What are these lines in my sapphire?

[justaddcoffee]

Practical advice regarding the shipping if you want to ship it yourself. Go to the post office and get one of their small priority shipping boxes (looks like it would hold a big paperback book). Go home. Wrap the ring so it is in a gem box, inside a bigger plastic bag with your GIA paperwork, wrapped all around with bubble wrap or tissue paper. Tape that box up really well with packing tape so it is hard to get into. Ship it US postal service, insured with tracking and signature required. The USPS workers are mostly career people and they are carefully screened.

Do you have it insured for any particular value? I think you want to be accurate in your guess. But I imagine people ship a lot of things worth about $1-2k, and probably not much that’s worth $10k. Do you want to crowd source an estimated value for shipping purposes here?

Thank you for this advice! I have a small business and do a lot of shipping, so I know that most of the time things are delivered with no problems. But I have had a few issues in the past with lost or damaged packages, so I’m nervous to send my ring off.

It’s not currently insured. That’s one of the biggest reasons I’d like to get a report and appraisal done. So my two concerns with sending it to GIA are, first, I don’t have a clue what to insure the package for. And second, when I have had to file a claim in the past I was asked to provide proof of value. If by some awful turn of events my ring was lost or damaged, I don’t have any current paperwork on it. If I found a jeweler who could handle the back and forth with GIA would they be able to provide a statement or value for insurance purposes?

 

[justaddcoffee]

And while I’d love to have some idea of its value, that may be difficult to determine from photos? I’ve seen such a wide range of price per carat for unheated sapphire. I know there are several things that go into determining its value. Country of origin, saturation, tone, inclusions, damage. My stone has some scratches on the table and abrasion to the facet edges that I can see with a loupe. I don’t know how much that affects the value. I think the color shift would also need to be taken into consideration. It’s all just a little too confusing for me.

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

I agree with you. The prices are all over the map. Knock on wood, I’ve been very lucky with shipping. You are kind of in a bind with no documents and I think a local jeweler could help you with that. (Of course, they would rather have the papers first too, lol.) I am in a rural area and found a GIA certified family-owned jeweler in a nearby downtown district (not the mall). I looked for reviews online and then was pleasantly surprised. A lot of small jewelry shops here don’t actually have a real jeweler on staff.

 

[justaddcoffee]

I agree with you. The prices are all over the map. Knock on wood, I’ve been very lucky with shipping. You are kind of in a bind with no documents and I think a local jeweler could help you with that. (Of course, they would rather have the papers first too, lol.) I am in a rural area and found a GIA certified family-owned jeweler in a nearby downtown district (not the mall). I looked for reviews online and then was pleasantly surprised. A lot of small jewelry shops here don’t actually have a real jeweler on staff.

I’m fairly rural too, but within a couple hours drive of Pittsburgh. So I think finding a jeweler there will be my best bet. It’s really just a matter of finding the time to go up there, lol.

 

[justaddcoffee]

Just for fun, here are a few photos that show the purple better. These are unedited. I love how I never know what color, or even what shade of that color I’ll see when I look down at it!

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

That is a gorgeous color!!

 

[MollyMalone]

I agree with you. The prices are all over the map. Knock on wood, I’ve been very lucky with shipping. You are kind of in a bind with no documents and I think a local jeweler could help you with that. (Of course, they would rather have the papers first too, lol.) I am in a rural area and found a GIA certified family-owned jeweler in a nearby downtown district (not the mall). I looked for reviews online and then was pleasantly surprised. A lot of small jewelry shops here don’t actually have a real jeweler on staff.

I’m fairly rural too, but within a couple hours drive of Pittsburgh. So I think finding a jeweler there will be my best bet. It’s really just a matter of finding the time to go up there, lol.

The nearest independent jewelry store to me which appears on GIA's Retailer Look-Up page is a perfectly decent (and most likely, above average) brick-and-mortar store for those shopping for, e.g., a diamond engagement ring. But I am certain that no one on the staff there could provide an informed appraisal re the value of your charming, vintage sapphire ring. All that's needed to qualify for the Retailer Look-Up database is that the retailer sells GIA-graded diamonds and/or has a GIA graduate on staff:
https://www.gia.edu/retailer-lookup-registration
And none of GIA's programs includes any coursework on appraising, even of diamonds:
https://www.gia.edu/gia-faq-education-programs-courses-appraisal

So here's my suggestion, if it's feasible for you to drive to Montoursville, PA: make an appointment with Gary Smith of Smith's Jewelers
http://www.smithsjlrs.com/appraisals
and the founder of the PA Gem Lab:
http://www.pagemlab.com/
His credentials are excellent. He's one of the relatively few in the country accredited by the American Society of Appraisers as a Master Gemologist Appraiser®,
http://www.appraisers.org/Disciplines/Gems-Jewelry/master-gemologist-appraiser
in addition to being an American Gem Society Certified Gemologist Appraiser
https://www.americangemsociety.org/page/independentcertified
both of which require (a) maintaining a lab with more equipment-tools than the typical retailer invests in, and (b) periodic re-certification of the credentials.

Plus, he's got years of experience; has been asked to teach classes-lead presentations on, e.g. gems and jewelry appraising; and is seemingly well regarded since he has held office in several trade organizations, including President of ASA:
http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/40e093_5570277129f54ca5886215898ce597b8.pdf

I've not dealt with him myself, but he definitely sounds better suited for your needs than "spinning the roulette wheel" on a GIA retailer

 

[PrecisionGem]

I think you should ship the stone yourself. If you are worried, use Registered Mail, it’s the most secure way. I have mailed thousands of stones all over the world, and to date have only had one get lost, and that one got ‘lost’ in customs in Canada.
As far as insurance, why don’t you just insure it for what you paid for the ring?
It seems silly to pay a jeweler to box it and ship if for you.

 

[MollyMalone]

Unfortunately, @PrecisionGem this ring is one that's been in the family for years (with presumably no paperwork) -- see her post at #7 on preceding page. So that's why she'd like an appraisal before it's sent off. I second your recommendation of do-it-yourself Registered Mail (insured), especially since it's only the named shipper who can submit a claim to the USPS if the ring is lost or damaged en route.

 

[justaddcoffee]

The nearest independent jewelry store to me which appears on GIA's Retailer Look-Up page is a perfectly decent (and most likely, above average) brick-and-mortar store for those shopping for, e.g., a diamond engagement ring. But I am certain that no one on the staff there could provide an informed appraisal re the value of your charming, vintage sapphire ring. All that's needed to qualify for the Retailer Look-Up database is that the retailer sells GIA-graded diamonds and/or has a GIA graduate on staff:
https://www.gia.edu/retailer-lookup-registration
And none of GIA's programs includes any coursework on appraising, even of diamonds:
https://www.gia.edu/gia-faq-education-programs-courses-appraisal

So here's my suggestion, if it's feasible for you to drive to Montoursville, PA: make an appointment with Gary Smith of Smith's Jewelers
http://www.smithsjlrs.com/appraisals
and the founder of the PA Gem Lab:
http://www.pagemlab.com/
His credentials are excellent. He's one of the relatively few in the country accredited by the American Society of Appraisers as a Master Gemologist Appraiser®,
http://www.appraisers.org/Disciplines/Gems-Jewelry/master-gemologist-appraiser
in addition to being an American Gem Society Certified Gemologist Appraiser
https://www.americangemsociety.org/page/independentcertified
both of which require (a) maintaining a lab with more equipment-tools than the typical retailer invests in, and (b) periodic re-certification of the credentials.

Plus, he's got years of experience; has been asked to teach classes-lead presentations on, e.g. gems and jewelry appraising; and is seemingly well regarded since he has held office in several trade organizations, including President of ASA:
http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/40e093_5570277129f54ca5886215898ce597b8.pdf

I've not dealt with him myself, but he definitely sounds better suited for your needs than "spinning the roulette wheel" on a GIA retailer

This is great advice! Thank you. It would be a 5 hour drive, but his credentials do look promising.

I really appreciate everyone’s ideas, but I will most likely be putting this on the back burner for now. I don’t think the stone will turn out to be worth enough to make me want to sell it. I’m also rolling around the idea of having it recut, or at least polished to remove the abrasions, before sending it to GIA. And then maybe reset into something more modern. I don’t have the head space or time to move forward with such a big project at this point. For now, the ring will just have to live in the safe.

 

[canuk-gal]

The nearest independent jewelry store to me which appears on GIA's Retailer Look-Up page is a perfectly decent (and most likely, above average) brick-and-mortar store for those shopping for, e.g., a diamond engagement ring. But I am certain that no one on the staff there could provide an informed appraisal re the value of your charming, vintage sapphire ring. All that's needed to qualify for the Retailer Look-Up database is that the retailer sells GIA-graded diamonds and/or has a GIA graduate on staff:
https://www.gia.edu/retailer-lookup-registration
And none of GIA's programs includes any coursework on appraising, even of diamonds:
https://www.gia.edu/gia-faq-education-programs-courses-appraisal

So here's my suggestion, if it's feasible for you to drive to Montoursville, PA: make an appointment with Gary Smith of Smith's Jewelers
http://www.smithsjlrs.com/appraisals
and the founder of the PA Gem Lab:
http://www.pagemlab.com/
His credentials are excellent. He's one of the relatively few in the country accredited by the American Society of Appraisers as a Master Gemologist Appraiser®,
http://www.appraisers.org/Disciplines/Gems-Jewelry/master-gemologist-appraiser
in addition to being an American Gem Society Certified Gemologist Appraiser
https://www.americangemsociety.org/page/independentcertified
both of which require (a) maintaining a lab with more equipment-tools than the typical retailer invests in, and (b) periodic re-certification of the credentials.

Plus, he's got years of experience; has been asked to teach classes-lead presentations on, e.g. gems and jewelry appraising; and is seemingly well regarded since he has held office in several trade organizations, including President of ASA:
http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/40e093_5570277129f54ca5886215898ce597b8.pdf

I've not dealt with him myself, but he definitely sounds better suited for your needs than "spinning the roulette wheel" on a GIA retailer

MollyMalone--you are a GEM! I love reading your posts!! (hijack over)

cheers--Sharon

 

[MollyMalone]

* * * I really appreciate everyone’s ideas, but I will most likely be putting this on the back burner for now. I don’t think the stone will turn out to be worth enough to make me want to sell it. I’m also rolling around the idea of having it recut, or at least polished to remove the abrasions, before sending it to GIA. And then maybe reset into something more modern. I don’t have the head space or time to move forward with such a big project at this point. For now, the ring will just have to live in the safe.

Perhaps you'll consider wearing it as is for the time being, instead of keeping it locked away until you're ready to do something "more" with it -- it's a really pretty ring with an intriguing sapphire!

 

[GardenLady21]

Just for fun, here are a few photos that show the purple better. These are unedited. I love how I never know what color, or even what shade of that color I’ll see when I look down at it!

Seriously gorgeous! I am totally jealous. When each of my grandmothers died there was a family member that swooped in and grabbed the jewelry. It still makes me angry. Therefore...I am taking it upon myself (such a burden, ha!) to make sure each of my daughters get a nice piece to pass down. I absolutely ADORE this ring. The color and setting are both fabulous.