Padparadscha Sapphire Search Round 2

[Lilith112]

MASSIVELY overpriced. Massively.

The 2.31 is Ok but windowed and the lighting looks suspicious to me.

Awaiting more pics atm. What do you think would be a more reasonable price for this one?

 

[Lilith112]

@voce @Rfisher @icy_jade How are the latest two options?

 

[icy_jade]

What do u guys think of this one:



2.31ct, Sri Lankan, unheated, USD15000

Not great and overpriced. Skip

https://imgur.com/a/rrOqc1i

Another pad, plus a video of the 2.31ct

Not feeling this 2.03. Maybe is the window. Possibly the uneven color. Skip

 

[Rfisher]

@voce @Rfisher @icy_jade How are the latest two options?

My only imput I can give is that id absolutely dismiss any photos as accurate on a dark background like the 2.31 is.

your goal of a more saturated version of your ring, eyeclean, and tolerant of a window that may close up, if the 2.03 fits the eyeclean, I’d ask for back of the hand/ white v holder thingy pics.

 

[voce]

Both passable but not loving either stone. It could be the windows. The window is smaller on the cushion and night close on the hand, but for that price I'd be expecting something perfect, which is not.

 

[Lilith112]

Not great and overpriced. Skip



Not feeling this 2.03. Maybe is the window. Possibly the uneven color. Skip

Oh wow, is the 2.31ct's color that bad to you?

My only imput I can give is that id absolutely dismiss any photos as accurate on a dark background like the 2.31 is.

your goal of a more saturated version of your ring, eyeclean, and tolerant of a window that may close up, if the 2.03 fits the eyeclean, I’d ask for back of the hand/ white v holder thingy pics.

Ahhh I see. I've already asked for more pics; we'll see how the 2.03ct looks in more natural lighting on a hand/white background

Both passable but not loving either stone. It could be the windows. The window is smaller on the cushion and night close on the hand, but for that price I'd be expecting something perfect, which is not.

Ohhh I see. Do you think there's a price range I should try to negotiate down to

 

[icy_jade]

Oh wow, is the 2.31ct's color that bad to you?

For 15k, I expect perfection. Not just an ok maybe window can close. No compromises at that price. If it’s 2k then ok maybe can consider. You get what I mean?

 

[voce]

Oh wow, is the 2.31ct's color that bad to you?



Ahhh I see. I've already asked for more pics; we'll see how the 2.03ct looks in more natural lighting on a hand/white background

Ohhh I see. Do you think there's a price range I should try to negotiate down to

I've not actually bought pads (they wouldn't look great against my skin tone), but I'd think the 2.31 might be worth around 7.5k... Which might be difficult to negotiate it down to that level if the seller is clearly expecting to get five digits USD for it.

 

[Lilith112]

I've not actually bought pads (they wouldn't look great against my skin tone), but I'd think the 2.31 might be worth around 7.5k... Which might be difficult to negotiate it down to that level if the seller is clearly expecting to get five digits USD for it.

ahhhh I see. Well.... I guess we'll see how negotiations go.

What about this 3ct pad?

https://imgur.com/a/ImIZuQE

 

[Lilith112]

Natural, outdoor sunlight pic of 2.31ct pad:

https://imgur.com/a/d70nqPA

@voce @icy_jade what do you think of its color in this video? And the 3ct one?

 

[Lilith112]

The earlier 2.03ct pad with the 3ct pad:

 

[Lilith112]

https://imgur.com/a/hSTkRXs

Compilation of all the videos for the 2.03ct and 3ct pad; also, an unoiled 1.17ct emerald.

 

[peacechick]

Lilith, we never asked you but what is your timeline like? I think this stone is meant to go into a wedding necklace right? When would that be?

Because we are happy to help you look patiently until you find the perfect stone (sorry but I think all the recent ones you posted are not ideal and the last 3ct one has a off-centre cutlet). But if you have a cut-off date, maybe some compromises will have to be made, and windows or bow-ties are acceptable.

I am actually really lenient about windows in pendant stones because I think it’s more important to have a large face-up size. Also, you can use a closed back in a pendant setting. It’s different for rings.

 

[Lilith112]

Lilith, we never asked you but what is your timeline like? I think this stone is meant to go into a wedding necklace right? When would that be?

Because we are happy to help you look patiently until you find the perfect stone (sorry but I think all the recent ones you posted are not ideal and the last 3ct one has a off-centre cutlet). But if you have a cut-off date, maybe some compromises will have to be made, and windows or bow-ties are acceptable.

I am actually really lenient about windows in pendant stones because I think it’s more important to have a large face-up size. Also, you can use a closed back in a pendant setting. It’s different for rings.

No rush for me! I can't get married until next year at earliest anyways, and yes, it would be for a necklace

 

[icy_jade]

https://imgur.com/a/hSTkRXs

Compilation of all the videos for the 2.03ct and 3ct pad; also, an unoiled 1.17ct emerald.

I keep seeing windows... so no

 

[icy_jade]

Natural, outdoor sunlight pic of 2.31ct pad:

https://imgur.com/a/d70nqPA

@voce @icy_jade what do you think of its color in this video? And the 3ct one?

I actually like the color, as I prefer more intensely colored pads. But the native cutting and price still bothers me.

 

[voce]

The video on the 2.31 looks better than the still photo and gives me hope the window will close when set. So that one comes down to negotiating the price, I guess. The 3 ct one looks much the same coloring as the 2.03, but is a more difficult shape for your pendant and is similarly windowed. Those windows are too large for me to overlook.

 

[Lilith112]

@peacechick @icy_jade @voce @Rfisher I just got sent this video for a 2ct pad, USD9000. Awaiting more videos/pics (vendor says he'll send them tomorrow), but do you guys think this one has a shot? How does it compare to the 2.31ct one?

https://imgur.com/a/ncbyRDa

 

[peacechick]

@peacechick @icy_jade @voce @Rfisher I just got sent this video for a 2ct pad, USD9000. Awaiting more videos/pics (vendor says he'll send them tomorrow), but do you guys think this one has a shot? How does it compare to the 2.31ct one?

https://imgur.com/a/ncbyRDa

I think this is promising!

 

[Lilith112]

I think this is promising!

The color definitely looks delicate, but saturated in this pic imo! Fiingers crossed on tomorrow's pics lol.

 

[icy_jade]

@peacechick @icy_jade @voce @Rfisher I just got sent this video for a 2ct pad, USD9000. Awaiting more videos/pics (vendor says he'll send them tomorrow), but do you guys think this one has a shot? How does it compare to the 2.31ct one?

https://imgur.com/a/ncbyRDa

I quite like it. Nicely saturated color. Better than the 2.03, 2.31 ct and 3ct. Still think it’s pricey but then again maybe I’m just out of touch with pad prices

 

[yaygems]

@peacechick @icy_jade @voce @Rfisher I just got sent this video for a 2ct pad, USD9000. Awaiting more videos/pics (vendor says he'll send them tomorrow), but do you guys think this one has a shot? How does it compare to the 2.31ct one?

https://imgur.com/a/ncbyRDa

Loving the colour of this one! Cut also looks good.

 

[voce]

@peacechick @icy_jade @voce @Rfisher I just got sent this video for a 2ct pad, USD9000. Awaiting more videos/pics (vendor says he'll send them tomorrow), but do you guys think this one has a shot? How does it compare to the 2.31ct one?

https://imgur.com/a/ncbyRDa

Now this is the kind of color that makes me go because it's much more balanced between the pink and the orange. I do notice when the vendor flips the gem over that there's a couple of inclusions on the pavillion (close to top tweezer when the bottom of the gem is visible), and that is something that wouldn't bother me personally, just as long as it's not affecting the face up view, but since nobody else has mentioned it so far, I thought I would.

Honestly, @icy_jade scoffs at a lot of the prices on CS. I think this is because as someone who lives closer to the wholesale gem markets in Asia, and has access to great vendors, she has access to better prices, which are not necessarily realistic in other parts of the world for a retail consumer.

For Shanghai, I'd consider 9k USD a tad too high and would try to negotiate it down to 8k, or maybe even lower (which I think is quite possible due to the inclusions in the pavilion).

 

[Lilith112]

I quite like it. Nicely saturated color. Better than the 2.03, 2.31 ct and 3ct. Still think it’s pricey but then again maybe I’m just out of touch with pad prices

Fingers crossed it looks nice in the requested pictures as well :3

 

[Lilith112]

Now this is the kind of color that makes me go because it's much more balanced between the pink and the orange. I do notice when the vendor flips the gem over that there's a couple of inclusions on the pavillion (close to top tweezer when the bottom of the gem is visible), and that is something that wouldn't bother me personally, just as long as it's not affecting the face up view, but since nobody else has mentioned it so far, I thought I would.

For Shanghai, I'd consider 9k USD a tad too high and would try to negotiate it down to 8k, or maybe even lower (which I think is quite possible due to the inclusions in the pavilion).

Ooooooh thank u for pointing that out! I went back and took a look, and the pavillion inclusions jumped out this time. Asking vendor abt it now- thank you for the tip off!

 

[icy_jade]

Honestly, @icy_jade scoffs at a lot of the prices on CS. I think this is because as someone who lives closer to the wholesale gem markets in Asia, and has access to great vendors, she has access to better prices, which are not necessarily realistic in other parts of the world for a retail consumer.

Believe it or not, I already try not to comment on prices in the forum unless the price is super duper bad... in this case I actually tried to stay away until @Lilith112 tagged me

 

[yaygems]

Now this is the kind of color that makes me go because it's much more balanced between the pink and the orange. I do notice when the vendor flips the gem over that there's a couple of inclusions on the pavillion (close to top tweezer when the bottom of the gem is visible), and that is something that wouldn't bother me personally, just as long as it's not affecting the face up view, but since nobody else has mentioned it so far, I thought I would.

Honestly, @icy_jade scoffs at a lot of the prices on CS. I think this is because as someone who lives closer to the wholesale gem markets in Asia, and has access to great vendors, she has access to better prices, which are not necessarily realistic in other parts of the world for a retail consumer.

For Shanghai, I'd consider 9k USD a tad too high and would try to negotiate it down to 8k, or maybe even lower (which I think is quite possible due to the inclusions in the pavilion).

I agree with this, also think the price is a little high and I would try to negotiate lower with the inclusions. $4000ct is better, $3,500ct or lower if you can. But the colour is definitely a premium and hard to find especially with covid so they have certainly priced it because of that. Is it heated?

 

[voce]

I agree with this, also think the price is a little high and I would try to negotiate lower with the inclusions. $4000ct is better, $3,500ct or lower if you can. But the colour is definitely a premium and hard to find especially with covid so they have certainly priced it because of that. Is it heated?

FWIW I think @Lilith112 is only looking at unheated? I think heated should be even cheaper, but to me it doesn't have an obvious "heated" look to it. Also, given the inclusions, I think it's more likely the vendor would not have heated the gem, as inclusions when heated can cause fractures.

 

[voce]

Believe it or not, I already try not to comment on prices in the forum unless the price is super duper bad... in this case I actually tried to stay away until @Lilith112 tagged me

True, I think. You are very well-behaved in not calling out how inflated prices are once they cross the Pacific. I would love to be able to walk into a store where I live and have these gorgeous settings ready for my CS, or have a lab and vendors that carry unheated sapphires of considerable size in stock. I guess I could go to Rodeo Drive, if I wanted to see the jewelry, but I'm too frugal to pay Rodeo Drive designer mark up. My partner is not supportive of my bling obsessions, and it is true that I have more gems to set and move rings than can fit on my fingers.

 

[icy_jade]

gorgeous settings ready for my CS

Actually can use eBay for that. Prices are fairly comparable. I think quite a few PS-ers already use those sellers

I'm too frugal to pay Rodeo Drive designer mark up

Exactly, that’s why I hunt for decent prices. Bigger gems for the same price yo. And bigger halos on the rings too