Montana blue Sapphires

[leeann864]

I have some rough Montana Blue Sapphires, nothing that would cut a gem over 2 carats, I want to know a ball park figure for the price per carat of the rough stones.

thank you,

Leeann864

 

[LD]

We can't give you that because they may not be facetable (not sure if that's a word). I'm guessing that the price would vary considerably depending on the crystal. It's also virtually impossible to assess rough from a photo.

There's another website that if you do an internet search you may find it (we can't link to it here) or contacting the lapidaries that are listed on the "respected vendors" list.

 

[PrecisionGem]

What is the weight of the rough stones?

 

[leeann864]

going on the premise that they are average blue color and facitable, can anyone give me and idea of the going price per carat? I have someone interested in rough stones that a family member has and they would like to know what they could expect.

 

[LD]

going on the premise that they are average blue color and facitable, can anyone give me and idea of the going price per carat? I have someone interested in rough stones that a family member has and they would like to know what they could expect.

Leeann - Gene (posted above) is a lapidarist. If anybody can help he probably can but I think he's asking the overall weight - not sure you can price it up per carat.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I was asking the weight of the rough stones. There is a dramatic price difference between 1 ct stones, and 2 ct and 3 etc. Stones over 5 cts in the rough would be priced higher than 4 ct rough stones. Of course the color and clarity is very important as is the shape. Montana sapphires tend to fall into two shapes, nice round ball shaped, or flat pancake shape. Are the stones heated? Normally heated stones have a much more pleasing color, and actually sell for more than the un-heated ones which tend to be kind of a blue/gray/green with a little more gray, and kind of dull. Many Montana sapphires are almost colorless, or a very pale green/blue/gray. The price depends on so many factors. A picture, and typical sizes of the rough would really help. Otherwise you are asking a question similar to: How much does a car cost?

 

[minousbijoux]

I was asking the weight of the rough stones. There is a dramatic price difference between 1 ct stones, and 2 ct and 3 etc. Stones over 5 cts in the rough would be priced higher than 4 ct rough stones. Of course the color and clarity is very important as is the shape. Montana sapphires tend to fall into two shapes, nice round ball shaped, or flat pancake shape. Are the stones heated? Normally heated stones have a much more pleasing color, and actually sell for more than the un-heated ones which tend to be kind of a blue/gray/green with a little more gray, and kind of dull. Many Montana sapphires are almost colorless, or a very pale green/blue/gray. The price depends on so many factors. A picture, and typical sizes of the rough would really help. Otherwise you are asking a question similar to: How much does a car cost?

Interesting to see a case where heated has more value because of color change. Is it harder to successfully heat Montanas than Sri Lankan/Madagascar rough?

 

[VapidLapid]

Is it harder to drive a Maserati than a Pacer?

 

[chrono]

Where both are well coloured, the unheated version will be priced higher. If the heated version has great colour, it will be priced more than unheated grayish blah stone. Colour still counts first, then treatment.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I was asking the weight of the rough stones. There is a dramatic price difference between 1 ct stones, and 2 ct and 3 etc. Stones over 5 cts in the rough would be priced higher than 4 ct rough stones. Of course the color and clarity is very important as is the shape. Montana sapphires tend to fall into two shapes, nice round ball shaped, or flat pancake shape. Are the stones heated? Normally heated stones have a much more pleasing color, and actually sell for more than the un-heated ones which tend to be kind of a blue/gray/green with a little more gray, and kind of dull. Many Montana sapphires are almost colorless, or a very pale green/blue/gray. The price depends on so many factors. A picture, and typical sizes of the rough would really help. Otherwise you are asking a question similar to: How much does a car cost?

Interesting to see a case where heated has more value because of color change. Is it harder to successfully heat Montanas than Sri Lankan/Madagascar rough?

It's no harder, but it is extra work for the rough dealer. Heated Montana stones are almost always much more attractive than unheated.

The whole heated vs unheated thing really only matters to very very small percentage of people, they just happen to hang out here. I have never seen unheated Montana sapphire rough selling for more than heated material. I'm sure there are exceptions out there but in 12 years of buying Montana rough, I haven't seen it.

With many rough, the biggest thing effecting the price is the size of the stone. Most rough dealers think in terms of grams. 2 gram stones are priced much higher than 1 gram. And a 5.01 ct (just slightly over 1 gram) could cost double what a 4.9 ct stone, just because its over the 1 gram mark.

 

[CYIW]

Leeann864, perhaps this will help:

http://www.big-sky-gems.com/Pages/MontanaSapphireRough.aspx

http://www.prettyrock.com/php/facet-rough-variety-montana-sapphire.php

These seem to be sold as parcels of stones. No doubt, better quality parcels command higher prices.

Maybe you can match up your parcel of stones to these (particularly to the ones in the second link).