little Maddy the Madagascar sapphire

[katiedid]

Ok all, here she is. Honest feedback is appreciated - I know nothing about gems (except what is pleasing to MY eye). I think the color of this stone is perfect - hope it won''t be too dark when set. I had a really hard time photographing it though. I''m gonna try to get some more in the sun. My hubby said he thinks it''s beautiful. As I said in another post, I was expecting it to be larger. It measures 5.10 I believe. Is that too small for a bezel pendant? Ok, pics coming!

 

[katiedid]

face up

 

[katiedid]

from side

 

[katiedid]

on my hand

 

[katiedid]

from bottom

 

[katiedid]

oops - let me try that again

 

[katiedid]

is it normal for it to be a little lopsided on the bottom?

 

[geckodani]

Hmmm.

I think the color is GREAT!
I think the size is just fine for a pendent.

But - are you happy with it? You seem a little hesitant, which is not how you want to be when making a big purchase.
The cut does look a little wonky on the bottom, IMO.

 

[katiedid]

closer up

 

[katiedid]

I think this one is better.

 

[neatfreak]

It is a very pretty color, but I will warn you that I have a sapphire bezel pendant and the stone does look considerably darker in the bezel. Just something to think about! You also might want to make sure it''s not too deep for that setting, the culet looks like it might hit your neck if the back of the pendant is open.

 

[katiedid]

another

 

[katiedid]

this is interesting... the sapphire is .88 ct and my diamond pendant is .75 ct. I know sapphires appear smaller at the same carat weight. I think that''s why I was surprised it was as small as it is.

 

[katiedid]

thanks for the feedback ladies! I didn''t love it when I got it yesterday but I''m loving it more and more! I absolutely love the color. I''m just debating whether I should reconsider the setting. I really don''t want to go through the hassle and cost of returning it (I spend $23 on shipping it here and I''d have to ship it back and start searching again...). This wasn''t supposed to be a difficult project.

Granted, if I was creating a ring or something very expensive, I''d be more choosy. But I really do love the color of this stone. I need to point Lesley to these photos and get her (and Bob''s opinions). Keep the feedback coming!

 

[LostSapphire]

Very pretty! I''m glad you love it.

I''m sensing a bit of hesitation from you re: the size, however.....

Do you have the dimensions of the stone? (ie: depth?). It *seems* deep in your profile photo. That may explain why the difference between a .88 and a .75 is so pronounced: a fair bit of depth will affect the diameter of the round....That will also affect the colour intensity as well.

LS

 

[katiedid]

Thanks! The dimensions are 5.10 x 5.10 x 4.10, .88 ct. Does that make it too deep? I''m only hesitant about the size and that''s only b/c I thought it would be bigger. My husband said he doesn''t think it seems small. I think I was comparing it (in my head) to my diamond pendant and it''s quite a bit smaller.

I just emailed Lesley so hopefully she''ll let me know if it''s not a good one for this project.

 

[cushioncutnut]

Chiming in here as a non expert of course, but it appears to be nicely saturated. For it''s carat weight...it does appear to have most of it''s weight in the bottom of the stone making the color deeper. I agree, if you are going with a bezel setting, it will make the color deeper. Also, you may want to ask Lesley if the stone can be set into ANY pendant setting so that the culet won''t poke at your neck. (OUCH!) I vote a lovely halo setting! I think the stone will POP with some diamonds around it!!

All this said, does it have a nice sparkle factor to it? How does it look outdoors? Can you take a pic of it outside? I think from what I see so far, I wouldn''t send it back either............ I know what it is like buying and shipping back and the expense of doing so. That is a merry-go-round that I don''t want to ride again for a looong while!!

 

[katiedid]

thanks ccn! the first couple of photos were outside but it''s kinda cloudy today. I do think it''s deep but of course photos magnify everything immensely! I really can''t afford to halo it, although I agree that would be beautiful. It''s fairly sparkly - I''m sure it would be more so if it were a little lighter in color. I''m used to looking at my gorgeous WF ering diamond, so nothing sparkles like those.

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 8/2/2008 11:51:04 AM
Author: katiedid
Thanks! The dimensions are 5.10 x 5.10 x 4.10, .88 ct. Does that make it too deep? I'm only hesitant about the size and that's only b/c I thought it would be bigger. My husband said he doesn't think it seems small. I think I was comparing it (in my head) to my diamond pendant and it's quite a bit smaller.

I just emailed Lesley so hopefully she'll let me know if it's not a good one for this project.

OK I just lost my post....let me try again!

Depth can sometimes be in the eye of the beholder.....from your photo, it seemed a tad deep to me, but that could possibly be the angle of the pic.

Would it help if I gave you something to compare it to? This might alleviate your concern, or, it may tell you this one isn't working for you. I hope you don't mind my posting the stats of my round sapphire, but I happen to have a really good profile shot and would happily share it....I'm not in any way intimating that one is better than the other. I just found when I was searching for it, there were very few good profile shots to look at......Everyone has their own sense of what is right for them. I hope yours makes your heart sing (the colour is beautiful!): if not, there are lots more out there!

Stats: 7.6 x 7.6 x 4.65 overall depth (3mm below the girdle) 2.04 ct.

LS

ETA: none of them are absolutely perfect! It's what's perfect for YOU that matters!

 

[katiedid]

LS, your sapphire is just perfection to me. I''m really starting to think this stone is too deep. It''s ok - I would rather return it and start over than set it and not be 100% happy with it. I''m just looking for you guys to say "I would/would not keep that stone!"

thanks again for your feedback - I really appreciate it!

 

[glitterata]

It may just be my monitor, but to me it looks dark, and it will get darker when it''s set. Part of what''s making it look dark, probably, is the depth of the cut, which is also what''s making it look small for its weight. If it were me, I would keep looking. However, you''ve seen it in real life, so you have a better sense of how it actually looks. If you love it, keep it.

 

[katiedid]

thanks!

Has anyone used alphaimports?

 

[icekid]

I think the color is pretty, but probably too dark for me too.. Especially considering it will darken up when bezel set, which is your plan. It is definitely cut fairly deep, and I''m not loving that off-center culet either. Since it is deep, the bezel would also need to be relatively deep compared to the size of the stone. But if you''re loving it in person (more important than what we see on the computer!), you should definitely see what WF can do to make it happen.

 

[swingirl]

First off let me say I am not an expert on gemstones. But I think your stone is dark and deep. I know nothing about how easy it is to find something better for the price you have paid but I think it will appear darker when set. I am surprised it is so much smaller than the diamond pendant. It is a beautiful color, though, and if you like that saturation, it could be just right for you. Diamond halo would be a nice compliment.

 

[Catmom]

Date: 8/2/2008 1:38:49 PM
Author: swingirl
First off let me say I am not an expert on gemstones. But I think your stone is dark and deep. I know nothing about how easy it is to find something better for the price you have paid but I think it will appear darker when set. I am surprised it is so much smaller than the diamond pendant. It is a beautiful color, though, and if you like that saturation, it could be just right for you. Diamond halo would be a nice compliment.

Ditto!

 

[Pandora II]

The stone is very deep which is making it face-up small for the ct weight.

The colour is pretty, but it will be darker when it''s set.

I would probably be tempted to keep shopping, mainly because you are paying for a lot of non-visible weight.

Richard at artcutgems had some beautiful sapphires last time I looked. It''s also worth emailing him as not all his stock is on the website.

 

[katiedid]

You guys have helped me so much! I think I''m going to return it. It''s pretty but for what I wanted to do with it, I just don''t know that it''s a good match. This was supposed to be an inexpensive project and I''m thinking that with ordering and returning stones, it''s going to (or could) get very pricey quickly. I am again considering my second option from the start, which was to have WF make me the DBTY necklace with sapphires. I still love that idea, and for the money I want to spend, it may be my safest best and turn out to be something I''ll really love wearing... stay tuned!

 

[geckodani]

Date: 8/2/2008 2:48:49 PM
Author: katiedid
You guys have helped me so much! I think I''m going to return it. It''s pretty but for what I wanted to do with it, I just don''t know that it''s a good match. This was supposed to be an inexpensive project and I''m thinking that with ordering and returning stones, it''s going to (or could) get very pricey quickly. I am again considering my second option from the start, which was to have WF make me the DBTY necklace with sapphires. I still love that idea, and for the money I want to spend, it may be my safest best and turn out to be something I''ll really love wearing... stay tuned!

If you want my honest opinion - I think you''d probably wear the DBTY necklace more often - it''s more versatile.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Date: 8/2/2008 2:48:49 PM
Author: katiedid
You guys have helped me so much! I think I''m going to return it. It''s pretty but for what I wanted to do with it, I just don''t know that it''s a good match. This was supposed to be an inexpensive project and I''m thinking that with ordering and returning stones, it''s going to (or could) get very pricey quickly. I am again considering my second option from the start, which was to have WF make me the DBTY necklace with sapphires. I still love that idea, and for the money I want to spend, it may be my safest best and turn out to be something I''ll really love wearing... stay tuned!

I like that idea. I would live to get a DBTY with sapphires someday!

The sapphire is pretty, nice color, but I am worried about how deep it is for a necklace, and it does face up a lot smaller becauseo of the depth.

 

[katiedid]

I think I might wear it more often too. I''m more casual so that''ll probably fit me better.