ceylon sapphire 8,78ct

[oneway]

Inherited with no appraisal, just note from ancestor and would like comments/suggestions?
1- 8.78 ceylon sapphire ring
2-circa 1900-1910
3-Only slight inclusion: dark neele like in appearance running vertical close to outside middle of stone
4-Original, not heat treated
questions?
Thoughts on how to and who can verify this info and how?
Approx. worth if info is correct?

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 2/3/2008 3:11:54 AM
Author:oneway
Inherited with no appraisal, just note from ancestor and would like comments/suggestions?
1- 8.78 ceylon sapphire ring
2-circa 1900-1910
3-Only slight inclusion: dark neele like in appearance running vertical close to outside middle of stone
4-Original, not heat treated
questions?
Thoughts on how to and who can verify this info and how?
Approx. worth if info is correct?

You need to take it to an independent appraiser with an interest in coloured stones.

They will be able to give you a valuation - there are too many variables that impact on value. Exact shade of colour, how good the cut is, what inclusions there are, whether or not it is really untreated.

Pictures???

 

[Selkie]

If you are in the US, click on the resources link in the menu at the top of the page and select your state to find an appraiser. Another option is to send it to someone like Richard Sherwood who has expertise in colored stone appraisal.

 

[oneway]

Not internet savy enough to post pic.

Color is stunning, deep blue, yet can see thru, not black, dark or murky.

Question? Can appraisor tell if original/heat treated? If so how? Same with pinpointing age?

Approx. price per ct. if 1900-1910, Ceylon? Original or heat treate? e

p.s. Thanks for reply. Have never owned sapphire and would like as much info as possible, as live in small southern town, and no appraisors nearby. Will have to travel 120 mi. or so. e

 

[oneway]

Also, new to sight.

Are there any pics of sapphires, I could perhaps look at onsight to give you a comparison? If so where? Thanks,ewt

 

[pamplemousse]

A good appraiser will be able to tell if the stone has been heat treated. We took ours to David Atlas and he explained all of the little signs that would indicate treatment. I don''t know about age, but it''s pretty amazing what a trained eye can discern. If you can, I would just take it to an appraiser or have it sent to an appraiser. It will cost you some money, but it''s worth it to know what you have. Since you''re looking at almost 9 carats, the couple hundred dollars that it will cost you to have the ring and stone appraised (and shipped to the appraiser, if necessary) are a drop in the bucket.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree. I''d probably just send it to Richard. Be sure to send it by registered mail and just insure for the maximum $25,000, just in case. You don''t want just any appraiser evaluating a stone like that.

 

[oneway]

Would you mind sharing some of the "tips" he shared with you re: heat treatment.

When you refer to "drop in bucket" do you have a price range the ring could be worth?

Thanks for any info. Am trying to obtain as much knowledge as possible. ewt

 

[oneway]

Who is Richard? Any thoughts on approx. cost on appraising?

Also, has 6 nice diamonds, 3 per side. e

 

[oneway]

RE: Request for a pic. if it could help with providing me info. On the posting of "Eye Candy" where others have been quite generous is sharing their beautiful stones, page 11, third from bottom is a stone color wise like mine.

My stone is cushion cut. Any advice or info. VERY appreciated. ewt

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 2/3/2008 3:55:18 PM
Author: oneway
RE: Request for a pic. if it could help with providing me info. On the posting of 'Eye Candy' where others have been quite generous is sharing their beautiful stones, page 11, third from bottom is a stone color wise like mine.


My stone is cushion cut. Any advice or info. VERY appreciated. ewt

While beautiful, this isn't one of the most sought after colors and thus the price per carat drops dramatically. But it really is very very hard to tell you any range without pictures!

It could be worth anywhere from $100 (if say, it's a simulant) to thousands of dollars if it is something special.

It will cost a couple hundred bucks at most to have it appraised. But as everyone mentioned, it needs to go to someone who specializes in colored stones like Richard Sherwood or Dave Atlas. Don't just bring it anywhere or else you might not get what you paid for in terms of a real value appraisal.

 

[pamplemousse]

Agreed with neatfreak.. the more pale colored stones tend to go for less, but it''s impossible to tell what a stone is worth without an actual appraisal. If you look at some of the websites out there (natural sapphire co, wildfish gems, cherry picked, etc.) that will give you an idea of the range. Even for a natural sapphire it can go from the hundreds to the tends of thousands depending on color, clarity, etc. but those things are really impossible to say if you''re not a professional.

If you''re sure it''s a natural sapphire, I think it''s worth your while just to have it appraised. Richard Sherwood is supposed to be one of the best. We went to David Atlas because he was close. Any of the recommended PS colored-stone appraisers will probably do you well...

The things that David Atlas shared with us as far as being able to tell that our stone was unheated were all things that required a microscope (and a trained eye) to see. He described the crystal structure he was looking at and what it would have looked like had it been heated.. he described some of the microscopic imperfections that would have looked one way if heated vs. another way if not.. That kind of thing. Again, requiring a microscope (40x power, in our case) and a trained eye.