Question for experts about sapphire inclusions

[ANeuro08]

Hi! First post here, looking for advice on a sapphire I'm considering buying. I love the colors on this stone and I'm not bothered by the appearance of the inclusion (I rather like them in sapphires) but wanted to make sure this kind of surface-reaching inclusion wouldn't significantly affect the stone's durability. Any advice appreciated, thank you!

 

[LilAlex]

Welcome!

Looks nice. Lots of color zoning but in an appealing pattern. Not sure I see what you mean. Is there some documentation you are referring to? And is this 0.5 ct or 10 ct? If the former, you won't see much of anything.

Also, if you think you want it, have the vendor hold it for a day or two so it does not disappear while you are deliberating.

 

[ANeuro08]

The inclusion is right at the 12 o'clock position and the stone is right at 1 ct.

 

[LilAlex]

The inclusion is right at the 12 o'clock position and the stone is right at 1 ct.

I don't think anyone can draw any structural conclusion based on that one face-up photo. What does the vendor say? Is it returnable?

Appearance-wise, and if the price is right and my budget were limiting, it would not disturb me.

I will say what I always do about cool parti-colors in modest-sized stones. This stone is 40mm on my screen and I have not zoomed in -- I'm sure you have. It is about the same distance from my eyes that it would be on a ring. Maybe it's 6mm in the long axis IRL. So I am viewing this at 7X and at 40-50X the surface area as real life. You will not see a lot of detail in this stone with your eye.

 

[Mjay]

Hi! First post here, looking for advice on a sapphire I'm considering buying. I love the colors on this stone and I'm not bothered by the appearance of the inclusion (I rather like them in sapphires) but wanted to make sure this kind of surface-reaching inclusion wouldn't significantly affect the stone's durability. Any advice appreciated, thank you!

Reach out and ask them. Jeff will answer all of your questions. They have fantastic customer service. They also have a great return policy.

 

[ANeuro08]

Thank you both for the advice! I'll reach out to the vendor.

 

[Rfisher]

Do you happen to like any of the settings the vendor sells?

Not a guarantee- but if the stone survives the setting process, I think that means something?

Maybe even they’d take responsibility of the liability while setting if the stone broke and choosing where to put prongs, not you, but that’s something you’d need to clear with them 1st?

 

[Mjay]

Also wanted to add that they do custom work so they can design your setting as well.

 

[CBianco]

That's a very cool looking stone! If you are seriously considering it, I would suggest you ask for this to be put on hold. There are many lurkers on this forum

 

[Autumn in New England]

First, welcome to the boards!!

So I had all the same questions as @LilAlex at first, but read through your answers. You received some excellent advice already, but I wanted to throw my 2 beans in here. If this inclusion weren't surface-reaching, it would still give me pause regardless of the price. However, if what we're seeing is an open cavity, that would be a no-go for me. Even if the inclusion did not compromise the stone's structural integrity, to me, this type of inclusion is just too detrimental to a sapphire's desirability/collectability. As Alex said, there is significant color zoning as well, but some folks really enjoy that. I think, as with most things, this may just be a matter of taste and one's tolerance for inclusions. Good luck!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I have very good eyes close up so I tend to be annoyed by inclusions even when it’s described as “almost eye clean” or “mostly eye clean”. I agree about asking if it’s surface reaching as well.