How much $$$

[stepcutgirl]

Hello all. I''m VERY early on in my search and just trying to get rough numbers for sapphires. I know about how much settings cost, and I knew diamond amounts when I was searching for them but I''m clueless about how much sapphires cost!

I believe I understand that heating is ok for sapphires but no other treatments. Is this correct? Yes, I know it will come down to personal preference and all that but in general is heating considered ok?

I think I want around a 8-9mm cushion shaped sapphire in the royal/kashmere color range. What range does that put me in? If I go a haloed route I won''t need as big. Maybe a 7mm.

Thanks!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Do you mind if it's heat treated? It would bring the cost down significantly. Do you care about it being from Ceylon or Kashmir? If not, then that can also bring the price down.

This would be on the low end, price wise, of heated cushions in your sz range since it isn't precision cut and is probably darker than you're looking for.
http://www.simplysapphires.com/html/imagesblue2006/bluecns409-sm.html

This one is probably on the higher end (NSC's prices typically are a little higher than competitive), but you can see the big jump in prices that being unheated can make.
http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Blue/B2769/Radiant/stoneid=B2769

 

[stepcutgirl]

Well I think I'm kinda asking if heat treated is ok? I'm sure there are some purist out there who don't want anything done but all heating does is deepen the color, right? If that's the case, then yes heating is ok. I don't care about where it's from. I just want it to be beautiful.

I don't know much, but I know I do not like the faceting there. I like a chunkier look.

 

[icekid]

stepcut-

Color stone prices vary just as much as their colors! That is really the whole issue- the color. The better the color, the bigger, the more rare. It''s much more difficult to estimate prices compared with diamonds, where you can kind of type in your wishes for color, clarity, etc and get a good idea on price.

Heat treatment is common in sapphires and it is up to you whether or not it is acceptable for your stone. Obviously, non-heated and more expensive. But in general, heat treatment is considered okay.

Keep in mind that sapphires are more dense than diamonds, so 8mm sapphire will weigh more than 8mm diamond. Given that you are seeking a pretty top color, I would guess anywhere from a few thousand to five, six (for heated stones) by doing a quick search. It''s so much harder to guess with colored stones.

 

[icekid]

Date: 5/6/2009 4:00:01 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
Do you mind if it''s heat treated? It would bring the cost down significantly. Do you care about it being from Ceylon or Kashmir? If not, then that can also bring the price down.


This would be on the low end, price wise, of heated cushions in your sz range since it isn''t precision cut and is probably darker than you''re looking for.

http://www.simplysapphires.com/html/imagesblue2006/bluecns409-sm.html

Too funny MTG; I was just looking at that very stone while doing a quick search for stepcut.

 

[icekid]

Date: 5/6/2009 4:04:02 PM
Author: stepcutgirl
Well I think I'm kinda asking if heat treated is ok? I'm sure there are some purist out there who don't want anything done but all heating does is deepen the color, right? If that's the case, then yes heating is ok. I don't care about where it's from. I just want it to be beautiful.


I don't know much, but I know I do not like the faceting there. I like a chunkier look.

Well for most people, heating is usually okay. It sounds like you only care about what the stone looks like, so I think heat should be fine for you.

I would suggest that you enlist someone like Wink to help you search. Otherwise, perhaps a custom cutter if there is a really specific look that you are wanting (chunky.)

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Hehe Icekid, great minds think alike!

But I think the easiest and fastest way to get an idea of budget would be to email the cutters you had in mind (assuming you aren''t in a rush, this is probably the best route to go to find the right color and cut), and ask them for a ball park. They will know better than any of us what the price would be

 

[stepcutgirl]

Thank you both! Who are the go to guys for cushion sapphires?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I think I might just browse the site's of different gem cutters to see if any one of them has a style or cut I particularly love. Most of these guys have galleries of stones they've cut in the past for you to peruse:

Some of the forum favs:
Jeff White
Precision GEm
Finewater
Peter
Dan at CustomGems
Barry of ACS


I think Barry and Dan have cut "chunky" style stones for PSers in the past.

 

[stepcutgirl]

Thanks MTG. I emailed them all!

 

[chrono]

Date: 5/6/2009 4:49:26 PM
Author: stepcutgirl
Thanks MTG. I emailed them all!

Boy are you quick! As a tip, to make sure the cutters are on the same page as you in terms of colour, email them pictures of blue sapphires that appeal to you colour-wise. This will give them a good idea of what you are looking for and be able to price it accordingly.