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Low Heat Sapphire

stepcutnut

stepcutnut

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Messages
2,877
Good morning, I was wondering if anyone has any info on low heat treatment in sapphires and how that effects it's pricing?

I am looking at an antique Blue Ceylon sapphire, it is a bit over 15cts with lovely color. I do not know how to evaluate the asking price on the piece since it was graded by the GIA as heated, but still has visible rutile, so was wondering if anyone as any advice in that area? TIA. (I will post a pic once the deal is done if I move forward with this purchase)
 
If the lab report says heated then unfortunately it should be priced as heated (even if it's a low heat). I was recently looking at a fascinating sapphire with a very very very low heat but because the lab detected it, they had to say it was treated. However, don't forget it's not just treatment that affects price. In sapphires, the colour is the most important factor and of course (not in any order) you then have cut, clarity, size and for some people locality.
 
@LD Thank you for your response : ) The color is a tad darker than my sweet spot for blue sapphires-it is described as vivid saturation with a medium hue/tone. The cut is a mixed cut and kind of an interesting crown. Clarity is somewhat silky and some inclusions(but it speaks to me so this part doesn't bother me). Can you point me in the direction of a guesstimated price range/ct to help me evaluate this stones current asking price for a 15ct+ heated ceylon sapphire?
 
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stepcutnut said:
@LD Thank you for your response : ) The color is a tad darker than my sweet spot for blue sapphires-it is described as vivid saturation with a medium hue/tone. The cut is a mixed cut and kind of an interesting crown. Clarity is somewhat silky and some inclusions(but it speaks to me so this part doesn't bother me). Can you point me in the direction of a guesstimated price range/ct to help me evaluate this stones current asking price for a 15ct+ heated ceylon sapphire?
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Depends on color, cut, etc. Difficult even with a photo, impossible with just a description.

We may be more helpful if you can provide a photo.
 
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For pricing, you could try going through LiveAuctioneers sold items, keeping in mind the buyer's commission has to be added to the price to determine what they actually sold for. Another route would be buying access to Gemeprice. I know that folks in the trade use it, but I don't know how accurate it is, although for diamonds they do appear to be pretty accurate with respect to rapaport. I use it as a sanity check, the yearly fee was reasonable to me.
 
Pinkmartini87 said:
Depends on color, cut, etc. Difficult even with a photo, impossible with just a description.

We may be more helpful if you can provide a photo.
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@Pinkmartini87 I agree with the difficulty of coming up with a price/ct site unseen or even just from photos, since I am still deciding on this stone I will wait to post pics until I move forward with it so it doesn’t get grabbed up by someone else :)
 
Polyhex said:
For pricing, you could try going through LiveAuctioneers sold items, keeping in mind the buyer's commission has to be added to the price to determine what they actually sold for. Another route would be buying access to Gemeprice. I know that folks in the trade use it, but I don't know how accurate it is, although for diamonds they do appear to be pretty accurate with respect to rapaport. I use it as a sanity check, the yearly fee was reasonable to me.
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@Polyhex thank you for the recommendations, I will check them out :)
 
@LD and @Pinkmartini87 as I was browsing for comparables I came across a sapphire that was already set with similar size, but more included. Is this too included? I will try to attatch more pics, something is goofy with my phone-ugh!2FC0613F-8049-439E-B5AB-D778D1B2EE39.jpeg
 
stepcutnut said:
@LD and @Pinkmartini87 as I was browsing for comparables I came across a sapphire that was already set with similar size, but more included. Is this too included? I will try to attatch more pics, something is goofy with my phone-ugh!2FC0613F-8049-439E-B5AB-D778D1B2EE39.jpeg
Click to expand...

My humble opinion is to skip this stone. For me personally, if there are so many inclusions for me not to even see the underneath facet pattern well or appreciate the cut (in this case a cushion or mixed cushion but the inclusions are too distracting—I cannot even tell what kind of culet it has in the center. Open? Closed? Too hazy to tell, it’s like staring into a galaxy.) I would skip. Such is in this case.
 
Upon searching for comparables I came across this pendant and couldn’t stop thinking about it. It is much more included, but I love it! It has many personalities in different lighting conditions.
25CEB2BD-B473-479D-BBB3-F5D3E2DC30A6.jpeg
 
The pavillion what I would call a checker board cut, so it has some different sparkly qualities along with lots of glowiness.
 
She arrived yesterday and I am loving her color shiftyness and glowiness in person. She is a heated Ceylon sapphire and almost 14x12mm, guessimated to be 17cts+ set in Plat and 18kt YG with 2ctw OEC.
 
More pics please!!! Nice color!
 
That looks like a phenomenal stone @stepcutnut ! So big too! The color is so intense and beautiful. It seems to have great saturation, glow and inclusions typical of untreated stones, even though as you said, it’s low heat. You must be excited! What are your plans for it?
 
I should add it is stunning as is in that beautiful setting! Wasn’t sure if you were primarily looking for a pendant or mainly interested in the sapphire.
 
@fiona00004 Thank you, I am quite smitten with her color! Once we have some nicer light, I will post some other pics for you :)
 
@Bluemuse Thank you for the compliment, that means alot coming from you with your gorgeous sapphire ring-it is so lovely!

I am looking at removing the sapphire in its setting from the center of the pendant and either:
1) having the current setting refurbished and a shank added or
2) removing the stone from its setting, having it repolished and a new setting built for it

Either way I absolutely love the circle pendant and will keep that to wear also. The metal work is very fine and the diamonds super lovely and sparkly-just need to find the right chain for it now.

I have been in contact with a great jeweler about these options and am now looking for some shank designs if I go that route.

Anyone-Please feel free to post any shank design ideas if you have them :)
 
Thank you, @stepcutnut ! Yes that pendant setting is exquisite! It’s beautifully made and I love all the delicate details!
I think if you have a new shank made for the sapphire, it could stand alone beautifully as a ring without a lot of added detail because of the boldness of color and size.
Or if a more detailed sparkly setting is more to your taste, that would be beautiful too.
It’s great you’re working with someone you trust, so you can try out lots of different options. Good luck! It will be exciting to see how this develops!
 
That milgraine is so delicate and lovely!
Do you have any information on the maker or age of the pendant? Any stamps? It looks like Art Deco style to me but I could be off. Whoever made it seems highly skilled. Love seeing the sapphire from different angles. The faceting on the underside is extensive and really interesting. And the color is so yummy!
 
@Bluemuse sadly I have not found any stamps, but agree that it seems to have been made by someone highly skilled. Art Deco is what I was thinking and was confirmed by the jeweler I have been speaking with about doing the conversion. I am actually thinking that the circle pendant was likely a pin a some point with the sapphire added???
 
stepcutnut said:
@Bluemuse sadly I have not found any stamps, but agree that it seems to have been made by someone highly skilled. Art Deco is what I was thinking and was confirmed by the jeweler I have been speaking with about doing the conversion. I am actually thinking that the circle pendant was likely a pin a some point with the sapphire added???
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I wonder? Hard to say, but it does seem possible. So once the pendant is restored, it will be a very pretty pendant by itself. You’ll be getting two outstanding pieces from this project.
 
That really is beautiful. I would love to see some shots of it being worn when you get a chance. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
 
@Bluemuse Yes-super excited to have two pieces in the end :)
 
@ItsMainelyYou Thank you, I have to pull a chain out and will try and work on some neck shots. I am trying to decide if I would like the ring shank to be in 18kt or Plat, I am kind of leaning towards Plat with some 18kt detail work on it.
 
omg it's so gorgeous!!!!!!
 
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