2.65ct. Deep Blue Sapphire

[Mchllmarsh]

Ok so I have a question...

Has anyone here ever sent anything to GIA or EGL?

I just bought this Oval Sapphire and I want to get it graded. It would be a present for my mom for mothers day and her birthday. She really likes the darker version of the sapphire, so I bought a 2.65ct 10.3x 8.3x 3.5 VS1 Deep Blue Sapphire.

My idea is that I want to have the stone graded, for a few reasons:

1 I bought it off ebay and I want to make sure its real
2 I want to have it appraised
3 I want to make sure its good quality. (Even though I know the color is too dark for most people)

So does anyone know if I can take the stone down there, to either GIA in Carlsbad, or EGL in LA? And does anyone know how much I should expect to spend on the grading?

 

[Missrocks]

Given I can see some inclusions from the picture, it should be fairly easy for an appraiser to tell if the stone is natural vs. synethic. The benefit of using an appraiser in this situation may be they can also give you a value and an explain a little more about how "quality" of your sapphire compares to others. A GIA report will not give you a value. They will simply assign it color/ tone/ and saturation, maybe call clarity and state that it is natural and if it is heat treated. GIA also won't give it a specific "quality" grade. (like for example how diamonds are rated on cut Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, ect.) You must interpret the color/tone/saturation/clarity as a "quality" grade.
I'm not quite sure of cost for a GIA report, but I would ballpark between 150 and 350. You can get the lab address off of the website and ship it to them. Time frame may be a couple of weeks for turn-around. But then in turn you would have to bring it to an appraiser for $ value and to get more of an idea of how your sapphire "rates" in quality compared with others. Most appraisers will charge 100 to 200 and be able to give you all of the above info.
Hope this helps.

 

[neatfreak]

I'd personally send it to an independent appraiser instead of a lab. Richard Sherwood would be my choice, he's great and is very very good with gems. I think it'd be cheaper too.

 

[LembeckGems]

GIA and EGL or AGTA will not grade colored gems. AGL will grade. Myself, I do not prefer appraisals over lab papers. They serve two different purposes, to me. Being a dealer I am skeptical of independent appraisers. But that's just me.


http://www.preciousgemstones.com/AGLCERT.HTML

http://www.aglgemlab.com/fasttrack.htmlhttp://www.aglgemlab.com/

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/2/2008 9:57:34 PM
Author: LembeckGems
GIA and EGL or AGTA will not grade colored gems. AGL will grade. Myself, I do not prefer appraisals over lab papers. They serve two different purposes, to me. Being a dealer I am skeptical of independent appraisers. But that's just me.


http://www.preciousgemstones.com/AGLCERT.HTML

http://www.aglgemlab.com/fasttrack.htmlhttp://www.aglgemlab.com/

Could you elaborate on definition of grade? The post was a bit confusing to me. I am not familiar with AGL. I did check out their website and sample report through the link you posted, but saw nothing different that what would appear GIA or AGTA colored lab report.

 

[Mchllmarsh]

Thank you all so much! I always know I can get some good info from you guys...

Missrock: Thank you for the prices, I couldnt find them anywhere!

Neatfreak: How can I get a hold of Richard?

Lembeckgems: I read on their website, both GIA and EGL that they grade colored gem stones. Are there special cases were they will or wont or did I just read wrong?

Thank you sandiegolady! I love the color... Did you ever have any problems with ebay gems, just out of curiosity...?

I know its always the thought that counts with moms, but since I payed so little for the stone it makes me worry that its only worth that much. I just want to make sure that I''m not giving my mother a cheap piece of jewelry...

Also wouldn''t it be wise to get it graded by a reputable comapany just for the future?

 

[LembeckGems]

hi, agl will offer to grade the color (hue), tone, and clarity of colored gems. I don''t know about saturation grading.

currently gia, egl do this kind of grading on diamonds only, to my knowledge.

scl

 

[LembeckGems]

I have no experience with that. It''s news to me. Anytime I''ve asked about a colored stone they said no. AGTA too. I''ll call my gal at GIA and ask and get back on that. Interesting.

 

[neatfreak]

http://www.sarasotagemlab.com/

Here you go! But remember, you get what you pay for usually. So depending on what you deem as paying "so little" you might want to just enjoy the stone and not spend the $100 to have it appraised...

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/2/2008 11:54:02 PM
Author: LembeckGems
hi, agl will offer to grade the color (hue), tone, and clarity of colored gems. I don''t know about saturation grading.

currently gia, egl do this kind of grading on diamonds only, to my knowledge.

scl

I can''t speak for EGL, but GIA does color.

 

[Missrocks]

Here''s a link for GIA- even gives an updated turn-around time schedule for CA and NY labs

http://www.gia.edu/gemtradelab/35565/turnaround_time.cfm


Heres a link for AGTA too.

http://www.agta.org/gtc/services.html



In case you decide to go either of those routes.

 

[Mchllmarsh]

Thank you all for the info.

Neatfreak: I might just do that, it all depends on how I feel when I get. I''m going to go with that saying,"If it ain''t broke, don''t fix it."

Missrocks, I appreciate all of you help and research!

I will let everyone know what I decide to do after I receive the stone. Its on its way to me as we speak! I hope its as pretty as I think its going to be...

 

[LembeckGems]

Ok, GIA and EGL will not grade colored gemstones. The only exception is colored diamonds.

Also, they do not have a grading system for hue, saturation or tone that they use apart from their certs for colored gems .

Their number.

800-421-7250

prompt for the lab

gembeck