Loose stones to setting question

[eesmom]

Hello PSers,

I have been doing a lot of just looking online at different sapphires, loose and mounted on ebay and etsy. I have come to notice that a lot of the mounted sapphires have a band of darkness that shows where the setting cuts across beneath the stone. Is that okay/normal? Is that mainly due to the lack of saturation in the stone? I guess I am curious as to the difference between transparency and saturation when it comes to looking at loose sapphires. I guess I don't know if they can coexist? Is transparency not desired if I want the sapphire to not show the ring setting underneath or is that going to be a moot point if I am wearing the ring? Help! I am not sure if my questions make sense, but maybe that just reflects my confusion a bit.

 

[shelovesinclusions]

Hello PSers,

I have been doing a lot of just looking online at different sapphires, loose and mounted on ebay and etsy. I have come to notice that a lot of the mounted sapphires have a band of darkness that shows where the setting cuts across beneath the stone. Is that okay/normal? Is that mainly due to the lack of saturation in the stone? I guess I am curious as to the difference between transparency and saturation when it comes to looking at loose sapphires. I guess I don't know if they can coexist? Is transparency not desired if I want the sapphire to not show the ring setting underneath or is that going to be a moot point if I am wearing the ring? Help! I am not sure if my questions make sense, but maybe that just reflects my confusion a bit.

I'd think it's more the cut of the stone than the saturation or transparency. I may be very wrong, but I'd think seeing the setting under a stone is a result of a window or tilt-window.?

 

[eesmom]

I'd think it's more the cut of the stone than the saturation or transparency. I may be very wrong, but I'd think seeing the setting under a stone is a result of a window or tilt-window.?

Okay, so a well cut stone should not show any darkening when mounted, yes?

 

[eesmom]

I should clarify, I am looking mainly at cushion and oval cuts.

 

[shelovesinclusions]

Okay, so a well cut stone should not show any darkening when mounted, yes?

Please take what I say with a grain of salt, as I am by no means an expert, just a collector.

In gems cut to reduce windows, I don't think that band of the setting is visible through them, even in pastel colors. I think I know what you mean by the dark line, as I have a tilt window gem that experiences it and it annoys me to no end. In a different setting (a bezel) it was not noticable at all (probably because there was nothing there. So I guess it's like a combination of cut & appropriate setting.

In gems cut with noticable windows, people will sometimes set them with a full basket underneath to help with light return in the windowed area, or a setting with a totally open area under the gem can be used to prevent color interference from the setting. There's another thread right now with gems that have intentional windows, and it would seem those would look nice in settings that are totally open around the pavilion.

 

[lilmosun]

Can post a couple of pictures showing what you are referring to?

 

[eesmom]

Can post a couple of pictures showing what you are referring to?

This is one I have been looking at recently.

 

[dk168]

This is one I have been looking at recently.

I believe the Sapphire is poorly cut with a window in this pic, and a well-cut stone without a window should not be an issue.

DK

 

[eesmom]

I believe the Sapphire is poorly cut with a window in this pic, and a well-cut stone without a window should not be an issue.

DK

That was what I was concerned with seeing. My gut was telling me that it didn’t look right.

 

[dk168]

That was what I was concerned with seeing. My gut was telling me that it didn’t look right.

Windows are not all bad, some PSers would tolerate a small window if the colour is good and the price is right, etc. etc...

DK

 

[eesmom]

Windows are not all bad, some PSers would tolerate a small window if the colour is good and the price is right, etc. etc...

DK

Thank you, I agree and I have been working through what is tolerable for me and what I am willing to work with. I think the stone above would bother me every time I looked at it and that is a good thing for me to know. I just want to make sure I am indeed seeing correctly what may be a good thing and not a good thing.

 

[dk168]

Thank you, I agree and I have been working through what is tolerable for me and what I am willing to work with. I think the stone above would bother me every time I looked at it and that is a good thing for me to know. I just want to make sure I am indeed seeing correctly what may be a good thing and not a good thing.

Out of interest, have you read the pinned post in CS section: New to colour stones, read this first?

It is definitely worth a read if you have not already done so.

DK

 

[eesmom]

Out of interest, have you read the pinned post in CS section: New to colour stones, read this first?

It is definitely worth a read if you have not already done so.

DK

I did read it a few months back but just finished looking it at it again! I actually understand it better now having looked at so many sapphires online! There is definitely a steep learning curve with CS!