New to colored stones--looking for a sapphire

[omc111]

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to the colored stone world and I get very leery when I read about all the things that could be wrong with a stone, and I wouldn't know by looking at the stone. I'd have to trust the vendor.

I'm looking for a blue sapphire, round, about 1 carat and I have no idea where to start. I've looked at the favored vendor list posted here and it's completely overwhelming.

Anyone have words of wisdon? I'd sure appreciate it!

 

[chrono]

Here's a bit of general reading in terms of what to look for in your sapphire:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]

Firstly, you must have a budget.
Secondly, what you want in terms of treatment? Heat only or unheated?
Are you fussed on precision cutting or will a very good non-precision cut suffice?
Do you have a deadline to meet to get the stone?
You probably have some idea of a specific shade of blue you want. Any pictures of your inspiration stone?

Just so you know, corundum is denser than diamonds, so a 1 carat round will measure approximately 6 mm, give or take.

 

[omc111]

Thanks for your response.

Yes I have read the post for newcomers to colored stones--it's what made me realize how much I don't know. Especially about the various treatments of the stones.

My ideal would be a round sapphire, 6-7 mm, a medium blue (I love Lost Sapphire's ring), heat treatment OK but nothing else, a very good non precision cut is fine. There's no deadline. Budget depends on the stone within reason.

Thanks again for your input.

 

[chrono]

I take it you've checked out the Recommended Vendor's list? Did you see anything you like that fits your budget? If so, post a couple and I'm sure many regulars will be glad to help out with comments and suggestions.

Arnold & Rung of AJS Gems - www.ajsgem.com
Rick Martin of Art Cut Gems - www.artcutgems.com
www.bkkgemstones.com (mainly Sapphires but some other colored gemstones and jewelry)
Richard Homer of Concave Cut - www.concavegems.com
Gary Braun of Fine Water Gems - www.finewatergems.com
Andrew Gulij of Gemfix - www.gemfix.com
Lisa Elser - www.lisaelser.com
Pala - www.palagems.com
Paraiba International www.paraibainternational.com
Gene Flanigan of Precision Gems - www.precisiongem.com
John - www.simplysapphires.com
Roger Dery of Spectral Gems - www.spectralgems.net
Brad Pailey of The Gem Trader - www.thegemtrader.com (specializes in rare and unusual stones)
Jeff White of White's Gems - www.whitesgems.com
Gemsthailand http://stores.ebay.com/naturalsapphirecompany (NB: this Ebay Store is not affiliated to The Natural Sapphire Company)
Tan of Gemcatalogue http://stores.ebay.com/GemCatalogue
Tan of Odysseygem http://stores.ebay.com/OdysseyGem
Tan of VVS1gem http://stores.ebay.com/vvs1gem
Tan of Thegemology http://stores.ebay.com/thegemology
Weblorn - http://myworld.ebay.com/weblorn&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSX:SELLERID&_trksid=p3984.m1543.l2533

The precision lapidaries do not list everything in their inventory. It is best to contact the individual you like working with (or several) to ask if they have something you might like and then narrow it down from there.