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Advice for a yellow Sapphire Seeker? (e-ring).

C

corundum_conundrum

Shiny_Rock
Premium
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Messages
463
Hi Y'all.

I just discovered PS a week ago and have tried to imbibe as much info as I can from everyone!

I'm a Gent looking to put together a yellow sapphire engagement ring before next May to surprise my lovely and deserving s.o.. My budget is rather moderate. I'd like the keep the total (stone and setting) under 2,000 dollars, and closer to 1,000 would be preferable. Foremost I'm looking for a canary yellow or golden stone (I'd take a pastel or lemon yellow if it had very little greenish) in the 0.9-2 carat range, untreated and unheated is a must, and a round or some kind cut where roughly length=width. Ideally the face would be around 6mm in diameter.

I've scoured the new recommended vendor list, and have found the most options and things that I like at the following sites although nothing perfect yet: wildfishgems, The natural sapphire company, topgem, and gemfix. Many of the lapidaries recommended have great stuff, but are limited in terms of available stones.

I have two main questions:

1. Is my budget sufficient for what I am looking for? It seems like more than enough at a few of the sites mentioned, and it would be stretched at a few other sites.

2. Should I contact some lapidarists to try to order something to my specifications? Do I have enough money and am I obligated to buy if I do this? Will this be more costly than finding something already cut and ready to be purchased on some site?

Any advice or recommendations from those who have purchased untreated yellow sapphires would be much appreciated. I've gathered general advice from the pinned guide and elsewhere, so I'm looking for some shared experiences or more specific advice or warnings. Also, any B&M places in Chicago couldn't hurt. I might also visit the NYC diamond district over the holidays when I make my yearly pilgrimage back home.

Thanks,
:)
Conundrum
 
corundum_conundrum said:
1. Is my budget sufficient for what I am looking for? It seems like more than enough at a few of the sites mentioned, and it would be stretched at a few other sites.
Click to expand...

I think so. IMO the pricing of the vendors you mentioned is on the high side, so if you can find stuff within your budget there you are most likely good to go. If you are considering options from Gemfix please be aware that the color as depicted in the photos can be very different from actual color. In my experience there isn't any consistency, some photos are spot on and some are completely off. But I find Andrew to be very accurate in his descriptions if you ask pointed questions.

corundum_conundrum said:
2. Should I contact some lapidarists to try to order something to my specifications? Do I have enough money and am I obligated to buy if I do this? Will this be more costly than finding something already cut and ready to be purchased on some site?
Click to expand...

Definitely! It doesn't hurt to ask, although they may not have suitable material to cut. I think you'll find some of them to be surprisingly competitive in terms of pricing.
 
Thanks thbmok! I will go forward as planned with my yellow sapphire hunt.

In terms of lapidarists, do you think I should inquire as to who might have rough on hand that could cut me something, rather than asking someone to go on a hunt? If so, any recommendations of who might have such rough? Roger Dery and Gary Braun seem to have worked in yellow sapphires, and Jeff White is mentioned in basically every post in this forum. Any other recommendations?

Thanks,

Conundrum
 
Richard Homer's prices are just way too high for cooked rock that you can't even smoke, yo.
 
Your quest is certainly possible depending on the size of the stone, who you are getting it from and how simple or diamond studded the setting will be. With the price of gold being high and gemstone pricing on the up, you are more likely to get something in the 1 carat range with setting for $2k.

Wildfish and NSC are your more expensive options. I've noticed some disappointment with stone expectation for Gemfix recently where the picture looks better than the stone. Not sure what Simply Sapphires have to offer at the moment.

Most lapidaries do not list their full inventory with some buying specific rough when requested. It is not necessarily more expensive because it will be the colour, shape and size you are looking for in addition to it being precision cut for maximum light and colour performance. Some require a non refundable deposit but most don't so you are not obligated to purchase the stone. Tucson is a huge yearly show in February and is where most go shopping for rough to supplement their other globe trotting gem buying trips.
 
VapidLapid|1346554924|3261131 said:
Richard Homer's prices are just way too high for cooked rock that you can't even smoke, yo.
Click to expand...
I disagree. You are spending your dollars on a yellow sapphire of a top color and with perfect cutting. You save your time and eliminate any doubt about whether this rock is worthy of this woman's engagement ring.

If budget is the main concern, I expect that it will take some time to find a comparable stone (i.e. with top color and cut) for less. More fun for us here on PS. :naughty:
 
Fly Girl|1346599166|3261266 said:
VapidLapid|1346554924|3261131 said:
Richard Homer's prices are just way too high for cooked rock that you can't even smoke, yo.
Click to expand...
I disagree. You are spending your dollars on a yellow sapphire of a top color and with perfect cutting. You save your time and eliminate any doubt about whether this rock is worthy of this woman's engagement ring.

If budget is the main concern, I expect that it will take some time to find a comparable stone (i.e. with top color and cut) for less. More fun for us here on PS. :naughty:
Click to expand...

Ditto. Trust me, I searched, and searched, and searched until I found my blue round (of a specific size) from RH, and the two closest contenders from other sources were very close in price. I would have LOVED to have found one at half the price, but one of the color and cut and clarity of the one I bought did not exist at that kind of price.
 
@ Diamondseeker:

That is a beautiful stone. That color is definitely within the ranges that I am looking for. If I could find one unheated that looked similar for the same price or a little less, I'd be all over it. My limited price comparison seems to indicate that this is certainly a premium price for a heated yellow sapphire, although one would be paying for quality. The price seems well above even NSC, and they are often accused of inflating costs (although its cut is certainly a cut above those found on NSC).

@ Vapid

Crack is indubitably wack.

@ Fly Girl

I've got about 6 months until I must pull the trigger on a stone, so I hope I can find a sapphire in the rough over that period!

@ Chrono:

1. Something in the 1 carat range should be fine. I'd like it to be at least about equivalent in volume to a 1 carat diamond, so maybe slightly above 1 carat in sapphire, but I don't really care if I'm closer to 2 carats or 1. My s.o. is rather dainty-handed, so I am of the opinion that any face greater than 7 mm diameter would run the risk of looking costumey on her as an e-ring.

2. In terms of the Tuscon show: Are you suggesting that it would be to my benefit to give my specs to a lapidarists before the show in February so they might search there, or that the market will be more saturated after February giving me better prices and more options, or both or neither? Thanks for the head's up about the show.
 
Yes, the cut and color are superior to most at NSC. That is what I have mostly found with yellow sapphires...the color of most available ones is usually not that pretty with no heat, and native cut stones are rarely well cut enough for me. Since low heat is generally accepted and even customary, I will choose it if it allows me to have the better overall stone. It is hard to find everything one wants, at least in my limited experience!

I am looking for another stone of a specific size now and I empathize with you!

Good luck!
 
OP, please get in touch with the lapidaries with your requirements ASAP. It can take a long time for them to find suitable material to cut. Even after they have obtained the material it may take a while before you receive the completed stone. A few of the more popular lapidaries are very busy and have wait lists of around 2 months.

ETA: 6 months is really not a lot of time, especially if you are considering a custom cut and perhaps a custom setting. For reference the aquamarine pendant I had made last year took around 5 months from initial contact with Jeff White to when I actually have the completed pendant in my hand. And this was with rough material that Jeff already had.
 
@ Lula:

I've had that stone bookmarked! It might be my favorite color and saturation that I've seen and its around the right price. Alas, I think emerald cut is a bit too far off the round or squarish cut I need... Someone will be lucky to have it.
 
So one of the sites I have been crushing on says this:

http://www.topgem.co.uk/acatalog/info.html

"At present we only ship goods within the United Kingdom."

Has any American ordered through topgem? I know Pandora recommends them. Can their gems be ordered in the US? Do Americans pay VAT (value added tax)? 20% is a big discount.
 
**edited by moderator. please read our policies regarding preloved**

Anyway, as I said, just throwing it out there, because it meets your size/cut specifications, is untreated, a durable stone for a ring, and would leave quite a bit of $ left for a nice setting, and even end up on the lower end of your budget, all in. Happy to keep it if you'd rather stick to a sapphire, though. :bigsmile:
 
NKOTB|1347318708|3265592 said:
**edited by moderator. please read our policies regarding preloved**

Anyway, as I said, just throwing it out there, because it meets your size/cut specifications, is untreated, a durable stone for a ring, and would leave quite a bit of $ left for a nice setting, and even end up on the lower end of your budget, all in. Happy to keep it if you'd rather stick to a sapphire, though. :bigsmile:
Click to expand...

I think chrysoberyl is a great option for people on a tight budget that want a yellow sapphire. It's very durable, takes on a great polish and luster, and in many cases, the color is just as nice if not nicer than many yellow sapphires. You can always obtain one and have someone recut it too if you can't find a decent one through a lapidary. They're also not treated.
 
http://www.planetarygems.com/yellowsapphirepage.htm

Having not bought from them I cant' recommend them, nor can I speak against them. There have been many discussions about them on this forum and no consensus. Many of us wonder if their claims can be true at their prices. Some have bought from them and been happy, others couldn't get an email inquiry answered. Do a search for them in here and read all about it for yourself. At least it is another option. If you do contact them remember to ask all the questions you want and make sure you include return period & terms.

I too was wondering if you would consider a chrysoberyl. There are three of nice color at Gemcal that are big enough to send to jerry newman for a recut and still be under budget.
 
The Gemrite sapphire actually reminds me of a chrysoberyl. I think chrysoberyls are under-rated because they are untreated, relatively inexpensive, comes in sweet colours ranging from yellow to greenish and all shades in between. Really good ones have knock your socks off neon-y saturation.
 
P.S...

The chrysoberyl I listed are from Jeff Davies. I bought a chrysoberyl myself from him this summer which is one of my top stones. I and several other Psers have been impressed by some of his stock. He lives in Thailand and buys gems there, I think weekly, and has access to a cutter that is quite good. You may want to ping him as well and see if he can get a hold of a yellow sapphire that fits your requirements.
 
Sorry, didn't mean to derail your thread if you're not interested in a chrysoberyl. Also didn't mean to break policies, thought that maybe because mine isn't actually for sale, or listed anywhere, that the Preloved policies might not apply. :oops:

Anyway, it might be too late, since his stones tend to go fast, and it is heated, but Brad at TGT listed a new yellow sapphire today: http://thegemtrader.com/Sep12YSapphirePage.htm
 
I thought that yellow sapphire is well priced too, even though it is heated. Precision cut to boot as well.
 
I appreciate all the help and suggestions! I've put an inquiry out to a lapidary.

@ NKOTB: I hadn't seen that one on tgt. Its just about the least expensive I've seen and a nice color. I'm not ready to give up on unheated just yet since I've got 6 months before I need to compromise and buy something. Maybe around january or february I'll evaluate whether my ideal is realistic at the price I want to pay (perhaps at an absolute max of 1500 for a stone, but hopefully less). But if I do decide to go that route, a stone like this (at such a bargain) would be great!

@ erin. I'll have to get in touch with Jeff...

@ Vapidlapid. Thanks for the suggestions. The gemrite is a perfect size, shape, and very inexpensive. My only problem with it is the color. While it is the kind of yellow I am looking for in incandescent light, it takes a bit too hard of a turn for the green outside. I consider the natural golden sapphire you posted pictures of a few years ago to be one of the finest specimens of yellows I've seen (in addition to the emerald cut linked above), so if you see something similar, please let me know! https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gold-yellow-sapphire.163006/#post-2967236#p2967236
I'm a bit hesitant about planetary gems, but their prices can't be beat if their sapphires are as advertised. Overall, I think I'm disinclined to take a risk on an e-ring stone... but maybe in a few months I'll make some inquiries if nothing else presents itself.

@ TL
In your experience, does recutting change the color? Its something I consider every time I see a lovely color in a non-precision deep oval over 2 carats that is within my price range that I could part with 33% of, but my understanding was that this was a risky venture if you want to keep the same color.

@ All

As regards chrysoberyl, I think it would be a great choice aesthetically, but not suitable for the engagement ring I am trying to put together. Unfortunately, I am not limited to aesthetic criteria.

First, I think my S.O. would be sufficiently happy with a diamond or something very traditional, and potentially even happier with something a touch bolder, but the farther I stray from the traditional the more there is a risk of diminishing returns of satisfaction. Second, I think engagement rings are something that are shared with friends and much discussed. When friends ask what the stone is, I think she will be happy to say that it is a yellow sapphire and her September birthstone. This creates a nice simple story. Sapphires and birthstones need little additional justification. I think she will be in a slightly more awkward position explaining what chrysoberyl is. For someone really intent on something totally different or who has friends that are very knowledgeable about precious stones this would be okay, but my S.O. is not such a person. I want her to be totally confident in discussing her stone. I would hate for her to feel as though she has to justify it. So while Chrysoberyl is a great suggestion, I don't think its for me.
 
You may have already seen this GemFix sapphire and crossed it off your list of potentials due to size (7.4mm) or paleness of color... but just in case, here's the pic and Andrew's description quoted below:

http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_yellow_orange.html (2nd row down, 1st on the left) -

gemfix_-_sapphire_yellow_525.jpg
Yellow Sapphire Round Brilliant Cut
Weight: 1.69 cts
Measurements: 7.4mm diam., 4.4mm depth
Clarity: VVS
Origin: Sri Lanka
Enhancements: None
Price: $ 590.00
Order/Stock No.: sapphire_yellow_525
Description: Lightest yellow, like a light yellow diamond, also diamond cut. Bright and brilliant to the max!
 
I like that one Mary, thanks!

Its not my ideal color, a bit pale with a bit of celery, but its closer than about 90 percent of the natural yellows I see. I'd love to take a look at it in the sunlight. Also if I see something absolutely amazing that had a 7.4 mm diameter, I wouldn't rule it out. 7 mm is a soft ceiling. I actually think I like the size at 7mm or just below, but I think I might be running a risk getting anything higher.

Wait, stop the presses! Have I found my perfect yellow?! Can you believe the natural yellow goodness of this stone for only 1400 dollars!



yellow_sap.jpg

Lovely No Heat Vibrant Yellow Colored Yellow Sapphire Gemstone - Low Price, Asscher Cut, 1.39 carats
Item #: ASSCHER-YELLOW-SAPPHIRE-186432
Our Low Price: $1,427.00
 
really? I dont see the yellow
 
:lol: Me neither. I think one would have to love the emperor's new clothes to appreciate the yellow in this one.
 
why not just get a colorless quartz and have a pair of heliodor glasses made for her?
 
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