Paging TL- unheated sapphire from Tan

[rubyshoes]

I have been lusting over some of Tan's unheated blue sapphires and wanted to see what you guys (and especially TL) thought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/0-90ct-UNHEATED-Cushion-Natural-Intense-Blue-Sapphire-/330400241425?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4ced639711

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-00ct-UNHEATED-Pear-Natural-Cornflower-Blue-Sapphire-/230510696794?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item35ab82195a

http://cgi.ebay.com/0-90ct-UNHEATED-Finest-Emerald-Bluish-Purple-Sapphire-/230478432830?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item35a995ca3e

I particularly love the emerald cut... I am not looking to spend too much money, just want nice, rich color and an untreated stone. I intend to set in a very simple setting, maybe something from Sally of Heart of Water.

Just wanted some feedback on the three I liked Thank you in advance

 

[jstarfireb]

I'm not TL and by no means am a sapphire expert, but here's what I think:

1 - I'm not a fan. Windowed, a big inclusion in the middle that's likely to be eye-visible, and despite what the description says, I actually see a lot of grey in it.

2 - probably the most desirable color in terms of the trade, but it may be dark, and cut with a very flat crown. My 2nd choice.

3 - my favorite because it's very clean and has a gorgeous tanzanite-like bluish purple color.

 

[T L]

I'm not TL and by no means am a sapphire expert, but here's what I think:

1 - I'm not a fan. Windowed, a big inclusion in the middle that's likely to be eye-visible, and despite what the description says, I actually see a lot of grey in it.

2 - probably the most desirable color in terms of the trade, but it may be dark, and cut with a very flat crown. My 2nd choice.

3 - my favorite because it's very clean and has a gorgeous tanzanite-like bluish purple color.

Ditto.

 

[athenaworth]

I have been lusting over some of Tan's unheated blue sapphires and wanted to see what you guys (and especially TL) thought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/0-90ct-UNHEATED-Cushion-Natural-Intense-Blue-Sapphire-/330400241425?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4ced639711

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-00ct-UNHEATED-Pear-Natural-Cornflower-Blue-Sapphire-/230510696794?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item35ab82195a

http://cgi.ebay.com/0-90ct-UNHEATED-Finest-Emerald-Bluish-Purple-Sapphire-/230478432830?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item35a995ca3e

I particularly love the emerald cut... I am not looking to spend too much money, just want nice, rich color and an untreated stone. I intend to set in a very simple setting, maybe something from Sally of Heart of Water.

Just wanted some feedback on the three I liked Thank you in advance

That emerald is beautiful!

 

[rubyshoes]

Well... I should have known somebody would grab it before I could buy it

Thanks for the advice though...

 

[jstarfireb]

Sorry to hear that! Often it's someone lurking around here who follows our links and takes advantage of all the stone-hunting work we do. Pretty unscrupulous if you ask me, but I'm sure there will be other stones.

 

[athenaworth]

I hate seeing that happen. I wish there was a way to hide the links somehow.

 

[jstarfireb]

Some people download the photos and copy/paste the descriptions, but then you can't see Tan's videos, which I think are more true to life than his pictures.

 

[ooo~Shiney!]

Ya, but then you can probably at least find them...
That so stinks, ugh.
I really think that more people would ask for opinions if we knew
we were safe in sharing.
I know I would.
At this point I just shop blindly and hope for the best.....

 

[T L]

The elongated step cut was nice, but it had zoning, and wasn't "knock your socks off," but out of the three that you chose, I preferred that. So, for the lurker who bought it, they didn't get the most awesome sapphire in the world. Oh well.

 

[rubyshoes]

I hear ya. When I was looking for a pink diamond, I copy pasted images and posted them and that too after placing holds on both stones. THEN I posted on PS. With ebay buys, I cannot place holds... and I am too much of a noob to purchase before asking for help. I'd hate to buy blindly

Did anyone see any blue spinels or tanzanites on his ebay site that you think looked really good?

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Sorry it got snapped from underneath ya!

There is a sort of taxing way to get a link to Tan's videos, but it's doable without directly linking to an auction.

I use firefox to do it this way. IE may be different in it's methods, but it's doable too

Here's how I'd do it for this one http://cgi.ebay.com/0-60ct-15pcs-Calibrated-Round-Cabochon-Pinkish-Red-Ruby_W0QQitemZ370513490151QQihZ024QQcategoryZ3827QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

First step-

right click in the "Frame" that has the video.



Then "View frame source"



A new window/tab will pop open.



Ctrl F to do a search of the window. Enter .swf



Highlight the link and then test it in a new window/tab. Make sure you've only highlighted the url.
And there you have a link to the video only of a stone from Tan