Still looking for sapphire

[indigoblue]

I posted back in January that I was looking for a sapphire. I ordered one from Gemfix, but it just didn't float my boat, so it was returned. From that experience I learned that purplish sapphires tend to look steely gray. Ha! I gleaned that from my vast experience with one stone.

I've continued to look at the sapphires on the preferred vendors list and have even expanded to the ones in Thailand and on eBay. It's still a little too scary to send thousands of dollars that far. I'm so afraid something will get lost in the mail. Plus this whole process is just so overwhelming. I look at something and like it and then chicken out. Ordering and returning a stone isn't cheap.

Would you give me your opinions on this 3.29 Burmese sapphire:

http://www.finewatergems.com/sapphire.html

I know it's not a well saturated "sapphire blue," but will it sparkle? Will it look gray? I just want a pretty stone that will be noticed. Aquamarine is my birthstone, so I've always liked light blue stones. And I think I want something in the 8-10mm range. (This has to do with wanting something bigger than the diamond from my fist marriage.)

I also LOVE the 4.88 ct Precision Gem sapphire that iLander posted and am tempted to just get it, but $10K would go a long way toward my bathroom remodel.

 

[chrono]

All gemstones that tend towards cool tones will appear steely when they do not have strong enough saturation, regardless of colour (purple, blue and what not).

The Finewater sapphire is light in tone and saturation, hence the descriptor of icy. It is also deep, hence faces up smaller than it should. The cut is a busier design so it should be lively enough. How gray is will depend on your eye and tolerance.

 

[indigoblue]

Thanks, Chrono. I'll try to go through my list of contenders and pick another one or two for opinions. Like I said, it just overwhelms me sometimes.

 

[chrono]

What are you looking for again (stats and budget)?

 

[indigoblue]

What are you looking for again (stats and budget)?

I want a blue sapphire, heat treatment doesn't really matter, good cut but the actual style doesn't matter either, longest axis 7.5-9.5mm or so, and price range hopefully below $5K, but I'll go higher if you guys convince me that it's a really great stone. The problem is that I see spinels that I like. And my original search was for tanzanite. I just love them but would probably do better with something a little more sturdy because I plan to wear it a lot. I want a statement ring. Something that my daughters will want to inherit. One of them already has dibs on the 1.53ct diamond her father gave me. I want something equally as desirable for the other one.

 

[chrono]

Spinels can be everyday wear stones if you are careful enough with it. I did a quick look around for blue sapphires and they all are over $5K, even when heated.

 

[indigoblue]

Then perhaps I should increase my price range. Show me an example of what you consider to be a desirable sapphire in the 3-4.5 ct range.

 

[chrono]

Fantastic colour but steep at over $10K.
http://www.africagems.com/oval-bluesapphire-g2k-4330.html

This one is very promising and priced well but smaller than your desired size range, topping 7 mm at the longest part.

 

[LD]

Blues and purples can easily look grey and this (to my eye) devalues them. Ones that don't have grey typically cost more and will be warm and velvety looking rather than cold. So to help evaluate a stone, look at it and see whether it looks cold or warm to you - that should help in knowing what it will look like in person. I veer away from cold stones completely!

 

[indigoblue]

I'm a little leery of getting another stone from Gemfix because the one I got from them didn't look as pretty as the picture. It was #1009 down near the bottom of the page.



But realistically I should spend the $$ on quality and not quantity. A 7mm stone that really has the bling would satisfy me, especially if I spend a little more on the setting. I have two 4mm and one 5mm diamonds that are available to use in a setting.

I just looked over my list of contenders, but the only one that would probably satisfy me looks like it has sold. Maybe the buyer will return it. Or I could try the one that iLander posted yesterday.

http://precisiongem.com/Gemstones/rapidcart/sapphire.html

Is it really that nice? Guess my bathroom redo could wait.

Gotta go to work. Be back later. Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions.

 

[chrono]

You mean #1006? It is clearly not well saturated, showing some gray even in his picture. Compare that to this below and the difference is obvious.

 

[NKOTB]

Jason Brims has this one for sale. In your size range, and a nice colour, from what I can see. He often has some wiggle room in his pricing, too.

2.55ct Vivid Blue Ceylon Sapphire, Heat, 8.22 x 8.12 x 5.13mm, AGL Cert, Loupe clean

$7000.00

 

[indigoblue]

You mean #1006? It is clearly not well saturated, showing some gray even in his picture. Compare that to this below and the difference is obvious.

Oops! Got my number upsidedown. Yes, #1006 was a bit steely. The cut seemed great though.

NKOTB, is that stone a little dark? I have a 2ct sapphire I received as a gift from the ex. It is a little on the dark side. I'm just saving it to give to one of my kids.



I'm really looking to all of you to steer me in the right direction. When I just went to my pictures folder to post that picture of my sapphire, I saw a hand shot I made of that Gemfix sapphire, and it actually looks like it was a good size, especially for the diamond band I'd like to wear with it. A 9mm stone is perhaps a bit too ambitious.

It's late. I'll think about this after some sleep.

 

[chrono]

Jason Brim's sapphire doesn't look too dark although I would prefer to see the hand shot picture done without the flash on.

 

[NKOTB]

I'm sure he'd be willing to take more pics, to give you a better sense.

 

[innerkitten]

What about one of the Sri Lanka sapphires on Mastercut gems?

 

[NKOTB]

What about one of the Sri Lanka sapphires on Mastercut gems?

Yeah, I still love this one. http://mastercutgems.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=6911

 

[indigoblue]

What about one of the Sri Lanka sapphires on Mastercut gems?

Yeah, I still love this one. http://mastercutgems.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=6911

How come when I go to Mastercutgems and click on sapphires, this one is nowhere to be seen? I can't find it on his site unless I click on your link. Hmmmmm. I really like it too.

edited to add:
Guess I was doing it wrong. You have to Search for "sapphires" to see everything. I was missing a ton of stuff by just clicking on the Sapphire link on the left.

 

[marymm]

What about one of the Sri Lanka sapphires on Mastercut gems?

Yeah, I still love this one. http://mastercutgems.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=6911

How come when I go to Mastercutgems and click on sapphires, this one is nowhere to be seen? I can't find it on his site unless I click on your link. Hmmmmm. I really like it too.

edited to add:
Guess I was doing it wrong. You have to Search for "sapphires" to see everything. I was missing a ton of stuff by just clicking on the Sapphire link on the left.

When you're on the mastercutgems.com website, at the left, under "Inventory," there is a list of tabs - if you click the tab titled "ANAGEE Sri Lanka Gems" you'll find the sapphire link posted above. The gems under the ANAGEE Sri Lanka Gems tab were not cut by Dana Reynolds but by a friend of his in Sri Lanka. Also, fyi: Dana's home page says that if you are interested in one of the Anagee gems, to contact him because depending on the stone there may be a little wiggle room on pricing.

 

[indigoblue]

I sent him a message.

 

[innerkitten]

Good luck! There are a few nice one's in that section. He's a really guy too.

 

[indigoblue]

Good luck! There are a few nice one's in that section. He's a really guy too.

Too late. I'll keep looking. And yes, he does seem like a really nice guy.

 

[innerkitten]

You'll find something soon. were there any others in the Sri Lanka section that peaked your interest?

 

[indigoblue]

You'll find something soon. were there any others in the Sri Lanka section that peaked your interest?

He seems to really like this one, but it seems a little dark to me.

http://mastercutgems.com/preview.php?cat=301&id=6918

 

[chrono]

I would give it a chance and see it personally otherwise you'll always be wondering.

 

[innerkitten]

I would give it a chance and see it personally otherwise you'll always be wondering.

I agree.

 

[indigoblue]

I would give it a chance and see it personally otherwise you'll always be wondering.

I agree.

OK. I asked him to send it to me. Will post pictures when it arrives. This is exciting!

 

[innerkitten]

Fingers crossed for you!

 

[cm366]

Isn't that the same sapphire as the one from Jason Brim?

 

[chrono]

Jason flips stones for several vendors so he also sells what others have in their inventory.