Sapphire have a window?

[katie451990]

Picked out a sapphire and had it mounted but not sure if it sparkles as much as I wanted it to. Is this normal for a cushion cut sapphire? Thoughts?

 

[dk168]

Not an expert, however, based on the third photo I would say yes

DK

 

[Avondale]

It has a pretty sizeable window, yes. And that's the reason it doesn't sparkle. If you keep it clean, you'll be able to enjoy the surface reflections off the facets, but the cutting won't contribute much otherwise.

These are the facet reflections from within the stone:

I can see your finger through it. That's a window. In a well cut stone, all of the facets you see from the table would be reflecting light back to your eyes, and you'll be seeing the play of light and movement instead of your skin.

The window is very obvious right here:


The third photo is an excellent example because you can straight up read the text through the stone:

 

[lovedogs]

Yeah unfortunately it has a giant window.

 

[katie451990]

It has a pretty sizeable window, yes. And that's the reason it doesn't sparkle. If you keep it clean, you'll be able to enjoy the surface reflections off the facets, but the cutting won't contribute much otherwise.

These are the facet reflections from within the stone:

I can see your finger through it. That's a window. In a well cut stone, all of the facets you see from the table would be reflecting light back to your eyes, and you'll be seeing the play of light and movement instead of your skin.

The window is very obvious right here:


The third photo is an excellent example because you can straight up read the text through the stone:

It’s my first time getting a sapphire. Should I possibly get something that sparkles more but would have to sacrifice size and color. Which is more important in a sapphire?

 

[Avondale]

It’s my first time getting a sapphire. Should I possibly get something that sparkles more but would have to sacrifice size and color. Which is more important in a sapphire?

Generally speaking, colour is the most important. After all, why go for a coloured stone if you aren't going to prioritise colour?

But, to be honest, if you're going for sparkle in particular, in a way similar to how a diamond sparkles, most sapphires might prove a disappointment for you. Sapphires have a significantly lower refractive index. If the stone has a crystalline body and optimised cut, it will be sparkly, but it will never be as sparkly as a diamond. And many stones won't have either a crystalline enough body, or an optimised cut.

My advice is, take some time to read through the threads in this section. Lots of people look for sapphires or ask opinions on stones they're considering or have already purchased. There's lots to learn that's readily available and accessible.

 

[Bron357]

Yes, coloured gems are about the colour and sapphire isn’t especially refractive so not much “sparkle”. You would need a lighter tone and hue together with different facet pattern to obtain more “sparkle” but it still won’t be rainbows sparkle like diamond or zircon.
Most colour gems are cut for maintaining carat weight and providing best “face up” colour so large windows aren’t unexpected.

 

[LilAlex]

It’s my first time getting a sapphire. Should I possibly get something that sparkles more but would have to sacrifice size and color. Which is more important in a sapphire?

It would help if you posted the dimensions. You may have simply gotten what you paid for -- a lot of face-up size while sacrificing on some of the qualities that are also important.

That gem might be better for a bezel setting or flush mounting (man's ring, maybe) which would tend to close it up and "show" it against a black background of "unilluminated finger." It could be lovely like that -- set E/W with the trilliants on the sides.

Most people who glance at rings and hands and fingers would have no idea what we are all talking about. It would astonish and delight many people as-is. But you can certainly do better, cut-wise. This is less important in CS than in colorless diamonds but it is still important.

 

[Beautiful-disaster]

I have a lighter blue 8.6ct oval step cut that sparkles a lot. But it has colour zoning which adds to it.
I find pictures don’t do sapphires justice - you need to see movement.
They are always darker when worn too - and tend to look much better in outdoor light to indoor.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

wiwndows were very much enjoyed by the Victorians, who found it erotic to see skin through the stone
just putting it out there
preferences do change