Lookin'' for a Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring

[undercover]

I''m in KC, MO (64137).

Tomorrow afternoon I''m heading out shopping. I''ve been to a couple places already. One was way expensive and really didn''t have much, and the other had a lot for good prices but the help was very annoying (wouldn''t listen to me when I said I wanted sapphire... treated me like a little kid because of my budget, etc.)

Should I dress up to go ring shopping just to get some respect?

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 3/3/2008 2:39:37 PM
Author: undercover
I''m in KC, MO (64137).


Tomorrow afternoon I''m heading out shopping. I''ve been to a couple places already. One was way expensive and really didn''t have much, and the other had a lot for good prices but the help was very annoying (wouldn''t listen to me when I said I wanted sapphire... treated me like a little kid because of my budget, etc.)


Should I dress up to go ring shopping just to get some respect?

I''ve been shopping around a lot myself and even with a bigger budget it''s hard to find a store that have even a decent sapphire collection let alone loose stones. I''ve found that most have to get stones on memo and that takes a little time.

Good luck!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/3/2008 3:20:54 PM
Author: Kneeling08

Date: 3/3/2008 2:39:37 PM

Author: undercover

I''m in KC, MO (64137).



Tomorrow afternoon I''m heading out shopping. I''ve been to a couple places already. One was way expensive and really didn''t have much, and the other had a lot for good prices but the help was very annoying (wouldn''t listen to me when I said I wanted sapphire... treated me like a little kid because of my budget, etc.)



Should I dress up to go ring shopping just to get some respect?

I''ve been shopping around a lot myself and even with a bigger budget it''s hard to find a store that have even a decent sapphire collection let alone loose stones. I''ve found that most have to get stones on memo and that takes a little time.


Good luck!

Yeah agreed. Especially since you aren''t near any major cities.

 

[Kneeling08]

Ok Party People,

I''ve gotten a little farther this week. I''m on the point on having some stones sent to me on memo from NSC. I''ve asked wink and others for quotes but haven''t heard from them or they didn''t have the selection. I''m going to have a couple that are lighter in color and a couple that are darker on their website just so I can compare them. Here''s most of ''em.

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3

I think I''m also set a this Scott Kay setting unless someone here has a comparable design they can suggest. This caught my eye on their website and unfortunately the only place that carries him around here is Robbins Bros. I''ve also contacted Pearlman to get a quote. As much as I don''t want to pay for designer prices I have yet to find this look for elsewhere.

Thoughts?

 

[FrekeChild]

I''m digging the Scott Kay setting. I love the surprise stone. Because you''re getting a Sapphire as the center stone. I''d put little sapphires in there just for fun.

I like the color of the first one the most for someone else. The facets on the second one make me want to start convulsing. I don''t like that one at all-which is weird because for me, I like that color the most. The third one is very pretty too.

 

[Eos30d]

I was lucky enough to get to know the Natural Sapphire Co recently just bought an amazing stone from them. The pictures and video on their webpage are only a rough guide to the stones and in the end were almost useless in determining what stone I chose. That said, looking at your three I think "Round 2" will be amazing. From the ones I got to see, a few had the more traditional diamond cut with few facets on the bottom (like round 1) and they just didn''t have the depth I wanted. I felt like I could just see right through them, and they had little sparkle especially in low light. But, the one I chose had a very similar cut to your no. 2 and it has an internal sparkle and life that I have never seen the likes of.

I have attached the photo of it that the NSC had on their page at the time. And the listing is still online here but who knows for how long. Good luck! It is very fun to have a little black box of stones "out on memo."

 

[chrono]

Okay, here''s my assessment which you are free to disagree with. ^_<

Round 1: Nice colour but the center looks "dead".
Round 2: Colour isn''t as nice as 1 but the cut is not bad.
Round 3: Nice colour and the cut is very interesting. If not for the UNGODLY depth of 82%, I would have chosen this. Even though this has the highest carat weight, due to the terribly deep depth, it faces up much smaller than Round 2. It is only 7.11 mm vs Round 2''s 7.6 mm. The other thing is that with such depth, the stone may NOT fit your setting. You''ll have to be careful and give the jeweller the measurements of the sapphire up front before ordering the setting. It could end up being a custom setting.

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 3/3/2008 10:20:16 PM
Author: FrekeChild
I''m digging the Scott Kay setting. I love the surprise stone. Because you''re getting a Sapphire as the center stone. I''d put little sapphires in there just for fun.

I like the color of the first one the most for someone else. The facets on the second one make me want to start convulsing. I don''t like that one at all-which is weird because for me, I like that color the most. The third one is very pretty too.

That''s funny my good friend Auco from Emitations also suggested that. I guess you guys just have that eye for things like that. I''m seriously considering it.

Here a hackjob photoshop of what it could be like.

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 3/4/2008 12:24:49 PM
Author: Chrono
Okay, here''s my assessment which you are free to disagree with. ^_<


Round 1: Nice colour but the center looks ''dead''.

Round 2: Colour isn''t as nice as 1 but the cut is not bad.

Round 3: Nice colour and the cut is very interesting. If not for the UNGODLY depth of 82%, I would have chosen this. Even though this has the highest carat weight, due to the terribly deep depth, it faces up much smaller than Round 2. It is only 7.11 mm vs Round 2''s 7.6 mm. The other thing is that with such depth, the stone may NOT fit your setting. You''ll have to be careful and give the jeweller the measurements of the sapphire up front before ordering the setting. It could end up being a custom setting.

Thanks Chrono.

I wasn''t sure about the lighter color of stone 2 either but I saw it mounted on this ring (resize the window smaller if the resolution is too big) and the color looked a little richer when in the setting.

I''ve asked a couple of people what the range of dimensions are for that ring and am waiting for a response. I actually asked pearlman that question but haven''t heard a reply in a few days. Anyone know his usual turnaround?

If you could enlighten me what is a good depth percentage and what is that compared in ratio to? Is there some ideal range I should be looking for?

Thanks again Chrono!

 

[autumngems]

Here is one that Michael E cut for me, I love it. I bought the rough from Aussie sapphires and then sent it to Michael to cut.

 

[autumngems]

Michael E also cut this one

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 3/4/2008 1:40:35 PM
Author: Kneeling08

Date: 3/4/2008 12:24:49 PM

Author: Chrono

Okay, here''s my assessment which you are free to disagree with. ^_<



Round 1: Nice colour but the center looks ''dead''.


Round 2: Colour isn''t as nice as 1 but the cut is not bad.


Round 3: Nice colour and the cut is very interesting. If not for the UNGODLY depth of 82%, I would have chosen this. Even though this has the highest carat weight, due to the terribly deep depth, it faces up much smaller than Round 2. It is only 7.11 mm vs Round 2''s 7.6 mm. The other thing is that with such depth, the stone may NOT fit your setting. You''ll have to be careful and give the jeweller the measurements of the sapphire up front before ordering the setting. It could end up being a custom setting.

Thanks Chrono.


I wasn''t sure about the lighter color of stone 2 either but I saw it mounted on this ring (resize the window smaller if the resolution is too big) and the color looked a little richer when in the setting.


I''ve asked a couple of people what the range of dimensions are for that ring and am waiting for a response. I actually asked pearlman that question but haven''t heard a reply in a few days. Anyone know his usual turnaround?


If you could enlighten me what is a good depth percentage and what is that compared in ratio to? Is there some ideal range I should be looking for?


Thanks again Chrono!

NOooOOOoOOoOOOOOO!

Argh someone nabbed that 2nd stone! Ok fess up which one of you was it!??!

I''m getting this one instead. It''s of similar color but the cut isn''t as nice and the gulet is a little more off.

 

[FrekeChild]

Ooo...pretty!!I like that one!

 

[chrono]

I''m sorry that Round 2 has been taken. I agree that the new round (4?) isn''t cut as well. It is also deep at 72% and the culet is off center. For rounds, stay around the mid 60s if you can.

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 3/5/2008 12:29:58 PM
Author: Chrono
I''m sorry that Round 2 has been taken. I agree that the new round (4?) isn''t cut as well. It is also deep at 72% and the culet is off center. For rounds, stay around the mid 60s if you can.

I got the stones in this morning. The replacement for the 2nd one B2384 is actually really well cut and to my eye the culet being off center is not detectable. However it is really a lighter blue imo. The first one has great color... however I can probably jump through that window. I held it up against the light and saw clear through

. The third one is nice but there''s an inclusion that to me is very noticeable near the table surface.

I''m still trying to hear from melissa/wink if richard at concavegems has anything available. I''ve asked NSC if they have anything with the cut of one and the color of another and waiting to hear from em.

Stay tuned!

 

[chrono]

That''s a pretty good assessment and what I expected based on the pictures NSC provided. It would be great if NSC has a stone with the colour of stone 1 and the cut of the previous stone 2 (or even that fancy cutting of stone 3 without that extra depth). I hope Wink will be able to find something nice for you.

 

[Isabelle]

Date: 2/28/2008 12:54:16 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 2/28/2008 12:30:24 PM

Author: Chrono

Date: 2/27/2008 8:25:48 PM


Author: neatfreak


Hi Kneeling,



I would certainly buy from Natural Sapphire Company in a heartbeat. They also do great settings, and many people have been super happy with their purchases from there. Steve Bliss is great.



That being said, the guy from the store is giving you some BS. See the sapphire in my avatar? It''s 2.15 carats, from ceylon, and was a LOT LOT less than even the small end of YOUR budget...nowhere near 9.5k. Now it''s not the most ''desired'' color...but it''s pretty close to what you photoshopped and it IS a gorgeous blue. In sunlight my stone is a lot brighter and just glows, these pictures don''t really do it justice!



That being said, the color in sapphires can vary widely and the price does too. I wouldn''t rule out heat treated unless it''s super important to you, because there are some gorgeous heated sapphires out there too.



I''d start with NSC...and also talk to Jeff White at White''s Gems. He cut my gorgeous sapphire and would be happy to cut a piece of rough for you ''made to order'' if you have some flexibility on time. Jeff is fantastic as well.



Here''s my sapphire set in a ring. I agree that diamonds, whether as accent stones or pave, look fabulous with sapphires (but I''m biased!)

Neatfreak,


Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe your stone has been heat treated, thus pricing will be MUCH less than an untreated sapphire.

Yes, but I was simply pointing out that stones with beautiful colors can be had for a lot less $. I also mentioned to him that there are many heated stones that are beautiful in color too. Didn''t mean to imply that mine wasn''t heated, just that his local B&M''s $9.5k price as a ''bottom end'' was quite high.

There is nothing wrong with a heat treated sapphire. Tiffany and many other top jewelers including Van Cleef and others sell heat treated sapphires. I saw one recently retailing for over $200K. Why would anyone pay more for an unheated sapphire if they could get a heated sapphire that was more beautiful in the same price range? I know that unheated is better, but when you look at Sothebys and others, they sell "important" gemstones and sometimes they were heated. I would get the stone that speaks to you and worry about whether it was heat treated secondarily. (And actually, I wouldn''t worry about whether or not it was heated at all. But maybe that''s just me. )

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 3/7/2008 11:58:16 AM
Author: Chrono
That's a pretty good assessment and what I expected based on the pictures NSC provided. It would be great if NSC has a stone with the colour of stone 1 and the cut of the previous stone 2 (or even that fancy cutting of stone 3 without that extra depth). I hope Wink will be able to find something nice for you.

It's been awhile but here's the latest.

I got a couple of stones from Richard Homer through Wink. I scrutinized them for about a week before eventually sending them back. Don't get me wrong guys. If you haven't seen a concave cut sapphire/gem before the pictures you see on PS truly truly truly do not do them justice. They are beautiful! The brilliance is amazing. Unfortunately, the couple I got were not the right color I was looking for.

I'm now working with Jeff to try to find me something

Also... I'm not so much set on the Scott Kay anymore because I've realized I could get something equally perty without paying so much for the designer name.

 

[kellyfish]

Jeff White is the way to do it. His stones are fantastic! Please update often!

 

[chrono]

Thanks for the update: sorry that Richard doesn''t have anything you like.

There is Concave faceting and there is Concave faceting. Richard''s technique is far superior to many other concave cuts I''ve seen. Still, as wonderful as they are (I have one of his concave cut stones), I am still partial to traditional flat faceting.

I hope Jeff will be able to come up with something you like.

 

[Kneeling08]

Hi All,

I''m in a bit of a pickle.

While Jeff has been out, I got a local jeweler (Finell''s in north county San Diego) to get some stones for me. They came back with what is probably the best heated round I''ve seen so far. The blue is amazing and the cut and clarity are good.

My one question is about the price. The stone is 2.3 cts with a 7.3 mm diameter. They''re quoting me $5600. I''ve seen other heated stones (though not on hand) for less than 4.5k. I think it is on the pricier side but I''ve had such a tough time even getting to see nice round stones that I''m considering it.

The real pickle is that Jeff says he''s sourcing an untreated stone of similar size and shape for under 5k. It has a superior color to the cushion that diamondseeker had. The catch is it will cost me several hundred dollars (possibly non refundable) just for him to acquire it.

What to do?!

 

[chrono]

Ask Jeff for a picture.

How does the colour of the local blue sapphire compare to DS'' prior sapphire?

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 4/8/2008 12:10:40 PM
Author: Chrono
Ask Jeff for a picture.


How does the colour of the local blue sapphire compare to DS'' prior sapphire?

It''s a much deeper/"richer" royal blue to say,

or

It looked great under the lights. I''m gonna go back in there an look at it under the sun.

I was going to ask Jeff for pix but he took off before I could =/. I know Jeff stuff is quality cut but I''m pretty sure that this local stone is the color I want. I''m thinking I could just shell out then have Jeff take a look and possibly better the cut.

 

[Kneeling08]

To add, the polish of the stone is excellent. I looked at it under the cylinder magnification thingy and it was really nice. I couldn''t see any scratches on the facets or flaws where they came together. The saturation was just right and it didn''t seem to me like it was flooding with blue. The tone was between medium and dark.

 

[chrono]

Sounds like a very pretty stone. If that''s the case, I probably would not have it go under the knife unless it has glaring faults. There''s weight loss and dimension size loss to consider as well.

 

[Kneeling08]

Date: 4/8/2008 4:54:35 PM
Author: Chrono
Sounds like a very pretty stone. If that''s the case, I probably would not have it go under the knife unless it has glaring faults. There''s weight loss and dimension size loss to consider as well.

I went in again today and they did let me take it out in the sun. I gotta say it looked even prettier with no change in the kind of blue I saw indoors. They''re holding it for me.

Great news was that Jeff got back to me on my way to them and said he''d send pix of the one he''s sourcing once he''s got em.

Also, I checked on this setting at another store today and I think I''m sold! Money down to hold it and all

 

[chrono]

Great news. I''ll be awaiting for pictures...

 

[nicholerh]

I had a hard time finding my perfect round sapphire too. We had some brought in from the NSC, we spoke with online companies before we finally found the gem we were searching for at our local jeweler. We made them bring in a total of 10 (yes, 10!) for us to pick from. They did 5 the first time but I wasn''t happy with them and so they brought in 5 more. This is kinda funny because ours is just slightly smaller than yours (1.9) brilliant round cut with an amazing blue and very similarly priced!

Here''s what we got! If it''s similar to ours I gotta say it''s going to look stunning in all settings, except maybe a movie theater

 

[diamondseeker2006]

SDL, that was the one I had. It was very beautiful! I would not want one any darker because that one looked darker in some lighting.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Kneeling, how about sharing the pictures from Jeff even if you don't want it. Maybe one of us will! I can relate to the feeling about putting down non-refundable deposits, though.

One more thought. $5000 for a heated 2 ct. is incredibly high! I wouldn't pay that for heated.