Please help a newbie with his engagement ring search

[squarejoe]

Hi folks,

I'm very new to this forum and in fact I don't have the habit of posting on any forums at all, but I've been so impressed with the expertise and help that people have offered here that I want to see what you all think about my case here. I'm happy to say that I found a wonderful girl that I want to propose to, and after a few discussions we've decided to go ahead with a sapphire ring. She does want a certain element of surprise here and for some odd reason trusts "my taste" (love that girl) so I guess what that means is that I'm on my own for most of it.

I think inevitably my search led me to the Natural Sapphire Company's website, and I've looked and looked through their catalog of stones and settings. I'm aware there's been mixed reviews about that company, especially with overpricing and flaws with their cuts. However it is through them that I came in contact with Montana sapphires, and I've fallen in love with the unique greenish blue colors. Here are some of the stones I've been looking at,

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/sapphires/c-9-unique-sapphires/p-51252-oval-unique-sapphire-u4655/#AssetData5

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/sapphires/c-9-unique-sapphires/p-47583-oval-unique-sapphire-u4107/

The setting that we have agreed on is a halo pave:
http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/sapphires/sapphire-settings/c-24-ring-settings/p-44275-14k-white-gold-ring-setting-js762w14/


I guess what I'm looking for is an oval greenish blue Montana sapphire ranging between 1.5 to 2 ct. My budget for the stone would be $4K maximum. I've also looked at precisiongem.com and gemfix.com and nothing they have listed quite fits that bill.

What should be my next step?

Thank you for any help!

 

[deskjockey]

The first one looks windowed to me (and I think will look quite grey in person), the second seems overpriced (my opinion - but I have a similar colored one with much better cut, higher carat weight, that I got for significantly less than that, so I may be biased) and from the video there's something about the polish that didn't look great (but it is just an internet video). I really like looking at that site, but I don't think you get the best bang for your buck there.

Go take a gander at the other montana sapphire thread going on, lots of different sources mentioned in that thread.

I think wanting an oval might limit your options a little bit.

(see, I like this one: http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_54&products_id=1075 Hard to tell if the cut is superawesome but the color is neat. I'd email this guy. Navigating his site is a little bit hard and his photos aren't awesome but great customer service and he might have what you're looking for without having it on his site)

 

[pregcurious]

There are also some precision cut Montana sapphires here:
http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_montana.html

For the setting, it looks pretty standard. You can look on the "recommended" vendor thread to see your options for people who can make this kind of setting custom, to fit your stone. When you get quotes, you can ask for CAD/cast or handforged. Handforged is much more expensive. Make sure you are comparing similar quotes (all CAD/cast for example, with similar placement and total carat weight of melee diamonds).

ERD (www.engagementringsdirect.com) is very good at making halos. I had them make my engagement ring setting, and I am very happy with it. Here is a thread of custom ERD rings:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-erd-brilliantly-engaged-thread.192763/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-erd-brilliantly-engaged-thread.192763/[/URL]

 

[LoversKites]

I looked around and couldn't find anything that fits your specs.

If you won't find anything you could get something custom cut for you by a cutter like Jeff White, Jeff Davies.... and a few others I can't remember (sorry, I'm tired).

Has anyone else noticed a fairly recent sudden interest on PS for Montana sapphires? Maybe they've always been popular.

 

[squarejoe]

Thanks for the tips.

The first one looks a bit different in the video than in the picture. I dont' know if it's been the common experience with NSC. The color isn't quite as saturated in the video. Excuse me if I'm using the wrong terms, I'm still learning.

I've browsed through the gemfix collection. They do have a nice collection of stones. However there are no ovals in that shade of greenish blue that I'm looking for. I emailed them and apparently there are some down the pipelines but will take some time. I suppose I could go for a round too, and there are some gorgeous ones. Are heat treatment stones simply a preference issue or are there physical differences I should watch out for?

Also thx for mentioning handforged settings, I have never heard that. What is the advantage of this process over cast?

appreciate everybody for your help

 

[ephsea]

If you email Blaze, he will get you more/better pictures than those on the website. He also has many stones that are not listed, usually the heated ones. Here are some pics left from an April correspondence with him, so likely still available? The really intense colors are going to be very hard to find in a Montana sapphire, they generally come fairly pale and/or greyish.

 

[LoversKites]

Thanks for the tips.

The first one looks a bit different in the video than in the picture. I dont' know if it's been the common experience with NSC. The color isn't quite as saturated in the video. Excuse me if I'm using the wrong terms, I'm still learning.

I've browsed through the gemfix collection. They do have a nice collection of stones. However there are no ovals in that shade of greenish blue that I'm looking for. I emailed them and apparently there are some down the pipelines but will take some time. I suppose I could go for a round too, and there are some gorgeous ones. Are heat treatment stones simply a preference issue or are there physical differences I should watch out for?

Also thx for mentioning handforged settings, I have never heard that. What is the advantage of this process over cast?

appreciate everybody for your help

Forgive me if you know this info already, I'll post it just in case. Have you read the stickied guide at the top of the CS page? It should answer you questions on heating and other treatments, and how they affect the stone and pricing.

[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]

 

[pregcurious]

Sorry, I didn't notice youvr looking for an oval . R u open to an elongated cushion?

 

[squarejoe]

I'm expanding my search to rounds and cushions, so if you have something in mind I'll definitely give it a look. Some of the gems in the picture above looks interesting, I just emailed blazengems to see what they've got in stock that may not be listed.

Thanks guys

 

[ephsea]

+1 for that heated round Deskjockey posted - I've had a crush on that one for awhile I believe it to be a smoking deal - I'd be willing to bet it turns heads across a room. Blaze rates less than 1% of his gems A+.

 

[VirginiaZee]

You might want to check with Dana at MastercutGems as well, he's had some Montana's on his site in the past, and is a true gentleman to deal with.