Is this a fair asking price (Blue Sapphire)

[Nikibukai]

I'm looking for a gemstone for my wife to be's engagement ring. Found one I like, it's a blue sapphire (0.97ct) and the seller asks for $1000 (USD). Do you think it's a fair asking price. Pictures included.

Here's the 360 video link:

Your opinions would be much appreciated.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

It’s ok. A tad on the higher side but it is a beautiful colours and it’s easy for me to sit here and harp: Find a better price, when that may not be realistic for you.

If it’s the same colour as the pictures shown then I think it is a lovely colour!

Do you know much about the lab and do you trust it? I have bought with less well known labs too but they are ones I’m comfortable with through a fair bit of exposure so just wanted to make sure that you are confident that this lab is trust worthy.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Welcome to the boards and congrats on your upcoming engagement! I'd say the price is decent enough for a heated stone in that size, if the color shown is accurate (because it's quite lovely). Could you find something comparable for around $750? Perhaps. But if this stone fits all of your criteria, it may be worth the few extra bucks for convenience (a bird in the hand...). One thing to consider though, corundum is quite dense, so sapphires face up smaller than most other gems, all things being equal. This one is cut very deep, which means it's facing up even smaller than your average 1ct. sapphire. So you have less impact. Good luck in your hunt!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Have you seen a gemstone that is 5x4.5mm? Just make sure you have realistic expectations so you aren’t disappointed.

To be clear there is nothing wrong with smaller gems! Just make sure you know what you are getting.

 

[Nikibukai]

It’s ok. A tad on the higher side but it is a beautiful colours and it’s easy for me to sit here and harp: Find a better price, when that may not be realistic for you.

If it’s the same colour as the pictures shown then I think it is a lovely colour!

Do you know much about the lab and do you trust it? I have bought with less well known labs too but they are ones I’m comfortable with through a fair bit of exposure

Have you seen a gemstone that is 5x4.5mm? Just make sure you have realistic expectations so you aren’t disappointed.

To be clear there is nothing wrong with smaller gems! Just make sure you know what you are getting.

Welcome to the boards and congrats on your upcoming engagement! I'd say the price is decent enough for a heated stone in that size, if the color shown is accurate (because it's quite lovely). Could you find something comparable for around $750? Perhaps. But if this stone fits all of your criteria, it may be worth the few extra bucks for convenience (a bird in the hand...). One thing to consider though, corundum is quite dense, so sapphires face up smaller than most other gems, all things being equal. This one is cut very deep, which means it's facing up even smaller than your average 1ct. sapphire. So you have less impact. Good luck in your hunt!

Thank you very much for all the replies! I will account for all the things you guys said.

One more thing, the seller also has another stone listed, a madagascar sapphire. Smaller carat but bigger up face at 6mm x 5mm. I think it's also lovely. Which one do you think has better value. The madagascar one is $800 USD at 0.85ct.

360 video:

Pictures attached:

 

[Nikibukai]

It’s ok. A tad on the higher side but it is a beautiful colours and it’s easy for me to sit here and harp: Find a better price, when that may not be realistic for you.

If it’s the same colour as the pictures shown then I think it is a lovely colour!

Do you know much about the lab and do you trust it? I have bought with less well known labs too but they are ones I’m comfortable with through a fair bit of exposure so just wanted to make sure that you are confident that this lab is trust worthy.

It's a private workshop, but It's quite reputable. Planning to make it into something similar to a Lady Diana ring

 

[Nikibukai]

Welcome to the boards and congrats on your upcoming engagement! I'd say the price is decent enough for a heated stone in that size, if the color shown is accurate (because it's quite lovely). Could you find something comparable for around $750? Perhaps. But if this stone fits all of your criteria, it may be worth the few extra bucks for convenience (a bird in the hand...). One thing to consider though, corundum is quite dense, so sapphires face up smaller than most other gems, all things being equal. This one is cut very deep, which means it's facing up even smaller than your average 1ct. sapphire. So you have less impact. Good luck in your hunt!

Thank you! Planning on getting married next year

Yeah, I had a thought that it was unnecessarily tall. There is another one that's cut shallower so it has a bigger face even though it's smaller. Posted images of it above. What do you think? That one is from Madagascar.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I think the second stone is not as pretty as the first. It is a bit more steely and slightly grey. Less vivid. The first stone definitely has better colour which is reflected in their prices.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Do you have scope for a bigger sapphire? I only say this because once upon a time I bought many smaller stones and later on wished that I had pushed and gone a bit bigger in size.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Yes between these two the first is nicer and if you are planning to set it into a diamond halo then the small size difference won’t make much difference but the difference in color will! ETA: and I think this size is very nice in a cluster style halo, maybe with larger diamonds like 2.5-3mm each. Yum!

 

[Nikibukai]

Yes between these two the first is nicer and if you are planning to set it into a diamond halo then the small size difference won’t make much difference but the difference in color will! ETA: and I think this size is very nice in a cluster style halo, maybe with larger diamonds like 2.5-3mm each. Yum!

I think the second stone is not as pretty as the first. It is a bit more steely and slightly grey. Less vivid. The first stone definitely has better colour which is reflected in their prices.

This is the design I'm going for

 

[Dreamer_D]

Pretty! It will catch and poke everything. Food for thought.

 

[Nikibukai]

I think the second stone is not as pretty as the first. It is a bit more steely and slightly grey. Less vivid. The first stone definitely has better colour which is reflected in their prices.

Yes between these two the first is nicer and if you are planning to set it into a diamond halo then the small size difference won’t make much difference but the difference in color will! ETA: and I think this size is very nice in a cluster style halo, maybe with larger diamonds like 2.5-3mm each. Yum!

Really glad I came across this website. There is actually another stone I'm interested in, but I sent the pictures/videos to someone I know and they said it might be lab grown/fake

Gem is 2.36ct and priced at $1000

Video (set on a ring, planning to get stone only):

TikTok - Make Your Day

 

[Nikibukai]

Really glad I came across this website. There is actually another stone I'm interested in, but I sent the pictures/videos to someone I know and they said it might be lab grown/fake

Gem is 2.36ct and priced at $1000

Video (set on a ring, planning to get stone only):

TikTok - Make Your Day

Friend said it's too good to be true of a price. And there is indication of being lab grown from the video

 

[Dreamer_D]

I personally prefer to buy from trusted North American vendors for ease, for these reasons, but you do pay more. But you can return things easily and you know what you get.

 

[Nikibukai]

I personally prefer to buy from trusted North American vendors for ease, for these reasons, but you do pay more. But you can return things easily and you know what you get.

What do you think about the 3rd stone? It's huge at 2.36ct for $1000

Can't verify the IGL certificate though...

 

[Dreamer_D]

What do you think about the 3rd stone? It's huge at 2.36ct for $1000

Can't verify the IGL certificate though...

I am not a risk taker like that.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I wouldn’t take that risk unless I knew the lab. If you don’t know the lab, pass on this one. It doesn’t have to be a lab that we trust, but you need to trust it.

Can you ask the vendor of the first two stones if they have any larger stones?

Posting this for size reference

This is a 2.7+ carats in the Diana style

It’s 9.4 by 7

I know I keep pushing for larger sizes but if it gets kept and worn for a long time, you might want to consider whether 5mm will be large enough.

 

[Nikibukai]

I am not a risk taker like that.

I wouldn’t take that risk unless I knew the lab. If you don’t know the lab, pass on this one. It doesn’t have to be a lab that we trust, but you need to trust it.

Can you ask the vendor of the first two stones if they have any larger stones?

Posting this for size reference

This is a 2.7+ carats in the Diana style

It’s 9.4 by 7

I know I keep pushing for larger sizes but if it gets kept and worn for a long time, you might want to consider whether 5mm will be large enough.

The Lab is IGL branch of Indonesia. Credentials aside, what do you guys think about the quality of the gem?

 

[Nikibukai]

I wouldn’t take that risk unless I knew the lab. If you don’t know the lab, pass on this one. It doesn’t have to be a lab that we trust, but you need to trust it.

Can you ask the vendor of the first two stones if they have any larger stones?

Posting this for size reference

This is a 2.7+ carats in the Diana style

It’s 9.4 by 7

I know I keep pushing for larger sizes but if it gets kept and worn for a long time, you might want to consider whether 5mm will be large enough.

It's a beautiful ring

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

The gem in the ring is very nice. If it’s a natural sapphire with heat only, it’s a good purchase.

 

[newtojewels]

For more size reference, this is my mother's ring -- and annoyingly her knuckles are smaller than mine. I think it's 1.9 carats, definitely between 1.5 and 2. Ring size is around a 6, my fingers are 6.5-6.75.

 

[lovedogs]

The Lab is IGL branch of Indonesia. Credentials aside, what do you guys think about the quality of the gem?

That price makes no sense. Its either lab grown or a bait and switch

 

[Autumn in New England]

For more size reference, this is my mother's ring -- and annoyingly her knuckles are smaller than mine. I think it's 1.9 carats, definitely between 1.5 and 2. Ring size is around a 6, my fingers are 6.5-6.75.

You have lovely, long, slender fingers!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

I agree with everyone else, first stone's color and cut are far superior to the second. As far as the rings possibly being synthetic, I can't speculate. You'd need to purchase from a trusted seller and make sure you have a proper cert from a reputable lab. But yeah, my first thoughts echoed @lovedogs' comment.

 

[Nikibukai]

That price makes no sense. Its either lab grown or a bait and switch

I agree with everyone else, first stone's color and cut are far superior to the second. As far as the rings possibly being synthetic, I can't speculate. You'd need to purchase from a trusted seller and make sure you have a proper cert from a reputable lab. But yeah, my first thoughts echoed @lovedogs' comment.

Grateful for all the replies. The gemstone community is very positive.

That aside, what is a bait and switch?

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Grateful for all the replies. The gemstone community is very positive.

That aside, what is a bait and switch?

They show you one gem and send you something else completely.

That said this is NEVER happened to me and I have bought stuff from people I randomly texted! Granted I got reports that I was very comfortable with.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think a smaller gem is very nice for many people. I like smaller gems. My largest is 8x10 and I find it impractical for daily wear. My e-ring is 8mm and that is big enough for me. Add a halo and even a 5mm stone is large for many people. Just putting it out there as a counterpoint.