Need help to hunt an Engagement Sapphire

[TristanC]

Hi All,
It is engagement stone hunting time again. This time for a friend

His wife to be is keen on rich blue sapphires, with some nice life and sparkle so good clarity, but definitely leaning towards the deeper blue hues not the light blues.
I think this is not quantitative but ideally it would be

I think the stone would be in the range of 1.8-2.5cts something in that zone, it would likely be set up in a Halo (yes, so definitely not for me), and untreated is a plus but not strictly necessary as long as it is only heated if it helps.

I'm not too knowledgeable on sapphires, but I think she would love a mildly deep Kashmir blue shade, though I think they're extinct now. Anyone has links to a beauty in this zone?

Pricing would be a fairly large range depending on quality, but I imagine it would be to land under 15K for the stone at the top end. Something around 10K would be nice, and maxing out at 20K for an amazing amazing specimen.

Let me know if I'm missing anything that could help the search.

 

[chrono]

Kashmir-like colouration, even if not from Kashmir, is the most expensive colour. Is there a minimum mm size? Some 2 ct stones are significantly larger/smaller than other 2 ct stones. No shape preference?
http://www.africagems.com/bluesapphire.html
http://www.finewatergems.com/sapphire.html
http://www.escobardiamonds.com (call for best results)
http://www.concavegems.com/query3.cfm?yVarieties=Sapphire&ySpecies=Corundum (different type of cut)
http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_blue.html
http://www.preciousgemstones.com/sappfs.html
http://www.ebay.com/usr/wilds-globalminerals?rmvSB=true

 

[minousbijoux]

I had to open this thread just because I was so confused when I saw you were the OP, TristanC. It makes more sense knowing this is for a friend of yours!

As for places to look, I think of you as knowing the usual suspects like the rest of us. That said, I have seen some very good deals on blue sapphires on LT/DB. My guess as to why this is is because most sellers as private parties, do not offer a return period, and most buyers of blue sapphires seem to be buying them as engagement rings and are often not used to buying online with no returns. I'll go see if there is anything worth exploring.

 

[minousbijoux]

Well, there are some very pretty sapphs on LT and DB, but none I would consider the Kashmir color you seek.

I would touch base with Roger as well since he loves blue sapphires. Here is one that caught my eye for you (I find it a bit hard to tell from his photos):

http://www.spectralgems.net/sapphire/sapphirebluesqcu1_04ct_9097b/#main

Jeff Davies is another vendor with whom you may want to chat. His big presence seems to be on ebay, but his prices are cheaper via Facebook. His inventory is huge (or so it seems) and I have seen some great blue sapphires come and go from him. I'm not sure the best way to look at his stuff, but I contact him via Facebook as he is extremely responsive: https://www.facebook.com/jeffery.davies.9/timeline

He reads PS, so he may already know that you are looking. If you explain you are looking for a medium to medium dark toned blue sapphire with very high saturation, he will have a good idea what to look for. Your friend's budget is a good one and should hopefully allow for a heated stone in that size range.

 

[sani987cece]

Wait! What? Kashmir is extinct??.?

 

[TristanC]

Thanks for the fast responses, always can count on the help of the experts and community here at PS.

Thanks for all the links, I'll browse through the vendors.
I was hoping to get some guidance from experienced sapphire hunters on Specific stones that would thrill you to contact the vendor if you were looking for something like this.

I've actually helped my best friend's (now husband) get her a vivid yellow diamond engagement ring that she was thrilled to death about. It helps if you are a guy and you talk FCDs I guess and can help the otherwise normal portion of male society navigate jewelry. So I guess other friends have started to ask about rings and one in particular is ready to pop the question to a girl who loves colored stones.

Thing is, I'm not knowledgeable about Sapphires. I have an idea, but not as much as people who have bought, owned and set multiple stones.

So if amongst those stones something calls out, do share the link

Hmm, shape has not been mentioned, but when I saw pictures of his fiance's current rings, they were mostly haloed cushions and emerald cuts.
Size I guess would be the equiv of 7.5mm x 6.2mm? Somewhere in that zone, though there is certainly flex to go down in size for a good stone or slightly up. A good guide is that an equivalent 1.5ct diamond cushion cut would be considered a good size.

I'm not sure about extinct, just that the mines of kashmir haven't been producing material in a good long while is what I meant.

 

[TristanC]

Well, there are some very pretty sapphs on LT and DB, but none I would consider the Kashmir color you seek.

I would touch base with Roger as well since he loves blue sapphires. Here is one that caught my eye for you (I find it a bit hard to tell from his photos):

http://www.spectralgems.net/sapphire/sapphirebluesqcu1_04ct_9097b/#main

Jeff Davies is another vendor with whom you may want to chat. His big presence seems to be on ebay, but his prices are cheaper via Facebook. His inventory is huge (or so it seems) and I have seen some great blue sapphires come and go from him. I'm not sure the best way to look at his stuff, but I contact him via Facebook as he is extremely responsive: https://www.facebook.com/jeffery.davies.9/timeline

He reads PS, so he may already know that you are looking. If you explain you are looking for a medium to medium dark toned blue sapphire with very high saturation, he will have a good idea what to look for. Your friend's budget is a good one and should hopefully allow for a heated stone in that size range.

Hi there, no worries, my wife is still wearing her pink ring
This would be a good colour stone, I guess the lingo is royal blue? Although the ones with lovely clarity work best, so there is more life when set.
It is a touch small though for the purposes.

 

[chrono]

Knowing that cushion shape is preferred is a good start. I saw some lovely sapphires offered by the usual vendors but nothing super outstanding, which is not surprising. Such high quality are generally not always offered online - it is best to contact the vendor to ask whether they have such in stock.