Newbie with sapphire questions...

[Nashville]

I just recently bought a padparadscha from an online vendor. Buying anything online is a pretty harrowing experience, but I felt it was the only option available to me, as I went to several jewelers and they all said (except for one) "a padawhata?" A good 9 months of research went into this purchase.

So the money has been wired from my account, BUT the return policy is only 7 days. It says certified unheated/untreated, but I am sketchy about the details as to who actually certified it. So what's bugging me is that the turnaround for a lab report from GIA is 7-9 days through the mail (too late to return if it turns out to be treated or a fake), but I live close enough to NYC that I could make an appointment and physically bring it in... dumb idea? I don't even know if they allow that. Ugh.

I basically chose this particular pad because of the amazing color, and I want it to be totally "mind clean" as it's for my engagement ring upgrade. Also, would it be totally out of line to ask for an extension on the return policy? I don't want the vendor to be offended by my wanting to get the stone certified, but it's important to me.

 

[kenny]

I called and made an appointment to bring in a stone to GIA in California.
I'm not in the trade.
I did this twice.

This was just a simple verification that diamonds matched their GIA reports but perhaps GIA NY could turn around your job fast enough if you call them tomorrow to make an appointment and personally dropped it off and pick it up.

Tell them you only have X days; see what they say.
I think AGL is also in NY and I think they are highly reputable too, plus I think they offer more analysis.

You are smart to get this checked out.
The value of sapphires varies tremendously based on many things not obvious to us.

 

[T L]

I just recently bought a padparadscha from an online vendor. Buying anything online is a pretty harrowing experience, but I felt it was the only option available to me, as I went to several jewelers and they all said (except for one) "a padawhata?" A good 9 months of research went into this purchase.

So the money has been wired from my account, BUT the return policy is only 7 days. It says certified unheated/untreated, but I am sketchy about the details as to who actually certified it. So what's bugging me is that the turnaround for a lab report from GIA is 7-9 days through the mail (too late to return if it turns out to be treated or a fake), but I live close enough to NYC that I could make an appointment and physically bring it in... dumb idea? I don't even know if they allow that. Ugh.

I basically chose this particular pad because of the amazing color, and I want it to be totally "mind clean" as it's for my engagement ring upgrade. Also, would it be totally out of line to ask for an extension on the return policy? I don't want the vendor to be offended by my wanting to get the stone certified, but it's important to me.

Did you ask the vendor if they allow you to return things in person. If you can't make the deadline for returns, than return it right away, or make the vendor send it to the GIA for the certificate. If they refuse, buy from someone else. In this economy and with such issues with corundum treatment, vendors should be more accomodating with these gems.

 

[delayedreaction]

AGL will do a 2 day rush for you for 2x the cost, and you can drop it off yourself in NYC.

 

[T L]

I honestly wouldn't buy a padpradscha or sapphire from anyone that didn't offer the ability to send it to the lab themself. What if it comes back as synthetic or diffused, and you're out the cost of the cert?

 

[Nashville]

I honestly wouldn't buy a padpradscha or sapphire from anyone that didn't offer the ability to send it to the lab themself. What if it comes back as synthetic or diffused, and you're out the cost of the cert?

I'll ask if they are willing to do that for me. The worst they can say is no, right? If they agree I haven't lost anything and if they don't I'll just return and keep searching. I've been given some excellent advice here, many thanks!

Also think I'll get more details about who is certing this vendor's stones and maybe research a little more. I'm wary of "independent" and overseas "labs" that happen to be located where the stones are sourced (though I don't believe this to be the case here).

 

[kenny]

They may already have gotten a lab report for it that they threw away.

 

[Nashville]

They may already have gotten a lab report for it that they threw away.

Haha! Let's hope not

 

[Nashville]

Wow... $250 for an AGL certification?

They better tell me the stone's favorite movies and credit score for that kind of money! Sheesh!

Sounds like AGL is the most thorough and detailed report though... pads are definitely not an easy gem to grade I'm sure.

 

[T L]

Wow... $250 for an AGL certification?

They better tell me the stone's favorite movies and credit score for that kind of money! Sheesh!

Sounds like AGL is the most thorough and detailed report though... pads are definitely not an easy gem to grade I'm sure.

If you suspect the stone is valuable, then $250 is worth it. AGL does a gem memo brief that is much more affordable, I think around $60. However, it does not give specifics about quality of color. It will indicate treatment however.

 

[Nashville]

Wow... $250 for an AGL certification?

They better tell me the stone's favorite movies and credit score for that kind of money! Sheesh!

Sounds like AGL is the most thorough and detailed report though... pads are definitely not an easy gem to grade I'm sure.

If you suspect the stone is valuable, then $250 is worth it. AGL does a gem memo brief that is much more affordable, I think around $60. However, it does not give specifics about quality of color. It will indicate treatment however.

I think I should definitely go for the full report. Stone arrives via FedEx on either Wednesday or Thursday, I'll post pics under different lighting and get some opinions.

 

[chrono]

How is the vendor’s return policy? I hope you have decided on the AGL prestige report as an untreated fine quality padparadscha sapphire is rare and very expensive. Remember, just having it untreated will not mean much if the quality of colour is lacking.

 

[Nashville]

How is the vendor’s return policy? I hope you have decided on the AGL prestige report as an untreated fine quality padparadscha sapphire is rare and very expensive. Remember, just having it untreated will not mean much if the quality of colour is lacking.

Yes, I am definitely going for the full AGL prestige report once the stone comes in. It should be here Wednesday, Thursday at the latest. I'll post a couple of pics to get opinions before I ship it to the lab. From what I can tell from the vendor photos, the color is quite good. A light to medium pink with light orange undertones. I knew I didn't want any brown or bright orange/red tones, I actually prefer a softer color (but still desire a pad).

The vendor's return policy does allow time for testing and I'm paying for the report. That's fine with me. If the stone had been more expensive I'd probably insist on the report being included, but I'm happy with the price and don't want to ruffle any feathers *just* yet.

We'll see what AGL can dig up, which from my understanding, is a lot. On paper (though I have yet to see it), I'm purchasing a Ceylon Padparadscha sapphire, untreated, no heat. Origin: Sri Lanka. Cushion cut.

 

[chrono]

Do you know how accurate the vendor’s pictures are to the real stone (no lighting tricks, camera angles, photoshopping, etc)?
What if AGL rates the colour quality as poor? Will you still like it and keep it, or will you return it?
Will the vendor accept a return because you changed your mind?
If the stone comes back from AGL as some other colour sapphire and not a padparadscha, will the vendor refund you the cost of the AGL memo?
How do you know that you are paying a fair price for the quality?

The above are questions that I don’t need an answer to but you should ask yourself.

 

[Nashville]

Do you know how accurate the vendor’s pictures are to the real stone (no lighting tricks, camera angles, photoshopping, etc)?
I have no way of knowing that, I'll have to see when it arrives.

What if AGL rates the colour quality as poor? Will you still like it and keep it, or will you return it?
If the color is rated as poor but I like the color, would it be wise to take the stone to an independent appraiser? Then I will know if the price I paid was fair or if I should return and keep searching.

Will the vendor accept a return because you changed your mind?
Yes, once I get the lab results I have a week to return.

If the stone comes back from AGL as some other colour sapphire and not a padparadscha, will the vendor refund you the cost of the AGL memo?
Good point, and I will definitely look into that.

How do you know that you are paying a fair price for the quality?
I believe I've done pretty thorough research, but I'll admit I've only seen 2 pads in real life and certainly don't know a whole lot. But I closely followed TGal's search for her pad, Art Nouveau's purchase (though her stone was substantially larger than the one I'm buying) and I've researched offerings from Richard Wise and the nice folks at Wildfish. I have attended a few gem expos in the past year and have gotten some great literature about what qualifies as a good pad color and origin. I've spent a lot of time online and have sifted through a ton of junky stones. I think for what I'm buying, the per-carat price is definitely good. Actually it's great. But I'm also a jaded enough consumer (some of the "gems" in my collection are downright embarrassing, but none the less valuable learning experiences) to realize that just because I WANT something to be a great deal, doesn't mean it will be. I think that's why getting a cert is so important to me.

I think sometimes people are so desperate to want their purchase to be legit that they overlook whether or not the true value is really there. Me, I've made enough mistakes that it's very important that this gem be the real deal.

 

[chrono]

You are going about this the right way and with a clear mind. Yes, the next step if the stone quality comes back as poor or average is to get an independent appraiser to advise you of its true value. This task is not easy either. Believe it or not, many gemologists grossly inflate their numbers or over estimate the quality of the gemstone as many aren’t familiar with the less “common” variety.

 

[vinkalmann]

If you feel comfortable with it, would you post a link to the vender's picture for educational purposes?

 

[Nashville]

Yes, I'll post a vendor pic and my pics once I receive the stone.