Help with a yellow sapphire

[John512]

Hello:
I've been looking for a natural yellow sapphire for an engagement ring for a while. A local jeweler found a stone that we like, however it doesn't come with a certificate. Initially, they wanted me to pay $300 to get it certified. I told them that was absurd, because it is not my responsibility. We agreed that I will put $200 down to get it certified. If it is certified as natural untreated yeallow sapphire, them my $200 will go toward the purchase price. I'd your help with two things:

1- Should I ask a GIA or AGS certification?

2- I want to know how much this stone worth. It is natural yellow sapphire. 2.46 cushion cut. lemon tone and brilliant. under 10x I didn't detect any inclusions. There is a tiny surface nick - very hard to see. We've seen many stones, and this one was the cleanest and best color.

3- any other tips or advice is much appreciated.

Please look at the photo, and tell me how much do you think the stone worth.

Thank you very much for your help

 

[colorluvr]

Are you in the US? If so, I would suggest an AGL gembrief which will only cost $55 if the stone is unheated. If it is heated, then they will charge and extra $100 to send it off to see if it has been BE heated (they call it diffusion treatment on the gembriefs).

 

[LD]

The majority of yellow sapphires (that have that strong colour) are, unfortunately, highly treated to get that colour as Colorluvr has said. If it's BE treated, the selling price should be considerably different to a non-treated stone. Sending it to AGL will qualify that for you. You can't see BE with your eyes (and neither can any jeweller) although if you've seen enough stones you can usually make an educated guess.

At the end of the day, if you want a strongly coloured yellow sapphire, BE will give you that. It will still be a natural sapphire just one that's had chemicals added. Some people are fine with that as it gives the "look" they want. Just be aware that they're not of the same value as untreated or simply heated stones.

Here's a link so you can compare yellow sapphires. AJS declare treatments so you can see the difference in price. (BTW BE/lattice are largely the same thing) http://www.ajsgem.com/yellow-sapphire-gemstone-sapphire-2046340416.html

 

[John512]

Thanks for the replies

I am in the US.

The jeweler I am working with knows very well that I am looking for natural untreated stone. The gem dealer assured her that the stone is untreated, but of course I am not taking his word for granted, that is why I asked for certification for the stone.

If the stone turns out to be treated, I don't have to buy it, and I'll get my downpayment back.

I took the photos with a camera phone, so it doesn't show the true color of the stone. It is lemony and not that deep as the photo portrays. I compared it side by side with an abviousely heat treated stone, and it is much much lighter in color.

If it turn out that the stone is untreated, how much do you think it is worth? I know it is hard to price stones, but I have to start somewhere. It is 2.46 ct..

Thanks a million,

 

[minousbijoux]

Well you're doing the right thing. I agree that you should send it off to AGL for a brief and then go from there. Your best bet for pricing is to check the online vendors in the list of PS approved vendors and then keep in mind that you will likely pay a premium for a retail vendor.

Good luck.

 

[corundum_conundrum]

What's the face-up size? (mm diameter). I think its a nice stone.

I've done nothing but shop for yellow sapphires myself for the last 3 months, so maybe I can offer a price comparison.

If it is unheated, 2500-2750 would maybe be the mean retail for an unheated of that size. But yellows tend to vary pretty wildly, especially in retail stores. Maybe 2000 for heated. Prices would be more favorable online. Let's say 2000 average online for the same stone unheated.

Definitely get it certed if you love it. Yellows are VERY commonly treated. I will say, however, that it lacks the burnt-orange hues that are tell-tale of heated yellows, so it could very well be unheated.

 

[John512]

Thanks for the reply. This price range is what I was thinking, but they were asking a lot more than that.

IIRC, the size of the stone is 7mm X 7.5mm X 5mm

Here where I live, I went to more than 7 jeweler, and non of them has any natural yellow sapphire. They didn't have any yellow sapphire at all. The jeweler I am working with now is small independent shop. Mostly custom made and unique jewelry.

What's the face-up size? (mm diameter). I think its a nice stone.

I've done nothing but shop for yellow sapphires myself for the last 3 months, so maybe I can offer a price comparison.

If it is unheated, 2500-2750 would maybe be the mean retail for an unheated of that size. But yellows tend to vary pretty wildly, especially in retail stores. Maybe 2000 for heated. Prices would be more favorable online. Let's say 2000 average online for the same stone unheated.

Definitely get it certed if you love it. Yellows are VERY commonly treated. I will say, however, that it lacks the burnt-orange hues that are tell-tale of heated yellows, so it could very well be unheated.

 

[chrono]

I would opt for the AGL $55 brief over GIA. Costs less for an equally good analysis. I would not guess what the pricing might be without accurate colouration shown because slight nuances in colour can be big in terms of $.

 

[LD]

I would opt for the AGL $55 brief over GIA. Costs less for an equally good analysis. I would not guess what the pricing might be without accurate colouration shown because slight nuances in colour can be big in terms of $.

Ditto +1

It's impossible to give even an educated guess without (a) accurate photos and (b) knowing for definite treatments (if any).

To emphasize, here are some stones in similar carat weights to the stone you're considering (and one that is almost double the size, unheated and around the same price as the one you're considering):-

2.72ct heated only $1,798 - orangey/yellow
http://www.ajsgem.com/sapphire/yellow-sapphire/yellow-sapphire-2.72-carats.html

2.74ct heated/lattice $498 - beautiful pale lemon
http://www.ajsgem.com/sapphire/yellow-sapphire/yellow-sapphire-2.74-carats.html

4.22ct unheated $2,898 - a very pale lemon but the size is scrummy!
http://www.ajsgem.com/sapphire/yellow-sapphire/yellow-sapphire-4.22-carats.html

 

[corundum_conundrum]

Take my prices with a grain of salt. I'm new to the faceted gemstone world, but I've done an unhealthy amount of research over the last 4 months. My prices are just a rough estimate of all the untreated yellows I see at retail which probably excludes some high outliers. With those added in, the true average might head upward at retail. As I said, yellow prices can vary wildly at retail, but I've never seen them reach parity with blues at the same retailer.

I can only share my own expeience, but yellows will be difficult to find anywhere, especially untreated. I've seen very few unheated in retail. Heated yellows are a bit easier to track-down in stores. But I live in a major market. Apparently yellow sapphires enjoy more popularity in the Asian markets, and so most of them don't make their way to the US. Nevertheless they are a still a steal relative to their more famous, blue counterparts when they hit US markets. If you decide to shop online, you won't be flooded with options either, but when you are presented with a nice option, it will be substatially cheaper than what you would see in a B and M store. If you have a padded budget, you might want to talk to a jeweler who is wililng to order-in stones for you to see from a whole-saler like palagems (see recommended vendor list).

If you want a great stone at a great price, you have to be willing to be patient. 6 months wouldn't be an unrealistic expectation. 1 year wouldn't be unheard-of at all. So have the jeweler send it to AGL, post some more pictures here, and folks here will give you their thoughts on whether its worth it, and what timeframe you might face if you decide to look elsewhere.

 

[chrono]

1.84 ct unheated yellow described as vivid canary yellow for $1500. I think it was 20% off or something over Thanksgiving. I do not know how accurate his photography colour is though.
http://www.finewatergems.com/sapphire.html