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I need opinions!!

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Lauralynn

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Messages
38
For my engagement ring. I am picking my stone, and my boyfriend is then going to have it custom made. I would like a halo setting. This is the stone:

sapphire2.jpg

There is a video here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251130919751


Since this is my first time buying, I was also wondering how the GIA process works. Will the seller send it directly to the GIA labs? Or do I send it after I receive the stone? Or is this something I should be asking the seller himself?

Thank you all!! I appreciate all your help!

eta- I think it has a window in the lower left hand side (if I actually got the window concept right) but it doesn't seem to bother me that much. Is there any other things you find in this stone?
 
When inquiring with the vendor, make your request that you want the stone sent to GIA (this will be at your expense) for proof that it is indeed untreated as advertised. The vendor will send it directly to GIA, receive the memo and stone back, then ship both to you. In short, the sale of the sapphire is contingent upon the stone being proven to be what it is by the lab result.

What you are seeing on the lower left hand side is a facet reflection or flash. A window is always smack dab in the center of the stone, which this one has but it's small. I am usually able to view his videos but for some reason today, it isn't playing for me.
 
i did emailed the seller, but from what I understood, I pay for the stone, he sends it to me with the GIA coupon and then I send it to GIA myself.

Should I email him that he is to send the stone directly to GIA? I am guessing that me paying before the GIA confirms it is untreated is standard, is it?
 
This is rather unusual and adds risk on your end. When you send the stone yourself, have you considered the following:
1. What happens if the stone gets lost or damaged enroute? It now becomes your responsbility.
2. What happens to your review / return period?

It is better for you that he sends the stone directly to GIA, with you paying upfront is the norm.
 
ok.

How about the color, cut, etc of the stone? any opinions?
 
I prefer to view the video first, which I am still unable to see at the moment.
 
If it helps, I want a setting along the lines of this gorgeous ring.

r4096_4ea3474043f7f.preview.jpg
 
Lauralynn|1346972272|3263407 said:
If it helps, I want a setting along the lines of this gorgeous ring.

r4096_4ea3474043f7f.preview.jpg
Click to expand...

I don't have a lot of knowledge on colored-stone, hence I won't comment on your potential stone.... But I MUST SAY, THE SETTING YOU PICK IS VERY VERY VERY VERY NICE!!!
 
I've been eyeing this stone forever and I like its looking!
Yea, definitly have the seller to certificate the stone for you. If he can't do GIA, maybe have him do a GRS?
Should be good enough to prove the stone unheated.
 
I've been trying and trying and I think it's my laptop that is acting up because I can normally view his videos but I can't now. ;( Are you going with Leon or someone else to get the setting made?
 
wow!! I am even more in love now!!! It is a beautiful ring!

I have been lurking around here for awhile and I am a little scared to ask Leon for a quote. I already asked Maytal Hannah, and her price was reasonable, but from what I have read, Leon is a lot more.

I'll probably just get the sapphire, make sure I love the color, and it is untreated, and then give my bf the ok to go on and let him design the ring (of course with my specifications).

I did buy, but I haven't paid for it (I am going to), I am just waiting to see if he's going to be the one sending it to GIA or me. Wish I had asked this before, I was just afraid to post the stone as I have read in many threads that you shouldn't post it before you buy it. oh well.
 
One more thing, I have also thought to buy the diamonds for the band and the halo myself in ebay, but I haven't really found anyone doing that in here (and I honestly haven't looked.) Any thoughts on that?
 
You might be surprised to research PS that Leon's pricing is comparable to Maytal Hannah and depending on the design, slightly less expensive than her. As long as you request than Tan holds the stone for you while you are making your inquiries with him, it will not be undersold. That's my personal experience with him but you are definitely playing it safe with how you handled it.

I do not advise buying the melees and empty setting separately.
Firstly, how do you know if the melees will fit the setting?
Secondly, you are likely to get very poor quality melees.
Thirdly, the bulk of the cost of the setting is the labour to painstakingly set each melee.
Fourthly, I highly doubt you can find this design on eBay.
Fifthly, since your stone is a non-precision cut stone, to make everything look great, it's best to have the setting built around the stone rather than trying to fit the stone into the setting. The sapphire has a slightly off center culet and the cushion shape isn't perfectly symmetrical which a custom bench can work around.
 
alright so I paid, he is going to send it directly to GIA. Any idea how long the process takes?
 
Depending on their workload and shipping, at least a week to two weeks.
 
Why GIA? They specialise in diamonds, not coloured stones. Just wondering why you're using them?
 
Well, it is the only one I knew about, I thought I was sending the tne stone to wherever I picked and GIA is the closest on, and for some reason I thought I had read here somewhere that it was better? Now I'm scared, should I be?
 
GIA had a coloured stone division. While not as good as AGL, I see no reason for concern. At least they are better than AIGS.
 
AIGS, GIT, GTS and GIA were the options offered
 
Then GIA is my first choice of the four listed for sapphires.
 
Just out of curiosity Chrono, have you had a chance to view the video?

I just want to know what someone with knowledge of sapphires thinks of this one.
 
I managed to get the video to play for me on a different PC. Cut wise, it's not so good. The crown is low and it has a 80% depth which means it faces up closer to a 1 ct sapphire rather than a 1.5 ct sapphire. Colour wise is nice but not outstanding. I'm not sure what colour you are aiming for.
 
I like a royal blue color, not light, but not too dark.
I've also been looking at precision cut gems

What exactly does the crown being low mean? I don't really want a high setting, but I'm not sure one thing is related to the other one?
(wow, I thought I had acquired at least some knowledge, and I'm just realizing I'm a baby where sapphires/gems are concerned)

I would like to get the best color/look/size possible for a natural sapphire in a low budget. ($1,500k or below?) I'm not sure I will be able to find that though, so I might have to sacrifice something (size, color, treatment), just not sure what I'm willing to sacrifice.
 
I am not sure what Royal blue is. Do you have any reference pictures to share?

A stone with a high crown usually gets you a sparklier and lively stone, throwing off more flashes and sometimes a few other colours as well. A low crown means that the part from the girdle upwards is the stone is a bit flat or low at the top. The bulk of the weight in this stone is in the pavilion (girdle downwards). This stone is rather deep for its carat weight due to that. I don't always go for precision cutting but I refuse to buy overly deep stones. That's paying more for something you cannot see. You are paying for a 1.6 ct stone but getting the look of a 1 ct stone. Unless the colour is exceptional and price is very good, only then will I buy it.
 
I like this blue

b3175.jpg
 
kashmir-blue-sapphire-b2670.jpg
 
The colour of the stone is a little different from the NSC examples but we'll see when you receive it.
 
I keep getting scared of purchasing this stone without asking first, but everytime I look at it I drool!! Can't wait to see it in person, hopefully it does not disappoint! And if it does, on to the next one!
 
One question, I know the stone is not perfectly symmetric, but I understand that if I have a custom made setting, it could "hide" that and make it look perfect (at least perfect for me), am I right?
 
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