Sapphire decision! Or...neither?

[bklew707]

I've purchased two sapphires that I really wanted to see in person. I am still within the return window for both but I would love some feedback. I did my best to capture the best color of each in indirect daylight however my phone does darken both a little in the videos

First up is a heated Montana sapphire from Jeff Hapeman/Earth's Treasury. Described as Rich Blue. I know Montanas are notorious for being extra shifty in different lighting conditions and I can see why. When this one is next to the Aussie it looks much lighter shade of blue, almost tending towards aquamarine..
Website photos: (will also attach pics)

https://imgur.com/a/1HUubzh

Streamable Video

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

Streamable Video

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

Next is an unheated Australian sapphire from John Dyer. This one I had initial reservations about it being too dark before I got it and still sort of do. I know Aussies have the typical dark body but this one is well cut and returns a more true blue in my opinion when the light hits it right.

Watch inh75 | Streamable

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

Watch nu36p | Streamable

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

They are both well cut. The Montana is more a little more scintillating in that the Aussie has some areas of extinction at certain angles. I took the following video at night, indoors, with my phone flash on to try and capture the purest representation of each sapphire's true color.

Watch 46dtd | Streamable

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

There's also the shape to consider. Both are precision cut but the Aussie is more rounded and looks like the traditional oval (the shape I want). The Montana is ovalish. I will be going with a vintage-style setting that will be designed to fit the center so another concern I have is if a traditional, older looking setting would not pair with a ovalish cut center. But I've been told by my jeweler that it will look more oval/round once set. Another thing to consider that I've heard many say is that the center will darken once set/over time if it gets dirty. There is one that I'm leaning towards but I would love any additional feedback!

Thanks in advance

 

[LilAlex]

The better people will be along shortly but I like the slightly paler and more cushion-y one. In each side-by-side, my eye goes to that one. It has a bit of a tilt-window but it lights up with direct overhead illumination. Looks more included in the vendor photos but more reflection off the pavilion, imo.

As precision-cut, both are a little "severe" for old-school setting but I think this will be masked by a halo or whatever. (I had never heard that a long oval will look fatter when set, though?!) I think this is an example where although unheated is "better," I would not choose the less attractive of two similarly-sized and -priced stones based on heating.

With respect to darkening with dirt -- you will need to clean anything pretty regularly! Lotion, hand sanitizer, whatever, will spoil it in a week. Whenever people say how amazing their ring looks after cleaning, it's pretty sad. It just meams that their carefully-considered purchase has looked awful for so long that they forgot what it looked like. And I am just as guilty as the rest of us. Certainly less of an issue with colored stones which are always pretty but it's hilarious with diamonds where someone has literally paid twice as much for fewer invisible inclusions -- and the the whole thing is covered in gunk.

 

[ShinyPink]

I prefer the Montana, but I like lighter sapphires. How is the sparkle/color indoors during the day? Also, price difference, clarity, and size? They look clean, but is the Aussie always half blacked-out?

 

[bklew707]

The better people will be along shortly but I like the slightly paler and more cushion-y one. In each side-by-side, my eye goes to that one. It has a bit of a tilt-window but it lights up with direct overhead illumination. Looks more included in the vendor photos but more reflection off the pavilion, imo.

As precision-cut, both are a little "severe" for old-school setting but I think this will be masked by a halo or whatever. (I had never heard that a long oval will look fatter when set, though?!) I think this is an example where although unheated is "better," I would not choose the less attractive of two similarly-sized and -priced stones based on heating.

With respect to darkening with dirt -- you will need to clean anything pretty regularly! Lotion, hand sanitizer, whatever, will spoil it in a week. Whenever people say how amazing their ring looks after cleaning, it's pretty sad. It just meams that their carefully-considered purchase has looked awful for so long that they forgot what it looked like. And I am just as guilty as the rest of us. Certainly less of an issue with colored stones which are always pretty but it's hilarious with diamonds where someone has literally paid twice as much for fewer invisible inclusions -- and the the whole thing is covered in gunk.

I think he meant the more cushion looking one would look like it had more rounded edges once it’s set? The setting I have in mind is sort of in between a solitaire and three stone-with side pears but pinned down a little so it looks like a solitaire from the top but gives the tapered look from the center to the shank due to the pears.

I also leaned towards the Montana.

 

[bklew707]

I prefer the Montana, but I like lighter sapphires. How is the sparkle/color indoors during the day? Also, price difference, clarity, and size? They look clean, but is the Aussie always half blacked-out?

The Montana retains its sparkle indoors, color darkens and it picks up a slight bit of gray. But you can still see some color. The Aussie also darkens of course but still has a bit of sparkle, less so.

The Montana is 1.81ct and Aussie 1.84ct-price wise the Montana was about $600 more...Montana is stated as nearly flawless while the Aussie is stated as “good clarity.” No vs, vvs etc type clarity descriptions for either.

size wise- Montana is 7.9x6.3mm and Aussie is 8.4x5.8mm. The Aussie certainly does have dark spots at certain angles so I’d say the color is never uniform when looking straight on, there are definitely black parts.

 

[bklew707]

I’m also considering returning both and continuing my search due to the fact that I don’t feel 100% about either! I was looking for a medium blue/blue oval that darkens a bit (of course) in low light but still has some color. The Montana is not as blue/blue as I’d hoped (otherwise the tone and shade are good I think) and the Aussie has a very very slight gray to its blue for lack of a better description. It’s also much darker.

 

[qubitasaurus]

I’m also considering returning both and continuing my search due to the fact that I don’t feel 100% about either! I was looking for a medium blue/blue oval that darkens a bit (of course) in low light but still has some color. The Montana is not as blue/blue as I’d hoped (otherwise the tone and shade are good I think) and the Aussie has a very very slight gray to its blue for lack of a better description. It’s also much darker.

I am glad you said this, as my inclination would be to ask precisiongem if they will take a custom order for some of the Montana rough they currently have. Ask for a colour which is quite a bit lighter than either of these two.

Caveat emptor Montana sapphires shift colour in different lighting, so you may want to anticipate and even ask about this shift.

Also the stone you're describing sounds like a ceylon sapphire, not an Australian or Montana sapphire. The australian ones tend to be very dark, and the montana ones are typically a bit more of a denim blue, or even a green blue teal like colour. When they come in pure spectral blue in a medium tone, they can be very expensive (as this is a very uncommon occurence). You could be better off changing what you are looking for. Do you want to post some pictures of the colour blue you're looking for?

 

[voce]

Do you have an ideal shade of blue in mind you want? If you don't have references, color/price is a slippery slope...

 

[icy_jade]

Neither... it doesn’t sound like you are very in love with either so will suggest you continue looking until you find the one that makes your heart skip a beat.

 

[bklew707]

Do you have an ideal shade of blue in mind you want? If you don't have references, color/price is a slippery slope...

I know these aren’t exactly the same color but I’m looking for a blue/blue. I‘m sensing I may need to either adjust my size or budget. The thing with color is...I’ve shown my girlfriend many different sapphires just to get a sense of color and many times she says they are very pretty. So color seems to be a little flexible. I know she does not want the velvety royal blues that tend towards the hint of purple side. And not pastel shades. There’s so many in between!

Using geme wizard the closest I would said is medium strong blue and medium vivid blue

 

[bklew707]

I am glad you said this, as my inclination would be to ask precisiongem if they will take a custom order for some of the Montana rough they currently have. Ask for a colour which is quite a bit lighter than either of these two.

Caveat emptor Montana sapphires shift colour in different lighting, so you may want to anticipate and even ask about this shift.

Also the stone you're describing sounds like a ceylon sapphire, not an Australian or Montana sapphire. The australian ones tend to be very dark, and the montana ones are typically a bit more of a denim blue, or even a green blue teal like colour. When they come in pure spectral blue in a medium tone, they can be very expensive (as this is a very uncommon occurence). You could be better off changing what you are looking for. Do you want to post some pictures of the colour blue you're looking for?

Posted colors above!

 

[qubitasaurus]

Posted colors above!

Perhaps head a little lighter, stones darken under non ideal lighting and then darken again once set. So I'd head 2-3 tones lighter.

Having said this I really dont think you're looking for a montana or australian sapphire or even a thai sapphire. The colour you want is most likely to be a blue sapphire from ceylon (or Burma, or madagascar but these two are rarer).

Have you looked at gemfix? Lots of inventory in a broad range of colours.

 

[2Neesers]

I’d also recommend Gemfix for what you are you are looking for. I would also recommend contacting Laura at Gemfix to let her know exactly what you are looking for and what you didn’t like about the other two stones. Since she has seen her entire inventory in person, she should be able to guide you toward a couple of stones that are the shade of blue you are hoping for.

 

[ShinyPink]

You don't sound in love with either of them. I'd return them. I have a fortune in stones I didn't lovelovelove and didn't return because I felt bad about it. Find one that sings to you!

 

[lmyracle]

If you're not 100% about either, keep looking! You'll know when you find it!

 

[Arcadian]

I also will say return them and start over.

 

[Anne111]

If the OP likes that type of metallic greenish blue in the first JD gem, it-s a perfect match. The rest is a question of blue~taste and credit~card~color or rather its balance sheet.