GemPundit - Tell me about this Gem Dealer

[Marcus Aurelius]

This sapphire looks somewhat interesting, but uncertain of dealer:

Cornflower Blue Sapphire - 1.48 carats

An Original Natural Cornflower Blue Sapphire weighing 1.48 carats (1.64 ratti) from Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

www.gempundit.com

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

This sapphire looks somewhat interesting, but uncertain of dealer:

Cornflower Blue Sapphire - 1.48 carats

An Original Natural Cornflower Blue Sapphire weighing 1.48 carats (1.64 ratti) from Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

www.gempundit.com

Thoughts on the above sapphire?
What about this one:

Cornflower Blue Sapphire - 1.83 carats

An Original Natural Cornflower Blue Sapphire weighing 1.83 carats (2.03 ratti) from Madagascar

www.gempundit.com

Either would appear to come with a GRS certificate

 

[SapphireLover]

The colours look like they’ve been altered- it looks too vivid. There is a list of recommended vendors pinned to the top of this group and it’s not on it.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Thanks! The pricing is reasonable and they are certified, but this was a concern for me too. Both gems look great! But a bit vivid. Too vivid perhaps, and i was wondering if they were altered.

I am willing to go off label here, since vendors on this list tend to be very expensive and I think there are better deals to be had (in all honesty), but the risks are obviously higher.

 

[Polyhex]

Ask for more photos on the hand outside of studio lighting, like in normal indoor lighting?

It is beautiful, and I find the recommended vendors generally expensive as well.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

I have requested pictures of the gems in natural lighting and was assured said pictures would be provided. Three days later no pictures have been provided, despite follow up. It shouldn’t be so difficult to provide the pictures imo. No pictures, no business. And given the time delay involved, am no longer interested in doing business.

 

[Nick_G]

The colours look like they’ve been altered- it looks too vivid. There is a list of recommended vendors pinned to the top of this group and it’s not on it.

Either that or the person holding the sapphire has a case of jaundice!

 

[fredflintstone]

The colours look like they’ve been altered- it looks too vivid. There is a list of recommended vendors pinned to the top of this group and it’s not on it.

You may be right about the color but just because a vendor is not on the list does not make them untrustworthy.

There is 100's of times more dealers out there then the gem list encompasses. Many are very reputable. Many have more stones.

Just saying because a name is not on there does not really a thing.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Agree. I am willing to go “off label”, but in an abundance of caution need vendors to do certain things before I will do business with them to instill confidence.

 

[fredflintstone]

Either that or the person holding the sapphire has a case of jaundice!

LOL! Did it occur to you that this dealer or the hand of the person is of Asian ethnicity? Nah.

 

[fredflintstone]

Agree. I am willing to go “off label”, but in an abundance of caution need vendors to do certain things before I will do business with them to instill confidence.

That goes for any dealer, on the list or not. Smart buyer.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

There are many US vendors that have accusations of unsavory dealings. So I require a bit of assurances before I will do business with them

 

[Nick_G]

LOL! Did it occur to you that this dealer or the hand of the person is of Asian ethnicity? Nah.

It's just that the colour balance looks off. I've seen it with specimens on eBay from dealers in Peshawar. You can tell when the blue spinel that looked fantastically saturated on the seller's pics is a much more drab blue when it arrives and you get to see it in real life. That is what those pics reminded me of.

Maybe this specimen really is that stunning colour but something just looks off to me.

 

[Arcadian]

I've never purchased from them. But, I will say that you should find out what the return policy is before purchasing.

While the stone may look good, you could get it in your environment and it could look nothing like that. Or, could look even better. Any stone will have a shift that you may or may like, you just don't know until you get it in hand.

 

[Bron357]

Gemstones always look better in “studio” photos. I think with all loose gemstones you need to see photos outside in natural light.
The company does have a good return policy BUT there are a few issues with returning gems to them and India.
Firstly return shipping and insurance is at your cost. Can you obtain appropriate insured shipping BACK to India? it’s really difficult/ expensive to get insured shipping to India.
Secondly payment gateway fees are non refundable. If you used PayPal to purchase, the 5.19% fee that PayPal deducted from your payment to the vendor wont be returned to you. PayPal now keeps their fees. Same with any CC fees, they don’t get refunded.
Thirdly, at this time of year (Christmas / New Year) most businesses world wide take a break so expectations of reply to enquiries needs to take this into consideration.

 

[fredflintstone]

Gemstones always look better in “studio” photos. I think with all loose gemstones you need to see photos outside in natural light.
The company does have a good return policy BUT there are a few issues with returning gems to them and India.
Firstly return shipping and insurance is at your cost. Can you obtain appropriate insured shipping BACK to India? it’s really difficult/ expensive to get insured shipping to India.
Secondly payment gateway fees are non refundable. If you used PayPal to purchase, the 5.19% fee that PayPal deducted from your payment to the vendor wont be returned to you. PayPal now keeps their fees. Same with any CC fees, they don’t get refunded.
Thirdly, at this time of year (Christmas / New Year) most businesses world wide take a break so expectations of reply to enquiries needs to take this into consideration.

Customs in India does not allow gemstones to be imported into the country. Which means, even if you buy it there you cannot return it unless you declare the gemstones as something else.

You can insure the stone like anything else but don't call it a gemstone.

India's sunlight is tropical. You cannot base how a stone will look outdoors by tropical light unless you live in the tropics.

Better to find out what lighting the vendor is using and ask for shots if possible, with indoor lighting that you will see the stone in the most.