Buying untreated sapphires - web site roundup

[bar01]

Hey folks,

Great site here ! Lots of good information.

Been doing some research on buying a good untreated sapphire for my finace's engagement ring. I am not looking for the "top of the line" Burma or Kashmiar. Ceylon/Sri Lanka is fine with me. I am looking in the 1.5-2.5 ct range.


I thought I would share some of the web site stores and pricing I am finding:


www.simplysapphires.com $1000/ct

www.cherrypicked.com $2000-3000/ct (also has really high $$$/ct)

www.sapphires.ca $1000-1500/ct. (no AGAT certs)

www.walterarnstein.com $1200-3000/ct


If anyone has any opinions on these web site stores,or on pricing in general, I would like to hear from you.


Thanks !

 

[Diamondsbybree]

One of my favorites...http://www.ajsgems.com/

 

[valeria101]

Hm... kashmir does not exist anymore as an active source : whateve stones circulate with this pedigree are priced more for origin than anything. Aside this, I would not think origin is so important as price factor. It would not be more important than color, clarity and make... Since it seems that you do not value a gem's origin per se, I would not even mention it - a sapphire is a sapphire regardless of address.

I would not venture to compare fine shades of quality online: there are obviously sapphires worth all those prices out there

as well as less, and more.

Of all criteria you mention, teh shape is probably what makes looking up a piece online the least productive: there are just not too many precission cut round sapphires of just about 6mm around it seems! Different storry than for diamonds... and you will be paying a premium for the round shape just as well.


Otherwise, how does THIS sound ? Or
THIS ?

 

[valeria101]

?

 

[Cave Keeper]

----------------
On 7/14/2004 4:40:07 PM bar01 wrote:
Hey folks,
:
I am not looking for the 'top of the line' Burma or Kashmiar. Ceylon/Sri Lanka is fine with me. I am looking in the 1.5-2.5 ct range.
:
----------------

I believe the current high standard for most folks is Ceylonese Cornflower Blue (as Kashmir is too rare), not Burmese, which is the standard for Rubies.

Apparently Cornflower Blue is much easier to find in the market now if Africa is OK with the buyer. I don't know why there seems to be a price discrimination against African gems, especially rubies, as they do look so nice (at least they do on screen).

 

[mogok]

----------------
On 7/14/2004 7:18:42 PM Cave Keeper wrote:

----------------
On 7/14/2004 4:40:07 PM bar01 wrote:
Hey folks,
:
I am not looking for the 'top of the line' Burma or Kashmiar. Ceylon/Sri Lanka is fine with me. I am looking in the 1.5-2.5 ct range.
:
----------------

Hum... Burmese sapphires are top of the line along with Kashmir gems! For several reasons they are less known to the public than Kashmir stones but in auction houses like Christies or Sothebies they keep their rank very well. Typical top of the line Burmese sapphire are "royal blue": Deep blue with a drop or violet. Their color is very even compared to Sri Lanka... Burmese sapphires are also well know to be for some reason not very receptive to heat treatment. But top class Burmese sapphires are very rare gems.

----------------

I don't know why there seems to be a price discrimination against African gems, especially rubies, as they do look so nice (at least they do on screen).----------------[/quote]


Well the price difference between an african gem and for exemple a Burmese one of similar quality is that if you take a book about gemstones, you will find things like: "The best rubies are known to come from Mogok in Burma" If your stone has a lab origin report with Burma on it it will be much more easy to sell than if there is Madagascar...
Now for me a nice gem is a nice gem and difference should be made following quality and not origin. Anyway the fact is that on the overall african rubies are globally of lower quality than Burmese gems. Most of them are brownish or very included. But there are also many "fish tank quality" rubies in Burma.

All the best,

 

[ariel144]

Well,
This will be too late for some, but I've found the absolute best site for unheated/
untreated sapphires.

www.sapphires.ca

Registered gemologist mines and cuts them himself. The cuts are very fine and the prices are good too.

Also take a look at:

www.twin-diamonds.com

They have an awesome selection of sapphires and
some of them are untreated.

Hope this helps those looking for truly rare sapphires.

Blessings

Ariel144

 

[lucious librarian]

Hey there. We got our beautiful stone from:

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/

My guy said they were knowledgeable and helpful. A good online buying experience.

 

[bar01]

Oh come on now !

How does an early newbie post from me (My second post in July 04) when I just was starting to learn about sapphires end up being resurrected?

Boy what I didn't know then ! And I am still learning....