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Sapphire advice

Jupe4791

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
25
Hi all, I am back on track with my ring project and am looking for a sapphire. Am looking for something around 2 ct, medium tone. I don’t mind if heated, and any of the 3 below are within budget.

I know from others’ posts to be wary of too dark of a blue lest it appear black when set in certain light. I know buying on line cam be hard - best way to see a stone is in person.
know from others’ posts to be wary of too dark of a blue lest it appear black when set in certain light. I know buying on line cam be hard - best way to see a stone is in person.

Any advice on the following would be appreciated. Any concerns, price seems reasonable, other recs?

1. https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1337

2. https://www.litnon.com/viewgem.php?gemid=11646&id=49697

3. https://www.litnon.com/viewgem.php?gemid=11650&id=49185

Thank you so much!
 

Mekp

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Oct 15, 2016
Messages
405
For me, the 3rd one is a bit dark.
To my newbie eye, I think the 2nd stone looks good.
 

chrono

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 22, 2004
Messages
38,364
First two are good choices. The 3rd isn't as brilliant as the other 2 due to cutting.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,033
Love the first 2!
 

kirkpatrickel

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 10, 2011
Messages
26
I agree with the other posters; the last one looks dark. I really like number 2. That said, I just bought from Gemfix and they were great.
 

Jupe4791

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
25
Wow - gorgeous! The setting isn’t exactly what I’m looking for, but thanks for sharing!
 

scouty

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 26, 2019
Messages
744
Last fall I purchased the first sapphire 1337 from Gemfix to compare with another oval sapphire from them that was less expensive, this one here. I ended up returning both sapphires as I wasn't pleased with the color of either, neither were "glowy" IMO. In some lights they were nice like outdoors in the shade, but in my office or home environment I wasn't wow-ed, if that makes sense, and that is where I spend the majority of my time so I wanted a sapphire that looks great indoors too.

Here's some pics of 1331 just for reference, I never posted pics of 1337 because it wasn't that much different as far as color, at least to me. I think part of the price difference was due to 1337 having a GIA cert. https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ner-pictures-of-ps-stones.109420/post-4611479

Returning to Gemfix was a breeze but the cost of return shipping and insurance can add up.

I think the 2nd one looks really nice.
 

Jupe4791

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
25
I purchased the 2nd stone, and unfortunately I don’t think it’s the one for me. My heart didn’t jump at all when I saw it. I think I went too light in an attempt to avoid a stone that would look navy/black under certain lighting conditions. Fortunately, litnon has a no questions return policy, so unless something changes as I look at this in the next day or so, I don’t think it’s a keeper for me.

Btw, viewed at a slight side angle, I can see through the stone to my skin. Fir future reference, it that a window? See last pic. Thanks!


0F0D1D15-9EB0-4285-97AB-9C5FF00CDF46.jpeg E309EED7-808C-4540-8BD2-2EF12B5802D7.jpeg E7186AB6-242B-43DB-8D30-170D27B24768.jpeg E4096385-4008-4264-BC70-AD20DF0097C0.jpeg
0F0D1D15-9EB0-4285-97AB-9C5FF00CDF46.jpeg E309EED7-808C-4540-8BD2-2EF12B5802D7.jpeg E7186AB6-242B-43DB-8D30-170D27B24768.jpeg E4096385-4008-4264-BC70-AD20DF0097C0.jpeg 0F0D1D15-9EB0-4285-97AB-9C5FF00CDF46.jpeg E309EED7-808C-4540-8BD2-2EF12B5802D7.jpeg E7186AB6-242B-43DB-8D30-170D27B24768.jpeg E4096385-4008-4264-BC70-AD20DF0097C0.jpeg 49F25F40-1BF7-4E2F-BB9D-2FF82A49BE33.jpeg
 

voce

Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
5,161
I think that's a tilt window. Your pictures are a lot different from the vendor pictures in terms of color. I hope that's because your phone isn't very good at pictures, because I hate it when vendor pictures turn out to be way different than what people see in real life.
 

Jupe4791

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
25
My phone’s not stellar, it’s an iphone 8, but the color in my pics - 4 indoors and one outside are pretty close to how it looks in real life to me.
 

whitewave

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
12,331
I agree it’s a tilt window and normal. Bummer the stone didn’t meet your expectations
 

voce

Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
5,161
It sounds like you don't love it, so you should return it.
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,033
Definitely return if you dont love it. And yes it's a tilt window, which is common
 

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
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Jan 22, 2014
Messages
6,533
Gosh, what a shame. No 2 looked lovely in the vendor photos.
That’s why a good return policy is essential, you usually have to see them in person to be sure.
“Glow” in sapphires is their vividness and this is usually found in deeper toned sapphires. You sometimes have to decide if you’re happier with a darker tone to get the vividness. A5B36462-42F7-4B83-BC7F-42C9A772F053.jpeg
And yes, a tilt window in coloured gems is expected. You need to judge them looking “straight down”. Here are my two with windows, more apparent side on.
 

Jupe4791

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
25
Thanks all! This is my first online gem so it’s all a learning experience and nothing replaces seeing it in person. The seller has been PHENOMENAL. He responded to me almost immediately. I asked if I could return #2 and pay the difference to buy/see #3, which has a deeper/richer Colur which he says stays royal blue/not black indoors/in low light. He was so nice, and noted beauty is in the eye of the beholder so if #3 doesn't seem right either, I can/should return that. So A+++ customer service, and hoping it’s “the one”.

I am going to have it set in this style ring in 14k which the jewelry designer will scale up to fit my final stone. 53637B8A-7823-4460-9361-7BB63D196EDF.jpeg 4E6C091D-6400-46FA-A701-75289CC4A3AE.jpeg
 

whitewave

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
12,331
Thanks all! This is my first online gem so it’s all a learning experience and nothing replaces seeing it in person. The seller has been PHENOMENAL. He responded to me almost immediately. I asked if I could return #2 and pay the difference to buy/see #3, which has a deeper/richer Colur which he says stays royal blue/not black indoors/in low light. He was so nice, and noted beauty is in the eye of the beholder so if #3 doesn't seem right either, I can/should return that. So A+++ customer service, and hoping it’s “the one”.

I am going to have it set in this style ring in 14k which the jewelry designer will scale up to fit my final stone. 53637B8A-7823-4460-9361-7BB63D196EDF.jpeg 4E6C091D-6400-46FA-A701-75289CC4A3AE.jpeg

Yes, he is a really nice and down to earth guy.
 

Jupe4791

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
25
Update: 2nd sapphire came in and I like it a lot better. 2.6 carats, 9.2 x 7.2 mm. No certificate but seller says only heat treated. Stays blue in all light, at least unmounted. 1st is vendor’s listing and then my pics in a few different settings. Thoughts? Is this a reasonable buy, or any red flags. If not, I think I’ll be making this into a ring
C1B3A5A5-D0EB-4EFE-ACC4-194E6A0D8B49.png BD4CECFB-E408-49BB-AE2B-7C6B633E7318.jpeg D13014CC-A3B6-4584-8424-13A8ABE6FBDA.jpeg 814EB595-143D-4DF5-8D8D-3D205AFA4AB0.jpeg
 

Rfisher

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
5,487
Your pictures look darn close to the vendors from what I see, do you feel the same to your eye?
I think your pictures would look even closer to the vendors if you took them in e/w orientation just like he did. :))
 
H

Horsegirl76

Guest
I think that’s a beautiful sapphire, but then I prefer the darker toned richer blues.
 

elizat

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Messages
4,000
Gosh, what a shame. No 2 looked lovely in the vendor photos.
That’s why a good return policy is essential, you usually have to see them in person to be sure.
“Glow” in sapphires is their vividness and this is usually found in deeper toned sapphires. You sometimes have to decide if you’re happier with a darker tone to get the vividness. A5B36462-42F7-4B83-BC7F-42C9A772F053.jpeg
And yes, a tilt window in coloured gems is expected. You need to judge them looking “straight down”. Here are my two with windows, more apparent side on.

Yes, this. Glow is normally seen more in darker and silky stones. Ones that are cur more for glitter, will not have a glow at least in the stones I have had.
 

voce

Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
5,161
I think it looks nice, if the price was appropriate. It's not cut too deep so there's no "dead weight".
 

LilAlex

Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Mar 3, 2018
Messages
3,590
Looks like a decent value and, I believe, a reputable vendor.

I don't buy anything without a report now.
 
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