New to gemstone shopping

[CNT3]

Hello,

I am looking to purchase an oval blue sapphire in a halo setting. I love princess Diana’s ring, but I don’t like how dark the sapphire is. Also, I would prefer a different halo style (thinking a double halo).

i have no experience with purchasing a gemstone so I have been “window” shopping online and saw ring on Blue Nile that I’m really drawn to.

Oval Sapphire Ring with Double Diamond Halo in 14k White Gold (7x5mm) | Blue Nile

A classic but stylish choice, this elegant sapphire gemstone ring is surrounded by a halo of pavé-set diamonds framed in 18k white gold.

www.bluenile.com

I guess my question is how can you tell if it’s a good quality stone?

I’m really drawn to the medium blue stone and I like that the setting is a more unique take on a double halo.

I have purchased a diamond in the past, and was wondering if their is something similar to cut, color, clarity specifications, but for a sapphire?

 

[lilmosun]

In this case, it looks like you aren't buying a specific stone (or ring) but one out of a larger inventory. So other than the minimum specifications stated, there is no guarantee what you are getting. What defines a "good quality stone" for colored stones is subjective...even more so for colored stones and we all have different preferences.

That is why many here pick the stone first and then have it set (or buy a finished one-off pieces).

That doesn't mean it won't make you happy (there are many nice commercial stones out there and many people who love them even if they aren't ideal in trade terms). But given it's not an inexpensive piece, you might want to see what other PSers (who are much better at finding things than I am) might suggest.

 

[Bron357]

No, no, no.
Not advisable, you don’t know what sapphire you are getting. The listing just specifies a sapphire of “minimum medium blue” - so who knows what that translates to In real life.
They don’t even give a carat weight for the sapphire, just a size measurement.
For $3,900 no.
What’s worse and totally unprofessional, those “hand shots” are photoshopped. They aren’t photos of the actual ring on the hand, they are “cut and paste”. The ring will look smaller on a real finger.
You can easily buy a sapphire that you choose for its colour and have it set in a similar setting for way way less. A bit more effort on your part but
This is my 7x5 sapphire. It’s not a big stone. It’s value is well under $1,000. So that’s how much you can expect to pay.
Here are some diamond settings from Ivy & Rose that would be similar. They are also well under $1,000.
So that’s a better ring for less than half the price.

 

[CNT3]

Thank you for your reply, I had never heard of Ivy and Rose. Have you had a good experience with them?

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you for your reply, I had never heard of Ivy and Rose. Have you had a good experience with them?

I have had good experiences with them!

 

[arkieb1]

Blue Nile do not sell particularly nice sapphires, they are great with H & A diamonds but coloured stones.... not so much.

By a blue sapphire in the colour that you like and get someone like David Klass or others like Ivy and Rose to make you the setting for it.

 

[chroman]

On the “buying a loose sapphire” front, something like these might fit the bill, to give you an ideal about stone pricing:

Gemstone Search- Pearlman's Jewelers

Gemstone Search- Pearlman's Jewelers

Oval Natural Blue Sapphire Modified Portuguese Cut - Gemfix

Blue Natural Sapphire Oval Portuguese Brilliant Cut

gemfix.com

 

[Bron357]

I have had good experiences with them!

Yes, many of us have.
I even sent them the sapphire from here in Australia for them In the US to fit into a ring setting I bought from them. I think the setting cost was an extra $80 and they then send the completed ring back to me.

 

[CNT3]

I’m definitely going to look at Ivy and Rose, and their store is really close to wear I live. Their prices are so reasonable!

 

[dk168]

Concur with what the others have said - purchase the stone that suit your liking in terms of shape, size, colour, cut quality and budget first, then get the setting; and be prepared to go down the custom setting route if the stone is not a calibrated/standard size.

I have not purchased from Ivy and Rose myself, however, it is often recommended by other PSers.

DK

 

[minousbijoux]

I am surprised that our gemstone primer pinned thread has not been suggested yet - it has good infor about sapphires, since they are so popular.

New to coloured gemstone buying? Read this first!

First of all welcome to our technicolour world! :wavey: If you've never bought coloured gemstones before, you're in for a real ride and I'm hoping that this thread may help you on your quest for your "special" one! One thing it's important to know .......... this part of PS is frequented by...

www.pricescope.com