Requesting Help With First Gemstone Purchase (Sapphire)

[amalthea13]

Hello, gemstone enthusiasts!

I've been lurking on these boards throughout my search for the perfect sapphire and have gotten great tips and recommendations on vendors! I'm finally starting the process of having stones shipped to me for inspection. The first sapphire I inspected was too dark, and the shipping cost was $50 each way and required me to leave work early to sign for it. Knowing that, I'd like to ask your advice as to which sapphire I should inspect next, to hopefully limit the number of times I will need to do this.

I'm looking for an oval-shaped Ceylon sapphire between 2-3 karats to be used for an engagement ring. It will either be the center of a three-stone ring or have a thin diamond halo (I'll determine that part after I choose the stone, but leaning towards the halo). The color I'm looking for is a rich blue. I'd be excited if it had a purple tint, but at this rate I'd be thrilled with any rich blue Ceylon sapphire.

This is the sapphire I ordered first: https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1306
It was beautiful in the photos, but very dark in person without a lot of sparkle.

The sapphires I'm choosing between now:

Gemfix: https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1221 (slightly above my budget, but I'm all right with that if it's the best choice for what I want)

Roger Dery: http://rogerdery.com/gems/blue-sapphire-classic-oval-1612029/

Natural Sapphire Company (I've heard some not-great things on here about this company, but I've also heard that some people have good experiences, and they're also having a fantastic sale).
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/2.08ct-ceylon-oval-blue-sapphire-b8312-/
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/2.08ct-ceylon-oval-blue-sapphire-b9760-/ (does it matter that this stone isn't as deep?)
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/2.10ct-ceylon-oval-blue-sapphire-b9117-/
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/2.03ct-ceylon-oval-blue-sapphire-b8672-/ (also wondering how much it matters that this stone is shallow)

I apologize for any novice questions that I'm asking, and appreciate any help or insight! I'm also open to other vendor recommendations. Thanks!

 

[livannie]

I personally, like the Gemfix stone the best. It might have some half extinction, but not as much as the Roger Dery stone.
All of the Natual Sapphire Co. stones have windows, although the 2.10 carat isn’t as windowed as the others. Actually, the cutting on 2.08 #B9760, looks pretty good.

 

[chroman]

How about something like this?
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p26/2.05_ct_Unheated_Blue_Ceylon_Sapphire.html

 

[Arcadian]

So I think it depends on what you really want colorwise. Are you looking for a blue or violetish/blue? Are you looking for vivid blue (up the money factor)
Is heated ok or unheated only?
Are you open to other shapes?
Is location really all that important? (there are other locals for sapphires)

I will not recommend Natural Sapphire Co because they .....have issues....

 

[amalthea13]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I should probably have mentioned that my budget is around $4000, but willing to go up to around $5000 if I find something I really want.

@Arcadian: I'm open to either a vivid blue or violetish/blue. I think I'm all right with either heated or unheated (I'm obviously not a purist, as this is my first stone!) Location is not very important to me; the pictures of the Sri Lankan sapphires just match what I'm looking for the best.

@chroman: That's gorgeous! I'm looking for something a little darker, but that's a beautiful stone.

@livannie: Thanks for the feedback! So you'd go with the 2.1 carat from NSC, if you were going to choose an NSC sapphire? (I'm aware that this isn't a popular choice around here). Also, for the Gemfix stone, does the price seem like an accurate reflection of the sapphire's quality, based on the photos?

 

[lmyracle]

I like the gemfix one best but I know much of f nothing other than I’m searching for similar! I posted earlier today for one I was looking at but I think the post got lost so I’m following!

 

[livannie]

The Gemfix sapphire seems a little high in price but it is also close to 3 carats.
I have heard some alarming things about NSC, so I don’t think I would go with them. With the amount of money you will be spending, you don’t want to risk it.
So are you definitely wanting an oval? And what size/carat weight are you looking for?
I found these two from Roger Dery that I think might be nice.

 

[lmyracle]

Not the one I’m looking at, but what about http://etsy.me/2cEsMmU ? Found it in my ongoing searching.

 

[livannie]

Not the one I’m looking at, but what about http://etsy.me/2cEsMmU ? Found it in my ongoing searching.

I agree. Beautiful sapphire.

 

[amalthea13]

@lmyracle: Wow, those pictures are gorgeous! I know it's not an oval, but I might be willing to go cushion for something like that. The fact that it's an Etsy seller with only five reviews makes me a bit nervous, though. It has certifications--should that be enough to make me feel comfortable?

I'm leaning towards the Gemfix right now, otherwise, but it's discouraging to know that it might be overpriced.

 

[livannie]

@lmyracle: Wow, those pictures are gorgeous! I know it's not an oval, but I might be willing to go cushion for something like that. The fact that it's an Etsy seller with only five reviews makes me a bit nervous, though. It has certifications--should that be enough to make me feel comfortable?

I'm leaning towards the Gemfix right now, otherwise, but it's discouraging to know that it might be overpriced.

The Etsy sapphire is unheated and around the same size as the heated Gemfix sapphire, and costs less money.
Unheated sapphires are more valuable than heated, so you would most likely be able to get your money back if you ever decided to sell it, or get more money in the future for it. I think it’s a gorgeous color and I am pretty sure that seller is a member of Pricescope.

 

[Jbows]

The NSC ones seem kind of poorly cut for the price and definitely don’t have the vivid blue you can get in your budget.
I do like the GemFix one! It has some extinction but it is still pretty. Livannie’s suggestions are also amazing!
This one is on sale:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p26/2.05_ct_Unheated_Blue_Ceylon_Sapphire.html
If you are open to cushion, this is the best color I’ve seen:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p363/2.60_ct_Blue_Sapphire.html
Round but pretty:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p343/2.18_ct_Violetish-Blue_Ceylon_Sapphire.html

 

[qubitasaurus]

@lmyracle: Wow, those pictures are gorgeous! I know it's not an oval, but I might be willing to go cushion for something like that. The fact that it's an Etsy seller with only five reviews makes me a bit nervous, though. It has certifications--should that be enough to make me feel comfortable?

I'm leaning towards the Gemfix right now, otherwise, but it's discouraging to know that it might be overpriced.

Maybe you can read her threads and see if you recognize some of the items in the shop, I think the small number of reviews is because the shop is new. But there is a lot of past loupetroop transactions (you'll find old threads in the section of the forum for discussing sales) and also somewhere here is a good seller thread on hangouts. So maybe you can get an idea that way. I say all of this having had no personal experience, but this is what I would do if I was enamoured with the stone.

 

[chroman]

I was just about to post the 2.60 at Finewater as well! Looks like they’re running a sale atm - I didn’t see that earlier.

 

[whitewave]

The NSC ones seem kind of poorly cut for the price and definitely don’t have the vivid blue you can get in your budget.
I do like the GemFix one! It has some extinction but it is still pretty. Livannie’s suggestions are also amazing!
This one is on sale:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p26/2.05_ct_Unheated_Blue_Ceylon_Sapphire.html
If you are open to cushion, this is the best color I’ve seen:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p363/2.60_ct_Blue_Sapphire.html
Round but pretty:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p343/2.18_ct_Violetish-Blue_Ceylon_Sapphire.html

LOVE that round one from Finewater (also the one from Etsy).

I bought mine from Finewater Gems and would recommend him.

 

[lmyracle]

Just another thought -- and I'm a total newb... David Klass was highly recommended from many in the PS Community Forums. I contacted him with an image of what I want. He said he could set a sapphire I sourced on my own, or would help find me one. BOOM. In the matter of a day, I received an email with 3 options, all what I'm looking for, all in my budget! So far, he has been EXTREMELY responsive. I did purchase a sapphire and will have it in my hands tomorrow for review. If I don't like it, I simply send it back and he gives me a full refund.

 

[elle_71125]

Just another thought -- and I'm a total newb... David Klass was highly recommended from many in the PS Community Forums. I contacted him with an image of what I want. He said he could set a sapphire I sourced on my own, or would help find me one. BOOM. In the matter of a day, I received an email with 3 options, all what I'm looking for, all in my budget! So far, he has been EXTREMELY responsive. I did purchase a sapphire and will have it in my hands tomorrow for review. If I don't like it, I simply send it back and he gives me a full refund.

That's awesome. Did you already share pics somewhere? I'd love to see them.

 

[lmyracle]

The videos are too big to load here. I’ll post pics when I get the gem I close, tomorrow! I want to make sure I’m ok with this as it has a little darkness. Fully refundable if I don’t like it. I prefer the darker violetish blue and this is a color change 4.12. I am hopeful!

 

[amalthea13]

@lmyracle: That's beautiful! Yes, please post pictures when you get the gem.

Maybe I'll send David Klass an e-mail. In the meantime, I'm strongly considering both the Etsy stone and that finewater stone (it may be a little lighter than what I'm looking for, but it is gorgeous). Thanks, everyone, for your help! I'll be back to post pictures when I actually get my next sapphire.

 

[lmyracle]

Can't wait to see especially since I'm in a similar situation in trying to find the right stone!

 

[Jbows]

@lmyracle: That's beautiful! Yes, please post pictures when you get the gem.

Maybe I'll send David Klass an e-mail. In the meantime, I'm strongly considering both the Etsy stone and that finewater stone (it may be a little lighter than what I'm looking for, but it is gorgeous). Thanks, everyone, for your help! I'll be back to post pictures when I actually get my next sapphire.

Just a thought... sapphires tend to be pretty shifty. You will probably have a stone that shifts darker than it shows in the Finewater gems. So if it looks a little light in the vendor pics, it will likely be a bit darker in light that isn’t 100% perfect for taking photos

 

[elle_71125]

What about this one?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/220131640/207-carat-unheated-blue-sapphire-agl?ref=shop_home_active_11



Editing to add the Instagram video.
https://instagram.com/p/BYOZQounOtp/

 

[elle_71125]

The NSC ones seem kind of poorly cut for the price and definitely don’t have the vivid blue you can get in your budget.
I do like the GemFix one! It has some extinction but it is still pretty. Livannie’s suggestions are also amazing!
This one is on sale:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p26/2.05_ct_Unheated_Blue_Ceylon_Sapphire.html
If you are open to cushion, this is the best color I’ve seen:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p363/2.60_ct_Blue_Sapphire.html
Round but pretty:
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p343/2.18_ct_Violetish-Blue_Ceylon_Sapphire.html

I’m pretty sure he just posted a video of the 2.6ct on instagram.
https://instagram.com/p/Bg9NqHVH-c5/

 

[amalthea13]

He sent me the video! I e-mailed him. It is gorgeous. It's a little pricier than the Etsy sapphire, so if they're both the same size/color/unheated, I'm leaning towards ordering the Etsy one first.

@elle_71125 I was actually just coming here to post that sapphire and get thoughts. It's really pretty!

 

[doberman]

So I think it depends on what you really want colorwise. Are you looking for a blue or violetish/blue? Are you looking for vivid blue (up the money factor)
Is heated ok or unheated only?
Are you open to other shapes?
Is location really all that important? (there are other locals for sapphires)

I will not recommend Natural Sapphire Co because they .....have issues....

I hadn't heard this. Can you elaborate?

 

[amalthea13]

Requesting an opinion on one more before I make my final decision tonight! Thoughts?

https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p362/2.55_ct_Blue_Sapphire.html

It's a little over-budget; however, when I e-mailed him and asked for additional photos, he said he might be able to bring down the price a bit. However, in this photo he sent me, is this significant extinction? I do like the richer blue.



This is the indoor photo he sent me of the other finewater gem someone else posted:

 

[qubitasaurus]

I think that will be an effect of the light source (it is also possible that it is an effect called half and half extinction that has to do with the cutting/elongated shape and tends to show up when you view the stone from certain angles. Half and half extinction will make one side or the gem look a bit darker, but it can often be dispelled by changing your viewing angle so it's not actually 'extinction' in the sense of areas of strong saturation in the material where no light gets reflected off the facets.). Why don't you ask him quietly about the dark band? I am sure he will be happy to clarify.