8mm round vivid blue sapphire

[Niel]

In my opinion, 8mm is huge. If you insist on staying in the 8mm size range you're going to have to make sacrifices, one of which being the stones color. A stone that is truly "vivid", 8mm and round isn't going to fit your budget. It boils down to which you desire more, quantity or quality.

I agree. I think if shed consider an oval youll get closer to your goal. You can get at least a length of 8mm and they are easier to find.

 

[movie zombie]

don't discount Montana sapphires.......they can also be pricey for the best but you might find something in a lighter color that works for you and the captain! AU sapphires can have zoning blue/green zoning which some don't like. but the better ones don't but they too will have an appropriate price tag. glad to hear there isn't a rush to get a stone. the Tucson show in February can always be your back up plan with a vendor. also, vendors may have more time and motivation to spend more time on your project come January.
and if you're not in a hurry you have time to decide what are the really important things for you and the captain. if she really wants a round she should have a round. remember that the halo is going to add width to the overall face of the ring. you might find something in 6mm and still have a look that the captain will love.

 

[Landshark77]

I'm open to switching size, color, maybe even cut for the right stone. The great thing I'm finding out about designing your own ring are the options are endless. I enjoy hunting the interwebs for info so this is right up my alley, lol.

 

[Niel]

Well that's good you're open. Its nice a bezel halo can be made to honestly any sapphire you find. So you're definitely not limited. How much are you putting away for the setting?


And what I'm hearing is you just want the largest and prettiest (blue?) Sapphire you can find, preferably round though not a deal breaker, for 2500 or under?

 

[minousbijoux]

I agree with the others that something has to give - quality or quantity. What size is her finger? 8mm is sizeable, coupled with a halo will be some significant finger coverage - will that work for her? "Vivid" is a term thrown around by many, but to find a truly vivid stone is not an easy task. I'm wondering if you could settle for strong saturation?

 

[GregS]

I agree with the others that something has to give - quality or quantity. What size is her finger? 8mm is sizeable, coupled with a halo will be some significant finger coverage - will that work for her? "Vivid" is a term thrown around by many, but to find a truly vivid stone is not an easy task. I'm wondering if you could settle for strong saturation?

I was thinking the same thing about the spread on that ring...

 

[chrono]

8 mm stone + 2 mm halo = 10 mm coverage.
This will take up a sizable finger real estate so perhaps she happens to enjoy rings with a large presence?

 

[LD]

If you go for the setting you've chosen and an 8mm stone, the whole head of the stone from one side to the other is going to be around 13-14mm. Before you start looking for an 8mm stone, cut out a circle that's 13 or 14mm from paper and put that on the finger your partner wants to wear the ring on. Is it too big? Too small? The sizing breaks down (simplistically) like this:

1mm for the outside metal
2mm for the diamonds
1mm for the inside metal
Then your stone size.

In terms of buying a blue sapphire, you've been given some great advice but not sure if this has been mentioned but one thing you MUST know is that sapphires (and most gemstones) react very differently in daylight and indoor lighting arenas. You may find a sapphire that looks drop dead gorgeous outside but the minute you go indoors it becomes a black hole. The darker you go with the stone, the more likely it is to go darker and setting in a bezel automatically darkens by a shade or two. So, my suggestion is to get a number of stones for comparison, put between your fingers to close the light out from the back and then test in all lighting conditions. There are some sapphires that only change a tiny bit but they're quite rare so be prepared to see quite a shift.

Also, if you're happy to drop the "vivid" and look for a nice bright blue stone (which is more in line with your budget) and accept treatments then you're more likely to find something. Accepting a hint of grey will also typically reduce the price. The less grey you see in a stone, typically, the more desirable the stone is but that affects the price.

 

[Landshark77]

I agree with all of the above. Just got back from a local gem vendor, and saw a wide range of stones, not the very best I've seen but 2 were nice. I think we will end up under 8mm due to the size of bezel setting and color wise probably go with a "cornflower" blue, but the round shape is set in stone...
Here is a color example similar to what we found, also opinions on this stone? Thanks

 

[minousbijoux]

Big window, decent color but not vivid. Perhaps you really are after just a strongly saturated sapphire after all?

 

[chrono]

The area circled in red is a window - this is due to a poor cut, usually done to save weight. This area will look dead and sometimes you can see your finger or the metal setting underneath because light is not reflected back to the eye but leaks through. Your halo setting could minimize the appearance somewhat but it will still be visible and less sparkly compared to the outer edge of the sapphire. This colour is closer to a medium blue with strong saturation.

 

[Niel]

I think he was just using that stone as an example to show color. I don't think that's the stone he's looking at. Still good info though.

 

[chrono]

I think he was just using that stone as an example to show color. I don't think that's the stone he's looking at. Still good info though.

Yup, just additional information which may or may not be useful to him.

 

[Landshark77]

Very useful information, by the time I end up picking out a stone i should head over to Sri Lanka and start gem hunting, jk thanks!

 

[movie zombie]

searching/hunting/buying rough is a whole 'nother set of problems and a different learning curve!

did you see this?

https://www.pricescope.com/forum/pr...d-ceylon-sapphire-from-sri-lanka-t195951.html

since I'm not selling the stone I don't think I'm breaking any forum rules by pointing this out.

 

[Landshark77]

Wow that is really beautiful! I've spoken with some people and I think we will cool our jets until after the big gem show in Jan/Feb. Hopefully there will be more inventory, and the holiday rush/craziness will have died down.

 

[movie zombie]

good decision, I think.
if you've felt comfortable with any one of the vendors you've spoken with and that vendor is going to be in Tucson, well, you can have that vendor shop for you.
or get rough and cut it for you!

yes, that is a beautiful sapphire. and I note the price tag. not unreasonable, imo. not unreasonable at all.

 

[Niel]

good decision, I think.
if you've felt comfortable with any one of the vendors you've spoken with and that vendor is going to be in Tucson, well, you can have that vendor shop for you.
or get rough and cut it for you!

yes, that is a beautiful sapphire. and I note the price tag. not unreasonable, imo. not unreasonable at all.

I see that stone listed for 6k? Am I looking st the wrong thing?

 

[sonyachancs]

ther'es a PSer letting go of a blue sapphire in 8.3mm round in the preloved stones section - it's not as deeply blue as the photos here but maybe you might consider it?

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/3-59-ct-round-ceylon-sapphire-from-sri-lanka-t195951.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/3-59-ct-round-ceylon-sapphire-from-sri-lanka-t195951.html[/URL]

ETA: I see the budget of 2.5k which might not work here, though it looks beautiful in my eyes and maybe worth asking about!

 

[movie zombie]

same stone I posted, sony......and yes $6k is the price. it is what the seller paid for it....and purchased from a legit color stone vendor......with certificate as well from AGL. heat treated only. wish I had the $.

 

[Niel]

same stone I posted, sony......and yes $6k is the price. it is what the seller paid for it....and purchased from a legit color stone vendor......with certificate as well from AGL. heat treated only. wish I had the $.

Sorry I wasn't trying g to say its not a lovely stone and a fair price. Just sense its so much higher than his budget I wasn't sure if I was missing something.

 

[movie zombie]

no, you weren't missing anything......
fine stones command fine prices and that is one fine stone.
note that it is "Ceylon" blue and of Sri Lanka origin.....with AGL certification.
and I've seen sapphires that are even finer and command even more per carat!
sigh.
as noted above, there are always trade offs.
more sighing.
and that is why doing what you are doing [getting educated and taking your time] is the right thing to do.
how can you know what trade offs you're making without doing so?!

the world of color stones is exciting but also frustrating. it really is all in the eye of the beholder and what the beholder can afford. there really is something for every budget. but sometimes I think people get in a rush, don't take their time to understand color stones, and end up paying $ for something that a year or two later they realize no longer pleases their eye. imo, it is better to take one's time, get educated, and maybe even save more $ for the project while doing so. coming to pricescope soon dispels the notion that color stones are "cheap" and can be had easily!

at the end of the day what really matters is that the sapphire you purchase pleases "the captain" and also yourself.

 

[chrono]

As noted above, there are always trade offs and that is why doing what you are doing [getting educated and taking your time] is the right thing to do. How can you know what trade offs you're making without doing so?!

the world of color stones is exciting but also frustrating. it really is all in the eye of the beholder and what the beholder can afford. there really is something for every budget. but sometimes I think people get in a rush, don't take their time to understand color stones, and end up paying $ for something that a year or two later they realize no longer pleases their eye. imo, it is better to take one's time, get educated, and maybe even save more $ for the project while doing so. coming to pricescope soon dispels the notion that color stones are "cheap" and can be had easily!

at the end of the day what really matters is that the sapphire you purchase pleases "the captain" and also yourself.

+1 to MZ. If you are interested in having a vendor or lapidary shop for you at Tucson, you need to make your request now to be added to the list.

 

[Landshark77]

Your replies have been great, how would I go about getting added to a vendors list for the show? A month ago I felt CS were any easy find...boy was I wrong, haha. Thats ok because I really enjoy learning a new subject. On another note, any opinions on this stone

 

[chrono]

I suggested that one earlier on Page 1. It is best to order and view it in person. Gemfix's photography can be hit or miss; accurate or slightly darker and less saturated than pictured. Also note that this sapphire is borderline eye clean. Depending on your eye sensitivity, you might see the inclusions or you might not.

 

[minousbijoux]

I would agree that that one appears to have potential and that if you are seriously interested, you should order it and check it out for yourself in various lighting situations.

 

[movie zombie]

I think it will be darker than the picture in pretty much all lighting. but you won't know until you see it.

understand that most people just do not put the amount of time and effort into color stones that we do........ my experience when I go into a jewelry store is that I know more about color stones than the staff. and walking into a Macy's or similar store and seeing what they charge for color stones [and what people will buy] makes me cringe. sometimes I wish I had remained uneducated!

 

[carmen1]

I think that the Gemfix stone is going to be the closest you are going to get to what you want within your budget. It isn't perfect, it may not be eye clean, but it is 2+ct round royal blue sapphire for under $2,500 - and that is not easy to find. As others have mentioned, the going price for an 8mm vivid blue round sapphire is going to be in the $4,000 - $8,000 range, so it is unrealistic to expect to get everything you want for $1,500-$2,500. I also wouldn't hold your breath for something to change after the holiday season. If you like the Gemfix stone you should give Andrew a at GemFix and he can answer any questions you have (above color or inclusions) with the stone in hand. If you decide to buy it and aren't happy with it you can always return it and start saving for your ideal stone. Good luck.

 

[indigoblue]

Oh darn, sorry about no link. http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_blue.html on the right, 40th row down. Mainly as an example of what you can find in that size & what it costs. I like the violet modifier, others may not, and for me, it's still a little dark -- I'd want to see it to tell how it would perform once set.


No, Chrono, there are some very nice sapphires on that site & prices seem not bad. Some of the other stones, though, I thought were too much. A tourm I'd bet goes extinct, yes, 7 cts., for $3k, for instance. That's a good price for a nice 7 ct one, but seems too high for the quality. Etc.

--- Laurie

That was the first sapphire I ever ordered. The cut was great, but I didn't care for the stone. That doesn't mean you won't like it, however. Here's the thread:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-sapphire-has-arrived.184717/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-sapphire-has-arrived.184717/[/URL]

 

[minousbijoux]

I *think* the OP has moved on and is considering a different GF stone now...