical for aquamarine. They are also toned to the green which is less popular these days.

It’s amazing and what a bargain!