Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring & fast

[BluesBass]

Hello,

I'm also a newbie looking to buy a blue sapphire for an engagement ring. I'd like a round stone in the 2.0 carat range to have set in a platinum setting. Price is not really an issue; I'm choosing the carat weight more for aesthetics than for budget. (I don't think my girlfriend would prefer a stone that is too large.)

The problem is, I intend for this to be a surprise, and I want the ring before my girlfriend & I leave for a week long trip to London on Dec 22nd. I almost ordered a stone and setting from gemsny.com, but then I found this site, and after reading a number of faqs and threads, realized I had no idea how to judge a good stone and that I was probably about to get a very mediocre one at best.

I think my best option at this point is to order 1-2 from gemsfix.com, pick the one I like best, and have it set at a local jeweler (I'm not near San Diego).

Given my time constraint, do you think is a reasonable approach?

Here are a couple of stones from a recommended dealer I'm considering. I've actually already ordered them, but intend to return one or possibly both if I like neither. The first is about 2 ct and 7.5 mm, the second is about 3.5 ct and 8.8 mm. Price is no concern, I just want the nicest stone.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

We are already into December, so your time is very limited. The two you picked cannot be more different; one is light and the other is dark. Is there not a happy medium? If you plan to halo the sapphire, I do not recommend the darker sapphire as it is likely to black out. Do any of these already come with hand shots?

 

[athenaworth]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Jeff Davies just posted one that might fit the bill on his FB page. http://www.facebook.com/jeffery.davies.9?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/photo.php?fbid=10151327779074357&set=a.396576624356.176127.848899356&type=1&theater I can't find it on his website yet.

 

[movie zombie]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

do you have someone lined up to do the benchwork/setting in such a short time line?
getting the stone may be the least of your problems.....busy time of the year for most jewelers trying to get projects out the door for customers who all want their projects completed by christmas.

 

[stargurl78]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Jeff Davies just posted one that might fit the bill on his FB page. http://www.facebook.com/jeffery.davies.9?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/photo.php?fbid=10151327779074357&set=a.396576624356.176127.848899356&type=1&theater I can't find it on his website yet.

The description says its sold. Lovely stone though!

Out of the two you posted, I like the lighter stone better.

 

[athenaworth]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Jeff Davies just posted one that might fit the bill on his FB page. http://www.facebook.com/jeffery.davies.9?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/photo.php?fbid=10151327779074357&set=a.396576624356.176127.848899356&type=1&theater I can't find it on his website yet.

The description says its sold. Lovely stone though!

Out of the two you posted, I like the lighter stone better.

Holy cow that went fast.

I vote the lighter stone as well.

 

[movie zombie]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

it is that time of year. many are in the same position of wanting something nice by 12/25. at this time of year, s/he who hesitates loses.....

 

[GregS]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

If price isn't a concern, than I suggest finding a stone somewhere in between the two you have already bought.

 

[JewelFreak]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

It's hard to tell from the photo -- in the hand pic I see dark areas that might trouble me, but it could be due to photo conditions. You might try Jeff White http://www.whitesgems.com/gallery/corundum.htm -- he has some very nice ones in the size you want on his website, you could email & ask what's available. Your time is tight but should be do-able, depending on the jeweler, if you don't wait longer. Is this a jeweler who has semi-mounts in stock?

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

BlueBass,
Any updates? I guess the sapphires have not yet arrived?

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

BlueBass,
Any updates? I guess the sapphires have not yet arrived?

Thanks Chrono, and others for the advice.

I had to wait a couple of days to increase the point of sale purchase limit on my debit card. Meanwhile, I contacted Jeff White and had some time to contemplate what everyone said. I'm going to try to order a couple of stones today.

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

BTW, the darker (& larger) of the two stones I posted earlier is also shown here; it's the second from the left. This pic was first posted by another user who was also considering purchasing it.

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

And here is a hand pic of the smaller, lighter stone I forst posted above:

 

[distracts]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

do you have someone lined up to do the benchwork/setting in such a short time line?
getting the stone may be the least of your problems.....busy time of the year for most jewelers trying to get projects out the door for customers who all want their projects completed by christmas.

Ditto. Definitely pick a setting, get her ring size, and talk to the jeweler first because by the time you pick a stone you may be wanting a turnaround time of less than a week. Which will likely require the jeweler to have to have the setting already in stock in the right size. Leaving it until late, bro. Good luck.

 

[GregS]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

If it's the second from the left then I'd say I'm pleasantly surprised with the hand shot. It's enormous too. I think you may be onto something.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

That picture posted is the nicest of the three. To give a truer sense of the sapphire's colour, one must see all the pictures before coming to a conclusion.

The lighter blue is listed as sale pending but not this one. There's another I like much better but it's also sold.

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

I received my stones today! I decided the 3.5 ct stone shown in my OP is too large. Instead, I ordered another 2 ct stone which was recommended by the cutter. (Chrono, maybe it's the one you liked?)

Here are a couple of pics. In each case, the stone on your left is the lighter stone shown in my OP. The one on the right is a darker stone which has a violet hue.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Is the one on the right the "new" sapphire that was recommended? I can barely make out the stone as the picture is taken from too far away. At this point, I am leaning towards the right from what little I can see. Do you have the macro (flower icon) function on your camera?

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Is the one on the right the "new" sapphire that was recommended? I can barely make out the stone as the picture is taken from too far away. At this point, I am leaning towards the right from what little I can see. Do you have the macro (flower icon) function on your camera?

Yes, the one on the right is the recommended one. I don't think my mobile phone camera has a macro mode. Here is the picture from the gemfix.com website; it's stone 984.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

You sort of have a macro on the cell phone. Use your fingers to enlarge the screen in the camera mode, the same way you zoom in when vieweing pictures / documents before taking the picture. Also, how accurately are the sapphires depicted, colour-wise, in your pictures.

ETA
Looks like you picked out the one I was about to suggest but refrained from because I saw that it had a "sale pending" notification.

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

You sort of have a macro on the cell phone. Use your fingers to enlarge the screen in the camera mode, the same way you zoom in when vieweing pictures / documents before taking the picture. Also, how accurately are the sapphires depicted, colour-wise, in your pictures.

ETA
Looks like you picked out the one I was about to suggest but refrained from because I saw that it had a "sale pending" notification.

Yes, on the gemfix website it's the 1.96 ct stone #984. There is a hand shot too. Here is another attempt at a picture using my cell phone. The top stone is the aforementioned #984, and the bottom stone is the lighter stone from my OP.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Much better. What type of light did you use for that last picture? Any hand shots of the two together (close up just like this), preferably straight down the table? Do you have a preference?

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Much better. What type of light did you use for that last picture? Any hand shots of the two together (close up just like this), preferably straight down the table? Do you have a preference?

That last picture was taken in my office which has florescent lighting; the camera flash went off when I took it. That's the best I can do for now.

I'm leaning towards the slightly darker stone #984, which is the top one in my last post. I need to take my choice to a jeweler asap to have it set in time for my trip.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

I am also leaning towards the newer 984 but am unable to make a full (and accurate) assessment with what I am shown. Sapphires always look their best outdoors. How do they look to you then?

 

[iLander]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

You have the stone in hand, just go with the one that looks bluest to you in many lights.

For the setting: I used ID Jewelry in New York, and they mounted my sapphire in less than a week. They are on 47th street and have access to the BEST side diamonds, mine were spectacular, and they will pick through a jillion stones for you. Mine were little rounds, with hearts and arrows and they are unbelievably sparkly. They use Unique Settings of New York a lot, they are just down the street from them. Your setting will be cast to order, so you can pick 14 or 18 K.

Pick a setting in here; http://www.uniquesettings.com/

Then contact them here, taking care to mention you are from Pricescope. They go the extra mile for Pser's.

http://idjewelryonline.com/index.php

They have premade settings on their website, but then you are missing out on their magical diamond selection.

 

[BluesBass]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

I am also leaning towards the newer 984 but am unable to make a full (and accurate) assessment with what I am shown. Sapphires always look their best outdoors. How do they look to you then?

Here is a pic taken in my car. It's overcast today so again the canera flash was used. The top stone is #984.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

BlueBass,
I always prefer photography of gems sans flash because they can distort colour perception. That said, winter is the time when light is short in supply. You have the stone in hand and are able to view it in many lighting situations. What do you see? What do you like / dislike?
1. How is the colour shift indoors (incandescent, fluorescent, halogen from sunlight) versus outdoors?
2. Is there a lot of dark areas or just a few? Do these areas come and go as the sapphire is moved around slowly?
3. Is there any time when the stone seems to desaturate (get grayer or inkier)?
4. Is the sapphire sparkly enough?
5. Is the sapphire blue enough?
6. Is the sapphire bright enough?
7. Do you notice any uneven colouration from the top view?
8. Is the sapphire clean enough (just eye clean is good)?
9. Having the stone on the back of the hand is the most accurate way to assess the colour. The cover of the case can distort colour. Please be VERY careful with the gem out of the case. It is very likely to chip if dropped.

 

[corundum_conundrum]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

Yes Yes to all Chrono's criteria, Bluesbass. And...

You have the stone in hand, just go with the one that looks bluest to you in many lights.

+1

Pictures are most helpful when taken directely perpendicular to the table (the large flat facet that allows you to look inside the stone). Basically, the angle at which gemfix took their photos.

That said, I would lean toward the 984. It has a few good nice qualities going for it: it seems to show a nice violet undertone. Unusually for a dark stone, it seems to hold its color well in indoor lighting (do you find it has lots of inky areas indoors or does it still show blue?). Its probably helped in this regard by having a good face-up size for its weight. That is, there is not a bunch of excess weight in the bottom of the stone, which should keep it bright and make it easier to set.

Do you know what setting you are planning? Halos tend to darken a stone a touch, and that might be affect your decision.

I will add that I think you've done quite well in such a limited amount of time. People on this forum look for months and stuggle to find something comparably nice.

 

[partgypsy]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

You did well. I think that's the best way if you can do it, compare them head to head, which most do not have the luxury to do.

At least from what I can tell from the pics, which are not the most detailed. If I had to choose I would choose the round that is the most right, when lined up on your finger. I don't need a huge stone and it seems the "bluest" to me.

But you having them in person would be a much better judge how these stones perform in real life, different lightings and tilts, whether there is extinction, funky faceting or inclusions I can't see from here that are detracting, etc.

Exciting! You must feel like a kid in an (expensive) candy shop.

 

[iLander]

Re: Newbie loooking for blue sapphire for engagement ring &

How big is your intended? Is she a good size girl (bigger than a size 9)? Or a tiny thing (size 4 and under)? How big are her fingers? My DIL is a smidge (I think a size 0) and a half carat stone looks nice and big on her size 4 finger.

This may play into your stone size. An 8.8 stone is pretty hefty on a tiny finger, while it's perfect on a larger finger.

Your 8.8 stone is about the size of a 2.5 carat diamond, while your 7.7 is close to a 1.5 carat.

http://www.ajediam.com/Sizes-of-Diamonds.html carats versus millimeters chart

Plus, I found this pic on an old PS thread.

If you are planning a halo, then that will make it even bigger.