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Are sapphire cabochons not that expensive? Should I trust that it's real?

S

Shijitake

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 1, 2018
Messages
498
I found a sapphire cabochon that's just under 3 carats for about $200. It's claimed to be unheated and from burma. It has some cracks and is a good color. Is that expensive/about right/cheap? Too good to be true? It's from India (should I be aware?).

Thanks in advance.

PS if my description is too vague, a general answer would still be helpful.
 
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We have no way of knowing based on the information that you have given if you should trust any random vendor.

As a rule though you should always be cautious when ordering anything that isn't certified and from a vendor you do not know well and trust.

As they say Caveat emptor, quia ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit.

("Let a purchaser beware, for he ought not to be ignorant of the nature of the property which he is buying from another party.")
 
tkyasx78 said:
We have no way of knowing based on the information that you have given if you should trust any random vendor.

As a rule though you should always be cautious when ordering anything that isn't certified and from a vendor you do not know well and trust.

As they say Caveat emptor, quia ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit.

("Let a purchaser beware, for he ought not to be ignorant of the nature of the property which he is buying from another party.")
Click to expand...

I'm trying to avoid lurkers :/ He has perfect rating on his account, but less than 50 reviews.
 
Check if his reviews are for buying or selling and proceed cautiously. If it’s ebay though you should be able to return if it doesn’t pan out.
 
If it has cracks then I think that will be enough to explain the price. Be sure to take it to your jewler during the return period to check whether it is structurally sound enough to mount (be sure to state whether you want it bezeled or standard prong setting) and maybe even comision the piece right away.

As some jewlers will not work with an already cracked stone for fear the cracks will grow during the setting process. It would suck to get stuck with a stone no one will set. Be mindful that if the stone shatters or cracks during setting then standard practice is that you will take responsability. It will not be the jewlers fault, and they will not be obligated to help you -- this is actually true in general. If you source the stone then you take full responsibiliy for any problems that arise during setting. Most jewlers only have insurance that covers damage to stones which they have sourced themselves. So if you buy the stone online independently and bring it to a jewler to be set, then it is your problem if it gets damaged durring the setting process. But this will be doubly true if the stone has cracks already. No one will have sympathy if you gambled on a discounted cracked stone, and later found that it was not solid enough to set.

If you dont like this idea then I would recomend you pass on the stone.
 
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'claimed to be unheated and from Burma' means nothing, or as much as a used car seller saying 'the motor runs fine'.
 
scarsmum- yup, I always check when it comes to ebay. If anything, ebay is where I'd be more wary.

qubitasaurus- thank you! very helpful.

Anne1111- yeah, doesn't help. I guess I made him sound more dubious when I said he claims it, it's just on the info.

Does this look like a good quality cab sapphire? (It's not the same one btw)
upload_2018-9-13_9-14-47.png
 
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I'm curious what your goals are with the purchase. Is budget your largest issue? Do you want a nice looking blue cab? Does it have to be a sapphire? Or are you stuck on this particular sapphire cab and that's all you want feedback on? :)
 
SparkliesLuver said:
I'm curious what your goals are with the purchase. Is budget your largest issue? Do you want a nice looking blue cab? Does it have to be a sapphire? Or are you stuck on this particular sapphire cab and that's all you want feedback on? :)
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I want a blue sapphire cab. That's it. I don't really have a budget but I guess 200 is it. I want a nice one worth my money. And to not get ripped off. Maybe I will set it someday but I really just want one.
(Sapphires are my birthstone and I like cabs. You can never have enough shiny stones right?)
 
Good to know - thank you!

For the seller you've linked to: what's their return policy? What happens if you don't like it when you get it? What are the dimensions of the cab? The thing that worries me the most is that you're relying on their word for several important things. "Normal sapphire imperfections" could mean a whole slew of things. I'd want to know if any of said imperfections are surface reaching.

Are you in the U.S.? If yes, I'd email Dana about this cab if it interests you at all:
https://mastercutgems.com/Products-...pphire_Cabochon_2_56_carat-Gem.php?FromPage=1

38679.jpg
 
SparkliesLuver said:
Good to know - thank you!

For the seller you've linked to: what's their return policy? What happens if you don't like it when you get it? What are the dimensions of the cab? The thing that worries me the most is that you're relying on their word for several important things. "Normal sapphire imperfections" could mean a whole slew of things. I'd want to know if any of said imperfections are surface reaching.

Are you in the U.S.? If yes, I'd email Dana about this cab if it interests you at all:
https://mastercutgems.com/Products-...pphire_Cabochon_2_56_carat-Gem.php?FromPage=1

38679.jpg
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That's exactly what I'm afraid of. I am in the US- he is in India. 30 day returns, but I read a review saying they would not let him return, only exchange. I actually think I can talk him down to a bit over $100.

"Normal sapphire imperfections" are actually my own words :) I wasn't sure how to describe it. There really isn't a description other than the specs, so anything I say about it is my own words. The dimensions are approximately 10x8x4 mm.

Btw that is a cute cabochon! Problem is I can never get myself to buy a heated stone :/ I have a preference to unheated and even though I have no problems with heated stones I just can't get myself to buy them when I see them in the description, no matter how pretty :/
 
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Shijitake, I would advise you to be more patient and save up some more money for a more worthy cabochon sapphire. The stone you linked looks rather opaque to me, and I think if you keep watching for stones and steadily increase your budget, you can find much better deals. If you buy something under $200, unless you buy from a very trusted vendor such as Yvonne Raley, it may very well not turn out the same color or quality in person, and you would not be able to sell a poorer quality colored stone, so it just becomes scrap when you decide you want a better sapphire cabochon.

If you're truly seeking a fine stone, then I'm afraid $200 is not a realistic budget unless you take huge risks, or would be satisfied with a half carat size. If you're completely OK buying commercial quality (opaque stones read as commercial to me whether heated or unheated), then just go ahead and buy it, you don't really need to ask for our advice.
 
Most the gems from eBay that are from India,Thailand or other Asian countries are not what they appear to be.
And to get a proper AGL Prestige origin report will cost you $220 which is more than the gem itself!
 
Shijitake said:
Btw that is a cute cabochon! Problem is I can never get myself to buy a heated stone :/ I have a preference to unheated and even though I have no problems with heated stones I just can't get myself to buy them when I see them in the description, no matter how pretty :/
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I have been exactly where you are in regards to unheated/heat stones. After my first few big stone purchases I realized that absolutely no one cared, not a single one. It was a great conversation starter "What do you mean, heated? Like in a oven?" and allowed me to keep the conversation centered on me and my gem. :oops: I'm vain, I know. Gradually, I stopped caring as well. What I like now are pretty stones with lots of sparkle or beautiful saturated cabochons. I always picture some guy sitting on the ground next to an open fire, cooking my stones just like they have been doing for a thousand years. It brightens the color, dissolves the inclusions and there's no harm in it. Plus, they are less expensive...
I'm not trying to change your mind or anything, I just wanted to share my thoughts.
 
I hear ya @suzanne2

My obsession was with high clarity diamonds. Now I won't go below a VS for a main stone but I kinda regret my overkill in terms of clarity on my main stone diamond purchase.

I accidentally bought an unheated sapphire and I was happy in the sense of "Ooh cool, this wouldn't be in my budget at heated prices! SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!" but I didn't particularly derive an special thrill from it being unheated if that makes sense. The joy was derived from the colour and look of the actual stone itself.
 
I decided not to get the stone. There's to many risks. And I realized, why am I in a hurry for one anyway? Save my money for a good one. I don't mind getting commercial ones. In fact the more stones I have the better, even at commercial quality.

As for heated stones, I always think "oh, so pretty!" but I figure I could just spend a little more and I'll have an unheated one. One that came out of the earth already pretty. I like natural for everything (beauty products and cleansers, etc). I buy stones for my eyes, not for others. But I'm not against heated and they do tend to be verrry pretty, so after I get some of the best natural stones I can find maybe I'll get some heated ones for all the extras I always wanted :D
 
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