Newbie looking for advice on a padparadscha sapphire

[cat_with_one_i]

Hi everyone,

I am completely new to gemstones and I am looking for some advice! I am designing my engagement ring (with the help of my partner), and we've found a padparadscha sapphire that we both love:

Padparadscha Sapphires | The Natural Sapphire Company

With the largest selection of padparadscha sapphires in stock, you can find these exotic beauties in any hue and tone. Search today to find your perfect sapphire!

www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com

I love the colour of this pad (although it might not be the perfect 'pad' colour, I think it's beautiful). I also love the inclusions (I think it looks sparkly in the videos!). However, I have some concerns:

1. In the first (close up) video the stone looks quite dark. Is that an example of extinction? Do you think the stone will look that dark in the ring? It looks so different in their two videos and I'm not sure which is more accurate.
2. I'm worried it will appear small for it's size: it's over 1 carat, but less than 6mm in width. Is that normal for a sapphire?
3. I've seen that some people have problems with The Natural Sapphire Company. Do you think their report of the sapphire could be incorrect/misleading? Or that they're overcharging?

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Cerulean]

I hate to be a downer and I know I risk sounding harsh, but I’m afraid that I don’t find this attractive at all. It looks like a garnet with a steep price tag.

Pads are very tricky and *very* expensive typically. The “report” they provide is in house and not from a reputable lab. This is a red flag from the start.

I do not find the cut, color or inclusions attractive. But my main issue with this stone - and there are a few - is the color. I think it mostly looks like a muddy rusty brown, and will also look brown in person. I would not consider this a pad. If you like a brown stone, there are much prettier ones to be had.

The inclusions may look sparkly in a magnified video with optimal lighting, but I’m not sure they will be so pleasant in person and really diminish the appeal of the stone. I’m not against inclusions, but to me, these are not attractive at all.

Lastly - the cut. That darkness all around the stone is extinction because it is not particularly well cut.

I’d pass on this.

If you tell us more about your budget and what you are looking for, people can help you find something much nicer.

 

[T L]

If you love the color, that’s fine, but the important thing is to pay a fair price. You can also opt for a garnet for far less money.

Malaya garnets look identical to this stone and are a more affordable option, and come in larger sizes. They’re also pretty clean, and as far as I know, untreated.

 

[lovedogs]

If you love the color, that’s fine, but the important thing is to pay a fair price. You can also opt for a garnet for far less money.

Malaya garnets look identical to this stone and are a more affordable option, and come in larger sizes. They’re also pretty clean, and as far as I know, untreated.

Exactly. Theres nothing wrong with this color, but its NOT a pad color and you are overpaying by a TON.

 

[cat_with_one_i]

I hate to be a downer and I know I risk sounding harsh, but I’m afraid that I don’t find this attractive at all. It looks like a garnet with a steep price tag.

Pads are very tricky and *very* expensive typically. The “report” they provide is in house and not from a reputable lab. This is a red flag from the start.

I do not find the cut, color or inclusions attractive. But my main issue with this stone - and there are a few - is the color. I think it mostly looks like a muddy rusty brown, and will also look brown in person. I would not consider this a pad. If you like a brown stone, there are much prettier ones to be had.

The inclusions may look sparkly in a magnified video with optimal lighting, but I’m not sure they will be so pleasant in person and really diminish the appeal of the stone. I’m not against inclusions, but to me, these are not attractive at all.

Lastly - the cut. That darkness all around the stone is extinction because it is not particularly well cut.

I’d pass on this.

If you tell us more about your budget and what you are looking for, people can help you find something much nicer.

Thank you so much for your honesty, you've confirmed all of my fears! I'm very glad I asked before I bought it.

I'm not sure RE: budget and what I'm looking for. This came about because my partner gave me his great grandmother's ring (which was supposed to be our engagement ring). Unfortunately, it's too large for my ring finger and the jeweler at Birks said not to resize it because we risk destroying the sapphire. So now we've been aimlessly browsing... I think we'll set a budget and make a plan. Then I'll be back to ask for advice!

Many thanks again.

 

[Cerulean]

Thank you so much for your honesty, you've confirmed all of my fears! I'm very glad I asked before I bought it.

I'm not sure RE: budget and what I'm looking for. This came about because my partner gave me his great grandmother's ring (which was supposed to be our engagement ring). Unfortunately, it's too large for my ring finger and the jeweler at Birks said not to resize it because we risk destroying the sapphire. So now we've been aimlessly browsing... I think we'll set a budget and make a plan. Then I'll be back to ask for advice!

Many thanks again.

I felt badly, but it’s worth getting a nice stone. Please do come back and let us know. Many people here know a lot about stones.

also I’m curious to see your ring and why it cannot be resized. There may still be a way if you want to explore it with the right jeweler

 

[tyty333]

Can you post a picture of the ring that Birks does not want you to resize because it might destroy the sapphire? I'd love to see it!

 

[cat_with_one_i]

I felt badly, but it’s worth getting a nice stone. Please do come back and let us know. Many people here know a lot about stones.

also I’m curious to see your ring and why it cannot be resized. There may still be a way if you want to explore it with the right jeweler

I'd love to explore options with the ring we currently have. I've attached some pictures (apologies for the quality). The ring is ~100 years old: platinum band (it's pretty thin), two diamonds (in great shape), two tiny diamonds, and a very dark unheated sapphire in the middle. The ring is currently a size 6.25 and I am a size 4.5.

Here's what I know about the sapphire:
1) The sapphire has been very well loved and has significant surface abrasions.
2) It also has a very large inclusion directly through the middle of the stone (I suspect this is why it appears so dark and why it doesn't return much light).
3) It appears to have other inclusions and maybe cracks: I honestly can't tell but I have spent a lot of time looking at in under 10x magnification (just for fun).

At Birks they suggested that heating the band might cause the inclusions to implode (explode?) and even the pressure required to remove the claws could cause it to crack (because it has been so well 'loved'). I did wonder if this was just a tactic to get us to buy a new ring.

We have considered replacing the sapphire (which is still an option), but although it might not be in the best shape it has a lot of sentimental value for my partner and his family.

 

[cat_with_one_i]

Can you post a picture of the ring that Birks does not want you to resize because it might destroy the sapphire? I'd love to see it!

I just posted some! I'd love to hear what you think.

 

[Bron357]

Run from that jeweller and never go back.
what a load of @#@#@.
Its a beautiful ring and it certainly can be resized. How many sizes does it have to go down?
Sapphires do not “explode” when Heat is applied AND a good jeweller these days uses laser not a torch!
Prongs can be moved and gems removed and if needs be prongs can be retipped, that’s repaired.
If the sapphire has been “through the wars” it can be replaced.
I buy pre loved rings all the time, I have gems removed, replaced and prongs repaired frequently. It’s not expensive.
Get yourself some electronic calipers and measure the diameter of the sapphire. That way you know what size replacement sapphire will work best. And as long as the diameter is within tolerance you could choose an oval shaped Centre.

 

[Cerulean]

Run from that jeweller and never go back.
what a load of @#@#@.
Its a beautiful ring and it certainly can be resized. How many sizes does it have to go down?
Sapphires do not “explode” when Heat is applied AND a good jeweller these days uses laser not a torch!
Prongs can be moved and gems removed and if needs be prongs can be retipped, that’s repaired.
If the sapphire has been “through the wars” it can be replaced.
I buy pre loved rings all the time, I have gems removed, replaced and prongs repaired frequently. It’s not expensive.
Get yourself some electronic calipers and measure the diameter of the sapphire. That way you know what size replacement sapphire will work best. And as long as the diameter is within tolerance you could choose an oval shaped Centre.

1000000%

this jeweler is not making a lick of sense

if you need jeweler recommendations people here can point you to the right direction depending on where you are based

 

[cat_with_one_i]

1000000%

this jeweler is not making a lick of sense

if you need jeweler recommendations people here can point you to the right direction depending on where you are based

Yes please! I'm in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada.

 

[Cerulean]

Yes please! I'm in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada.

Hmm. Unfortunately I am not aware of any Canadian jewelers but I am hoping someone else can chime in!

 

[lovedogs]

omfg that ring DEFINITELY can be sized! The jeweler is wrong!

 

[JackTrick]

Hey, fair play to the jeweler. If they had destroyed a sapphire from resizing a ring, I’d want to be warned too

(so that I could absolutely go find a different jeweler)

 

[chrono]

At least you know that is NOT a jeweller you want to send your jewellery to for repairs. Thin shanks can also be rebuilt (in addition to all the sound advice given above).

 

[peacechick]

That is so bizarre because Birks is considered a reputable jeweller. That being said, when I had to resize my engagement ring 4 sizes down, two of the big chain jewellers declined to do it, but the third which was more of a traditional goldsmith took it with no hesitation. Try another jeweller.

 

[LorettaB]

That is a beautiful ring (and sapphire is my birthstone). A good jeweler can work miracles but in your case of sizing down, I wouldn't even consider it a "miracle" but rather a standard practice.

 

[caolsen]

That is so bizarre because Birks is considered a reputable jeweller. That being said, when I had to resize my engagement ring 4 sizes down, two of the big chain jewellers declined to do it, but the third which was more of a traditional goldsmith took it with no hesitation. Try another jeweller.

I’ve known more than one otherwise good place that won’t do more than 2 sizes. So many times more than 2 up or down and you need other work, prong adjustments or tension reallocation and often the benches that sizing jobs are sent to don’t know how to do that. So, the store says no to avoid the liability issue of a stone is lost.

Agree that for more than 2 or a sizing that involves engraving, you’re much better off with an actual maker of jewelry versus a seller of it.