Looking for blue sapphire

[Indablue123]

Hey guys!

I’m looking for a nice blue sapphire. I’d prefer to keep the price below $1000.

I’m open to an oval cut, pear cut, or cushion cut. Preferably no treatments.

I’ll attach a pic of the color that I really like in a blue sapphire.

Any help would be appreciated!

I’m looking for 0.5ct-1 ct. I’m not sure what’s realistic with the color/price I want.

 

[voce]

Ok, it seems like although you are open to a variety of sapphire shapes, you have many constraints:

1. Price under $1000
2. Unheated/untreated
3. Top color
4. Between .5-1 carat

First of all, most stones of the color in the picture you posted are heated. Very very few sapphires naturally have that vivid tone of blue, so you have to pay for that rarity. I suspect that the stone you posted a pic of does not satisfy your constraints in at least one condition, either the treatment bit or the price, or it's no longer available, or else you would not have to keep searching for a sapphire.

With what I know of what most sapphire vendors have in stock for available cut stones (I just did a quick search for you), it is not realistic to buy an unheated stone looking like that picture for less than $1000. You're going to have to compromise on something--cut, color, or the price.

The recommended vendors who have the most sapphires in inventory are Finewater Gems and Gemfix. You can browse what they have, but the ones that satisfy your other critieria are not the exact same color. They are lovely, just not quite as saturated in tone.

https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1031
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p358/0.97_ct_Unheated_Violetish-Blue_Sapphire.html

Or, you can compromise on the cut. A not-as-reputable vendor, Natural Sapphire Company, sells windowed gems that satisfy all your other conditions. I noticed you did not ask for a precision cut as one of your conditions. Windowed gems are kind of dead in the center (the window), because light leaks out of the stone and does not reflect back through the table to the viewer. NSC has windowed gems that match the color you're looking for, and some less windowed ones that aren't an exact match for the color but are ok in value for what they are.

Here is the filtered search results from NSC so you can see if there's anything in the 6 pages of results that you want to buy:
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompa...carat_min=0.5&carat_max=1&sortby=&pagesize=40

And, here is an example of a NSC stone that is less windowed. Personally I'd go with this stone if I were you, buy it on sale, then deck the heck out of it with diamonds in the setting (but use a different vendor than NSC for the setting, since NSC is overpriced). https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.88ct-ceylon-cushion-blue-sapphire-b9728-/

Finally, please beware that the picture the vendor posts may look different in a natural light setting. Please be prepared to view the stone first and then return if it doesn't satisfy you. All three of these vendors have a very reasonable return policy. Also, know that you'll likely have to pay out-of-pocket to certify whether the stone is unheated. Vendors don't normally certify stones under $1000.

 

[torontocatlady]

OK so voce makes some good points. What you're looking for is rare and you will usually be paying a premium for this. However, I do recall seeing one recently which may fit your bill. Not sure if you are open to round?

I have never bought from this vendor but she does have good reviews here on PS:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/634203651/ceylon-sapphire-sapphire-round-5mm?ref=shop_home_active_29

If you are interested I'd ask for a video. I think the price is reasonable and the colour is very nice.

 

[voce]

OK so voce makes some good points. What you're looking for is rare and you will usually be paying a premium for this. However, I do recall seeing one recently which may fit your bill. Not sure if you are open to round?

I have never bought from this vendor but she does have good reviews here on PS:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/634203651/ceylon-sapphire-sapphire-round-5mm?ref=shop_home_active_29

If you are interested I'd ask for a video. I think the price is reasonable and the colour is very nice.

Oooh that is one of Yvonne's stones. She doesn't usually have many sapphires under $1000, but this is more on the lower size range OP is looking for. @Indablue123 if this little round fits the bill, I highly recommend doing business with Yvonne Raley of Cecile Raley Designs. You can have the stone custom set into a setting of your choosing!

Have a look at her various setting designs:
https://www.cecileraleydesigns.com/pages/custom-ring-designs-2
and design inspirations:
https://www.cecileraleydesigns.com/pages/2015-get-inspired
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-yvonne-raley-and-cecile-raley-designs.219561

Btw Yvonne is an absolute delight to work with. You'll get the best possible customer service if you choose to have her set the sapphire.

 

[Indablue123]

Ok, it seems like although you are open to a variety of sapphire shapes, you have many constraints:

1. Price under $1000
2. Unheated/untreated
3. Top color
4. Between .5-1 carat

First of all, most stones of the color in the picture you posted are heated. Very very few sapphires naturally have that vivid tone of blue, so you have to pay for that rarity. I suspect that the stone you posted a pic of does not satisfy your constraints in at least one condition, either the treatment bit or the price, or it's no longer available, or else you would not have to keep searching for a sapphire.

With what I know of what most sapphire vendors have in stock for available cut stones (I just did a quick search for you), it is not realistic to buy an unheated stone looking like that picture for less than $1000. You're going to have to compromise on something--cut, color, or the price.

The recommended vendors who have the most sapphires in inventory are Finewater Gems and Gemfix. You can browse what they have, but the ones that satisfy your other critieria are not the exact same color. They are lovely, just not quite as saturated in tone.

https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1031
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p358/0.97_ct_Unheated_Violetish-Blue_Sapphire.html

Or, you can compromise on the cut. A not-as-reputable vendor, Natural Sapphire Company, sells windowed gems that satisfy all your other conditions. I noticed you did not ask for a precision cut as one of your conditions. Windowed gems are kind of dead in the center (the window), because light leaks out of the stone and does not reflect back through the table to the viewer. NSC has windowed gems that match the color you're looking for, and some less windowed ones that aren't an exact match for the color but are ok in value for what they are.

Here is the filtered search results from NSC so you can see if there's anything in the 6 pages of results that you want to buy:
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompa...carat_min=0.5&carat_max=1&sortby=&pagesize=40

And, here is an example of a NSC stone that is less windowed. Personally I'd go with this stone if I were you, buy it on sale, then deck the heck out of it with diamonds in the setting (but use a different vendor than NSC for the setting, since NSC is overpriced). https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.88ct-ceylon-cushion-blue-sapphire-b9728-/

Finally, please beware that the picture the vendor posts may look different in a natural light setting. Please be prepared to view the stone first and then return if it doesn't satisfy you. All three of these vendors have a very reasonable return policy. Also, know that you'll likely have to pay out-of-pocket to certify whether the stone is unheated. Vendors don't normally certify stones under $1000.

Yeah I realized that everything I was asking for was probably unrealistic, I just wasn’t sure what I could sacrifice/what’s more important in terms of sapphires.

I do really love the cushion you posted. I also like this one:

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.67ct-ceylon-oval-blue-sapphire-b8416-/

But not sure if it’s a good option. It just seemed sparkly in the 360 video, with less windowing (I guess that’s it) then other ovals.

 

[voce]

Yeah I realized that everything I was asking for was probably unrealistic, I just wasn’t sure what I could sacrifice/what’s more important in terms of sapphires.

I do really love the cushion you posted. I also like this one:

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.67ct-ceylon-oval-blue-sapphire-b8416-/

But not sure if it’s a good option. It just seemed sparkly in the 360 video, with less windowing (I guess that’s it) then other ovals.

Yeah, I don't think that gem is windowed. It's just a bit dark for my taste. FWIW my blue sapphire (see avatar) was a lighter color before setting it. I'm afraid your gem will get darker after setting it, but if that's the blue you like, then go for it.

In terms of what most people sacrifice for color, it's the heating. Heating has been practiced for hundreds of years and is a stable and widely accepted treatment.

Another vendor you could try is Mastercut Gems. They have a sale going on, and there's an untreated octagonal 0.77ct for $230. https://mastercutgems.com/Products/Products.php?FilterText=blue+sapphire

My experience with Mastercut is that most of their gems look better in real life than their pictures, unlike most vendors. And any one of Mastercut's gems is priced competitively.

 

[Indablue123]

Yeah, I don't think that gem is windowed. It's just a bit dark for my taste. FWIW my blue sapphire (see avatar) was a lighter color before setting it. I'm afraid your gem will get darker after setting it, but if that's the blue you like, then go for it.

In terms of what most people sacrifice for color, it's the heating. Heating has been practiced for hundreds of years and is a stable and widely accepted treatment.

Another vendor you could try is Mastercut Gems. They have a sale going on, and there's an untreated octagonal 0.77ct for $230. https://mastercutgems.com/Products/Products.php?FilterText=blue+sapphire

My experience with Mastercut is that most of their gems look better in real life than their pictures, unlike most vendors. And any one of Mastercut's gems is priced competitively.

Thanks for the link! I love the octagonal shape. How would you recommend a gem of that shape be set? My original idea was to do a halo of OECs around an oval or cushion cut blue sapphire. I’m not sure what would look best for an octagonal shape.

And thanks for all of the information. I didn’t know that most sapphires were heated, I just read that treatments were undesirable.

 

[voce]

Thanks for the link! I love the octagonal shape. How would you recommend a gem of that shape be set? My original idea was to do a halo of OECs around an oval or cushion cut blue sapphire. I’m not sure what would look best for an octagonal shape.

And thanks for all of the information. I didn’t know that most sapphires were heated, I just read that treatments were undesirable.

If you want to go with the octagonal sapphire, I would think double prongs. A halo would be doable, but then the diamonds would have to be baguettes for the corners. Estimate a custom halo setting to cost around $1000. Are you sure you wouldn't want a nice round sapphire that would fit into a premade halo semi-mount?

 

[Indablue123]

If you want to go with the octagonal sapphire, I would think double prongs. A halo would be doable, but then the diamonds would have to be baguettes for the corners. Estimate a custom halo setting to cost around $1000. Are you sure you wouldn't want a nice round sapphire that would fit into a premade halo semi-mount?

I could look into it, but honestly I’m not really attracted to round stone shapes. I wouldn’t say I like unique shapes, as I think oval and cushion are pretty popular in general, but I don’t know. Round cut just doesn’t do it for me.

I am open to suggestions though. I don’t want to have too many restrictions where it’s impossible to find my preferred cut, color, treatments, price, etc.

 

[Bron357]

Oops sorry.

 

[Indablue123]

Ok I’ve been looking this weekend and wanted some opinions on the following sapphires. I’ve gone against what I said, as a lot of these are heated (decided I don’t care). I’m also including some pink sapphires, as I saw a few I liked, and now I’m torn. I don’t really know what I’m looking at, I just picked the ones that looked pretty to me, so I’d appreciate any advice.

Blue:

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.61ct-ceylon-round-blue-sapphire-b8220-/#AssetData6

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.78ct-ceylon-cushion-blue-sapphire-b6931-/

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.66ct-ceylon-cushion-blue-sapphire-b6801-/

Probably more than I want to pay, even though I could potentially go up to $1000, but:
https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.78ct-ceylon-round-blue-sapphire-b9999-/



Pink:

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.92ct-ceylon-round-pink-sapphire-p3456-/

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/0.99ct-ceylon-oval-pink-sapphire-p3457-/

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/1.23ct-ceylon-oval-pink-sapphire-p3458-/


Thanks!

 

[Bron357]

I like the 1.23 pink oval the best and it’s also a standard size (7 x 5) which means you could save money and go with a “stock setting”.
The most expensive blue (round) is my other pick, better colour.

 

[voce]

I agree with @Bron357 's choice for pink sapphire, but I have a soft spot for cushions, so I'll say the 0.78ct cushion instead of the 0.78ct round. The cushion is around 5mmx5mm, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a stock setting off Ivy&Rose on Etsy.

 

[2Neesers]

If you don’t go with one of the above, here is another nice blue sapphire to consider for around $650. It looks like it might have the tiniest window, but you might not notice it in person if you aren’t fussy about them, or it could likely close up in the right setting. Brad has lots of great reviews here and will send you more photos if you request them. I would ask for a hand shot in natural lighting. This one also comes with an AGL Gem Brief.
https://www.thegemtrader.com/gems-ruby-sapphire/109-ct-sri-lankan-blue-sapphire

 

[peacechick]

A 5mm cushion will look bigger than a 5mm round. I actually like the 7x5 pink sapphire best too. That’s a good size and will go in a stock setting.

 

[Indablue123]

Thanks for all of the opinions. The 1.23 pink sapphire has been purchased. I’m really excited to see it and I’ll post pics when it gets here. If you have any recommendations/suggestions for a setting, feel free to post a link! I’m still looking around.

I’m still interested in a blue sapphire, but it will have to wait a bit. Maybe as a Christmas gift but I’ll be back for recommendations then too, as you guys have been so helpful!

 

[Indablue123]

So I got the sapphire. I’m on the fence about it. I’m going to take this weekend to think about it, but it might be going back.

My pictures are not the best, but I’ll attach one.

 

[Jbows]

Could you take a better picture? It seems like a pretty color (at least from what I can tell) but maybe some extinction on the right side? It's hard to tell. The NSC is kinda known for crappy cuts so you could find one that has better pay off!