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Feedback on blue sapphire please :)

S

stichomythia

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 4, 2021
Messages
10
Hi everyone,

I've be been hunting for a top quality royal / peacock / vivid blue between 1-3 cts, unheated, with good sparkle.

Am currently considering this, which the vendor is calling cornflower blue. I'm open to cornflower blue if it's intense / vivid enough. Asking price is $7000 for a 2.5ct stone.

Would love your thoughts and feedback. This will be my biggest buy if it goes ahead, so a little nervous.

Thank you.

IMG_20220407_204230_146.jpgIMG_20220407_204212_222.jpg
 
I’m not much help when it comes to expensive stones but to me that one looks like it falls in between cornflower and royal. It’s very nice and looks vivid and also sparkly. It looks like it has some violet tones too.

I’m sure others will weigh in with opinions.
 
stichomythia said:
Hi everyone,

I've be been hunting for a top quality royal / peacock / vivid blue between 1-3 cts, unheated, with good sparkle.

Am currently considering this, which the vendor is calling cornflower blue. I'm open to cornflower blue if it's intense / vivid enough. Asking price is $7000 for a 2.5ct stone.

Would love your thoughts and feedback. This will be my biggest buy if it goes ahead, so a little nervous.

Thank you.

IMG_20220407_204230_146.jpgIMG_20220407_204212_222.jpg
Click to expand...

I don’t know what a good blue looks like, but does the vendor have a return policy that allows for you to send back the stone if you don’t like it a keep a substantial amount of the money you paid? If not, I won’t suggest you to look at this stone. There was someone who gotten what I think is a top blue sapphire, so maybe you want to look at that thread.
 
CaseyLouLou said:
I’m not much help when it comes to expensive stones but to me that one looks like it falls in between cornflower and royal. It’s very nice and looks vivid and also sparkly. It looks like it has some violet tones too.

I’m sure others will weigh in with opinions.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'm still on my training wheels when it comes to colors, but have noticed that my eyes tend to be attracted to intense vivid cornflower / peacock blues rather than the deep dark versions of the royal blues. Also trying to keep in mind that the stone might darken once it's been set as well...
 
Ellipses said:
I don’t know what a good blue looks like, but does the vendor have a return policy that allows for you to send back the stone if you don’t like it a keep a substantial amount of the money you paid? If not, I won’t suggest you to look at this stone. There was someone who gotten what I think is a top blue sapphire, so maybe you want to look at that thread.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reminder. Will confirm on return policy. Will also look for the thread you are suggesting.
 
Well it looks positively dreamy in these photos! Nice cut too... the brilliance must be beautiful in person. How does the seller describe the clarity? It is unheated, correct? I ask because $7,000 is very underpriced for a stone of this (apparent) caliber. Maybe you found yourself a real steal. But just remember, even the slightest difference in saturation in person can make a big impact on value. So, if you purchase this stone, examine it carefully once received. Does it come with a reputable lab cert? If not, you'll need a generous return policy in order to submit it for testing. Good luck!
 
stichomythia said:
Hi everyone,

I've be been hunting for a top quality royal / peacock / vivid blue between 1-3 cts, unheated, with good sparkle.

Am currently considering this, which the vendor is calling cornflower blue. I'm open to cornflower blue if it's intense / vivid enough. Asking price is $7000 for a 2.5ct stone.

Would love your thoughts and feedback. This will be my biggest buy if it goes ahead, so a little nervous.

Thank you.

IMG_20220407_204230_146.jpgIMG_20220407_204212_222.jpg
Click to expand...

What is your definition of top quality?

If the stone isn’t relatively easy for you to return to the vendor if you don’t like it, for refund or exchange
I’d be asking for photos showing the stone in different orientation, as well as alternate lighting. Rotate it. Side views. Upside down. Looking for color banding, windows, extinction, natural flaws….
Seeing two photos with the stone in very similar orientation always makes me wonder if it’s hiding a window because an off kilter pavilion. And an elongated oval only pictured almost in east/west orientation possibly minimizing extinction. If that bothers you.
If sparkle/scintillation is a top goal of yours, ask if it ever goes silky/sleepy in any lighting. That’s the opposite of sparkly. Some like it- some don’t.

But really - this all depends on what your definition of top quality is. The vendors definition of it, too.

Happy hunting!
 
The main things are the return policy and the lab report.
Some vendors live in Countries where returning gemstones is extremely difficult and/ or very expensive.
You also need to be very confident with the seller if not using credit card payment or PayPal. No recourse with bank wire payment etc.
Sapphires can and are treated. You can’t tell by “looking at them” you need a lab report that indicates level of treatment.
Sapphires can be Heated which is ok but they can also be high heat treated to repair fissures and / BE treated to improve colour. This treatments are permanent but are not desirable.
$7,000 is a good price for a no heat sapphire and getting a bit expensive for a heat only sapphire but you do not want to pay $7,000 for a treated sapphire.
 
Autumn in New England said:
Well it looks positively dreamy in these photos! Nice cut too... the brilliance must be beautiful in person. How does the seller describe the clarity? It is unheated, correct? I ask because $7,000 is very underpriced for a stone of this (apparent) caliber. Maybe you found yourself a real steal. But just remember, even the slightest difference in saturation in person can make a big impact on value. So, if you purchase this stone, examine it carefully once received. Does it come with a reputable lab cert? If not, you'll need a generous return policy in order to submit it for testing. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Seller says it's loupe clean. Certification seen that it's unheated/untreated, from a lab I'm not familiar with - Emteem Gem Lab. Does anyone here have experience with them?

Rfisher said:
What is your definition of top quality?

If the stone isn’t relatively easy for you to return to the vendor if you don’t like it, for refund or exchange
I’d be asking for photos showing the stone in different orientation, as well as alternate lighting. Rotate it. Side views. Upside down. Looking for color banding, windows, extinction, natural flaws….
Seeing two photos with the stone in very similar orientation always makes me wonder if it’s hiding a window because an off kilter pavilion. And an elongated oval only pictured almost in east/west orientation possibly minimizing extinction. If that bothers you.
If sparkle/scintillation is a top goal of yours, ask if it ever goes silky/sleepy in any lighting. That’s the opposite of sparkly. Some like it- some don’t.

But really - this all depends on what your definition of top quality is. The vendors definition of it, too.

Happy hunting!
Click to expand...

Thanks, some great points. I've been sent lots of videos and am reasonably comfortable with banding / windows, etc. It's quite a deep cut though, so am wondering the 6+mm might affect setting...

Bron357 said:
The main things are the return policy and the lab report.
Some vendors live in Countries where returning gemstones is extremely difficult and/ or very expensive.
You also need to be very confident with the seller if not using credit card payment or PayPal. No recourse with bank wire payment etc.
Sapphires can and are treated. You can’t tell by “looking at them” you need a lab report that indicates level of treatment.
Sapphires can be Heated which is ok but they can also be high heat treated to repair fissures and / BE treated to improve colour. This treatments are permanent but are not desirable.
$7,000 is a good price for a no heat sapphire and getting a bit expensive for a heat only sapphire but you do not want to pay $7,000 for a treated sapphire.
Click to expand...

This is where I'm currently stuck. Stone looks good, and it seems price is attractive too. Return policy seems standard, but shipping might be expensive. But they only accept band wire, which may be a deal breaker for me...

Ah to have such a beauty dangling but logistics get in the way! :cry2:
 
stichomythia said:
Thanks! Seller says it's loupe clean. Certification seen that it's unheated/untreated, from a lab I'm not familiar with - Emteem Gem Lab. Does anyone here have experience with them?



Thanks, some great points. I've been sent lots of videos and am reasonably comfortable with banding / windows, etc. It's quite a deep cut though, so am wondering the 6+mm might affect setting...



This is where I'm currently stuck. Stone looks good, and it seems price is attractive too. Return policy seems standard, but shipping might be expensive. But they only accept band wire, which may be a deal breaker for me...

Ah to have such a beauty dangling but logistics get in the way! :cry2:
Click to expand...

I am familiar with Emteem, and I believe they're well regarded in Asia. But I would absolutely want to recertify with an American or Swiss gem lab (especially when we're talking collector corundum varieties). I trust GIA, AGL, Gubelin, SSEF, CD, GRS, and Lotus. But you're off to a good start, OP!
 
stichomythia said:
Am currently considering this, which the vendor is calling cornflower blue. I'm open to cornflower blue if it's intense / vivid enough. Asking price is $7000 for a 2.5ct stone.
Click to expand...

If it looks anything like those photos, and you have confidence in the vendor and report, buy it immediately.
 
Autumn in New England said:
I am familiar with Emteem, and I believe they're well regarded in Asia. But I would absolutely want to recertify with an American or Swiss gem lab (especially when we're talking collector corundum varieties). I trust GIA, AGL, Gubelin, SSEF, CD, GRS, and Lotus. But you're off to a good start, OP!
Click to expand...

Thanks! That's really reassuring to know Emteem are reputable!
 
Thank you everyone for your help. Decided not to go ahead with this stone - the search continues! If you have any trusted vendors who might be able to help, would appreciate ant tips!
 
stichomythia said:
Thank you everyone for your help. Decided not to go ahead with this stone - the search continues! If you have any trusted vendors who might be able to help, would appreciate ant tips!
Click to expand...

You can look through the list of vendors for reference. Most of them have had multiple successful transactions with posters on this forum.

List of Vendors For Reference

Please do not comment in this thread. Ella is going to replace the old sticky thread with this one. Please do not leave comments on this thread! These are the list of vendors that some people have had a good experience with. Your experience may not be the same. Please search the vendor in this...
www.pricescope.com

A few quick unheated 7k or under options over 2ct

www.finewatergems.com

2.53 ct Unheated Blue Sapphire

Fine and unique gemstones personally sourced from around the world
www.finewatergems.com
Particularly since the Litnon ones are so much less expensive, I'd want to know how they shift in different lighting and ask about any potential issues. I think the oval has some uneven color.
 
Last edited:
stichomythia said:
Thank you everyone for your help. Decided not to go ahead with this stone - the search continues! If you have any trusted vendors who might be able to help, would appreciate ant tips!
Click to expand...

What happened? Which vendor was this and what made you pass on the stone?
 
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