HUGE Yellow Sapphire

[alisonia333]

Hi there, I'm Ali. I've been lurking since I started engagement ring shopping...but that's another post. I've been looking at all the gorgeous colored gemstones people have and was inspired to share my own. My grandmother passed down a yellow sapphire pendant/necklace to me. Well, I sort of scavenged it from a whole box of costume jewelry my Dad told me I could go through. Evidently the whole box wasn't costume and I lucked out! It's about 1 1/8 inch long by 3/4 of an inch wide by a little over 1/2 inch deep oval. I have no idea what the precise dimensions are or the carat weight. I should really get it appraised, because I really have no idea what it's worth. I took some pictures of it next to a nickel. If any of you have any ball park ideas of how much this might be worth, it would be welcome. I'm also not much of a photographer, so my apologies in advance. The stone is set in yellow gold, but I can't read the stamp. I included a close up picture of the stamp to see if any of you can read the karat gold it is.

Thanks!

 

[alisonia333]

More pics!

 

[alisonia333]

Last ones!

 

[soberguy]

Has someone told you that this is a sapphire? It really leans toward citrine from your pictures.

 

[kenny]

That stamp looks like 14 karat to me.

 

[Jeweljunke]

It looks like a Citrine to my eye also. Very pretty nonetheless.

 

[alisonia333]

My dad said he was sure it was a yellow sapphire, though he doesn't remember the origin or if it's heat treated. She has a collection of fine jewels, not just costume jewelry. Actually, her OEC diamond and platinum brooch is turning into my engagement ring as we speak! I guess to be sure I would have to send it to one of the Gemological labs, right? Is it too big to be a sapphire or it just the color you're going by? To be fair, I may have washed out the color some in my photos under the light, it's more saturated than it looks. It's pretty either way, but not very wearable for a 27 year old in the nursing field

PS. My dad could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

 

[alisonia333]

That stamp looks like 14 karat to me.

Thanks a lot!! My eye is untrained

 

[alisonia333]

It looks like a Citrine to my eye also. Very pretty nonetheless.

Has someone told you that this is a sapphire? It really leans toward citrine from your pictures.

My dad said he was sure it was a yellow sapphire, though he doesn't remember the origin or if it's heat treated. She has a collection of fine jewels, not just costume jewelry. Actually, her OEC diamond and platinum brooch is turning into my engagement ring as we speak! I guess to be sure I would have to send it to one of the Gemological labs, right? Is it too big to be a sapphire or it just the color you're going by? To be fair, I may have washed out the color some in my photos under the light, it's more saturated than it looks. It's pretty either way, but not very wearable for a 27 year old in the nursing field

PS. My dad could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

 

[alisonia333]

Maybe a citrine?

Oh yikes! I just browsed around ebay looking at yellow sapphires and for the size my stone is there's no way it would just be floating around grandma's costume jewelry box! I had no idea what those things are worth. Sorry for the ignorance, my Dad obviously was mistaken. I'd edit the post, but it won't let me. I think I'll take it to the jeweler when I pick up my ering and see if they think it's a citrine also

 

[chrono]

Make sure to bring it to a gemmologist (not just a jeweller) who is well versed in coloured gemstones (and not just diamonds). For the size, it is very clean, so I would also suspect something other than corundum as well.

 

[JewelFreak]

Me too above. But it's still pretty.

 

[alisonia333]

Me too above. But it's still pretty.

Make sure to bring it to a gemmologist (not just a jeweller) who is well versed in coloured gemstones (and not just diamonds). For the size, it is very clean, so I would also suspect something other than corundum as well.

@Chrono: Thanks for the advice! I know that that there is a certified gemologist at my Jeweler's and I know that they work with a lot of colored gems, so I'll try there. If it was worth more, I might consider sending it to one of those gemological places, but if it's citrine, the cost of the appraisal would be worth almost what the stone itself it.

@JewelFreak: Thanks, I think it's pretty too!

 

[iLander]

Well, it's worth checking it out, because if that's a natural, heat only sapphire, it's a $50,000 stone.

AGL will do a gem brief for $65.

 

[txgreeneyes]

I may be wrong so please someone correct me.

I thought the majority of citrines on the market today are just heated amethysts.

Natural unheated citrines are not that common. I don't know if you could call them "rare". I'm not sure about the worth for an natural unheated citrine.

It may be worth something.

Good luck!

 

[chrono]

Correct; heated amethyst becomes citrine. Some come out of the ground yellow but those are generally pale and still not worth a lot.

 

[txgreeneyes]

Could it be a topaz?

 

[ChrisA222]

It could be a golden Topaz, but that's still not going to be a valuable stone. The Topaz that are valuable are the Imperial Topaz stones, which have to have two colors I believe, pink and yellow in them.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Heated vs UnHeated as far a price goes, pretty much only applies to sapphire/ruby. In citrine, zircon, tourmaline etc, its the beauty of the stone that effects the price, not if it was heated or not. Two citrine stones, same size and cut, one heated, and one unheated. The stone with the slightly better color, even if it were the heated one, would sell for more.

I think on PS people have been scared off from heated stones by misinformation. The ONLY stones you will see in "The Guide" that have different prices for heated vs unheated are sapphire and ruby.

 

[ChrisA222]

Gene, I have to add Amethyst to that list. From what I understand, most Amethyst on the market now is either synthetic, or heated to improve color. I would, and did, go out of my way and pay more to get untreated Amethyst. Examples of unheated stones are those from Zambia, Uraguay, and JXR. I know most of the Brazillian material is heat-treated.

If I'm wrong, correct me please...just going by some stuff that I've read. I would much prefer untreated Amethyst with natural color.

I agree with stones like Citrine, Zircon,TOurmaline, and especially Tanzanite, where I wouldn't care if it was heated or unheated.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Market wide there is no premium for Amethyst heated or not. Price is based on the color. Individuals may elect to pay a premium, but chances are you paid a premium only because you were buying a nicer stone to begin with. "The Guide" make no provision for heated vs nonheated nor location for Amethyst.

 

[alisonia333]

Well, it's worth checking it out, because if that's a natural, heat only sapphire, it's a $50,000 stone.

AGL will do a gem brief for $65.

Yeah, I'm debating whether or not to send it in. I will take it when I'm at my Jeweler's next and see if the Gemologist there will eyeball it for free. My dad seemed sure it was a sapphire and she did have some valuable pieces, but I really doubt it is at this point...especially looking at pictures of others online. Mine is at the very least perfectly eye clean, and then I looked at stones like this of a similar size: http://www.ebay.com/itm/70-56-Carat-Museum-Grade-Unheated-Vivid-Yellow-Sapphire-GRS-/330778024546?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4d03e81a62 and seems cloudier than mine. Probably a citrine worth a couple hundred bucks. The gold necklace is worth more than the stone! That's okay, though, it was my Grammy's and that makes it worth something

 

[Fly Girl]

My guess is that your dad is right, and it is a yellow sapphire. However, synthetic sapphire has been around for over 100 years, so it is almost certainly not going to be a natural yellow. So, you are right, too.

 

[kenny]

Well, it's worth checking it out, because if that's a natural, heat only sapphire, it's a $50,000 stone.

AGL will do a gem brief for $65.

Yeah, I'm debating whether or not to send it in. I will take it when I'm at my Jeweler's next and see if the Gemologist there will eyeball it for free. My dad seemed sure it was a sapphire and she did have some valuable pieces, but I really doubt it is at this point...especially looking at pictures of others online. Mine is at the very least perfectly eye clean, and then I looked at stones like this of a similar size: http://www.ebay.com/itm/70-56-Carat-Museum-Grade-Unheated-Vivid-Yellow-Sapphire-GRS-/330778024546?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4d03e81a62 and seems cloudier than mine. Probably a citrine worth a couple hundred bucks. The gold necklace is worth more than the stone! That's okay, though, it was my Grammy's and that makes it worth something

Careful if the gemologist says it's not worth much but offers to buy it.
That may mean it's a real natural unheated sapphire.
Personally I'd get it removed from the setting and send it to AGL myself to be absolutely sure.
There is a tiny chance it's worth a fortune. No?

 

[txgreeneyes]

I was thinking something similiar to what Kenny suggested...

 

[alisonia333]

Well, it's worth checking it out, because if that's a natural, heat only sapphire, it's a $50,000 stone.

AGL will do a gem brief for $65.

Yeah, I'm debating whether or not to send it in. I will take it when I'm at my Jeweler's next and see if the Gemologist there will eyeball it for free. My dad seemed sure it was a sapphire and she did have some valuable pieces, but I really doubt it is at this point...especially looking at pictures of others online. Mine is at the very least perfectly eye clean, and then I looked at stones like this of a similar size: http://www.ebay.com/itm/70-56-Carat-Museum-Grade-Unheated-Vivid-Yellow-Sapphire-GRS-/330778024546?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item4d03e81a62 and seems cloudier than mine. Probably a citrine worth a couple hundred bucks. The gold necklace is worth more than the stone! That's okay, though, it was my Grammy's and that makes it worth something

Careful if the gemologist says it's not worth much but offers to buy it.
That may mean it's a real natural unheated sapphire.
Personally I'd get it removed from the setting and send it to AGL myself to be absolutely sure.
There is a tiny chance it's worth a fortune. No?

Thanks, and you're right, it's worth the price of a dinner out to find out! How should I go about getting the stone out of the setting? Will it cost a lot to have a Jeweler do that? Sorry...I really don't know much about gems and Jewelry.

 

[chrono]

You have two options.

1. Have your jeweller remove the stone from the setting, which is very easy and inexpensive. It might be around $20 or so to get it done but make sure the jeweller "saves" the prongs so the stone can be put back later.

2. You can send the entire piece to AGL as they can check a mounted stone. The cost for such a service will be a little more and they may not be able to run one or two tests on it but the result will still be conclusive.

 

[alisonia333]

You have two options.

1. Have your jeweller remove the stone from the setting, which is very easy and inexpensive. It might be around $20 or so to get it done but make sure the jeweller "saves" the prongs so the stone can be put back later.

2. You can send the entire piece to AGL as they can check a mounted stone. The cost for such a service will be a little more and they may not be able to run one or two tests on it but the result will still be conclusive.

Thank you so much! I think I may send the whole piece so I don't have to get it unmounted and then remounted. I really appreciate the help.

 

[PrecisionGem]

You should be able to find someone in your town with a refractometer. The stone doesn't need to be removed since the table is above the prongs. It would take all of 15 seconds to take a reading, and if, as I suspect it comes up 1.54, then you are sure you don't have a sapphire.

 

[chrono]

But that will not discount a synthetic sapphire.