Thoughts on the color of this sapphire?

[winnietucker]

I came across this sapphire. It’s set in a ring and after scraping the setting it’d cost around $650. It’s a 2.9 ct oval. No photos in other lighting are available. I’ve been on the hunt for an antique curb chain and would turn it into a pendant more likely than not. Any idea what it would look like IRL?

 

[Autumn in New England]

Hello! Judging solely on this one photo, and strictly speaking in terms of color, I'd say it's fairly nice when you consider it's only around $225/ct for an almost 3ct stone. It looks to be a medium tone (5) with moderately strong saturation (4) and a purplish-blue hue. Naturally, I'd need a better look at the stone to assess clarity, cut, shape, etc. There seem to be quite a few goodies in the upper left area. And we might be seeing an off-center culet.

 

[winnietucker]

Hello! Judging solely on this one photo, and strictly speaking in terms of color, I'd say it's fairly nice when you consider it's only around $225/ct for an almost 3ct stone. It looks to be a medium tone (5) with moderately strong saturation (4) and a purplish-blue hue. Naturally, I'd need a better look at the stone to assess clarity, cut, shape, etc. There seem to be quite a few goodies in the upper left area. And we might be seeing an off-center culet.

Thank you for the response. I saw after I posted this that it’s got a pretty bad chip. With that in mind, is it even worth pursuing further?

 

[Avondale]

Ouch!

Well that is gonna need a recut, no way around it. I doubt you'll want to wear it with the chip.

It looks deep, so you're in for some not marginal weight loss. Plus the cutter fees. Plus any recut has the potential to alter the stone's colour. Smaller stone -> shorter travel paths for the light -> less colour and saturation.

650$ is a good price, but only if you're willing to risk losing all of it.

 

[winnietucker]

Ouch!

Well that is gonna need a recut, no way around it. I doubt you'll want to wear it with the chip.

It looks deep, so you're in for some not marginal weight loss. Plus the cutter fees. Plus any recut has the potential to alter the stone's colour. Smaller stone -> shorter travel paths for the light -> less colour and saturation.

650$ is a good price, but only if you're willing to risk losing all of it.

As a pendant think I’d be cool with a chip as long as there are no bigger issues at play like possibility of it breaking more with normal pendant wear. I was hoping the bezel part could be removed and used as the pendant so I wouldn’t really have to pay much to turn it into a pendant. But I may wait to see if the price comes down a bit. At like $400 I’d be cool with the risks.

Also no clue if this is natural or unheated. I’m guessing the cut would be indicative of a natural sapphire? Is that correct or am I completely off base?

 

[Autumn in New England]

I draw the line at damage, unless we're talking about a flea bite or "natural" on the girdle or a pavilion facet. But a large chip or surface-reaching fracture on the crown would be an immediate dismissal for me. It's all about personal tolerance though, and it sounds like it doesn't really bother you.

Yes, I'd take an educated guess that it's natural.

 

[winnietucker]

I draw the line at damage, unless we're talking about a flea bite or "natural" on the girdle or a pavilion facet. But a large chip or surface-reaching fracture on the crown would be an immediate dismissal for me. It's all about personal tolerance though, and it sounds like it doesn't really bother you.

Yes, I'd take an educated guess that it's natural.

Ok cool. Thank you for confirming. I’ll watch it and see if the price goes down or if gold goes up before pulling the trigger.

 

[Avondale]

I believe it's likely natural, too. That off-centre culet just screams natural. It's a staple of the cutter's effort to preserve weight, which you never see with lab stones.

 

[winnietucker]

I believe it's likely natural, too. That off-centre culet just screams natural. It's a staple of the cutter's effort to preserve weight, which you never see with lab stones.

Thanks! I feel better about it. Hopefully the price comes down a bit.

 

[Autumn in New England]

As an aside, your corgi's fluffy lil bum always makes me smile.