Opalescent Sapphire—risky business

[Mrsz1ppy]

Although i shouldn’t be buying anything, i fell in love with an instagram post today and bought an opalescent sapphire. It looks amazing online; i hope with fingers and toes crossed that it looks similar to the videos here in the US.

 

[Neptune]

Can wait!

 

[Timor]

Wow it’s my first time seeing that shade sapphire! Really hope it turns out well, please share with us!

 

[elle_71125]

That looks like a beauty. Fingers crossed thats it’s just as pretty in hand.

 

[Mondayschild]

wow, gorgeous

 

[pokerface]

Gorgeous! Just a warning, you are not going to see that glow unless it's in strong, direct sunlight. Otherwise, it will probably be a regular green color - hopefully not too dark or too grayish!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Gorgeous! Just a warning, you are not going to see that glow unless it's in strong, direct sunlight. Otherwise, it will probably be a regular green color - hopefully not too dark or too grayish!

I think you are correct!

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I want one just like this, but I am scared to put down the bread on it. You don't see them like this that often. It's the perfect mix. I'll be avidly watching how this plays out!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Well, it’s not what I’d hoped and expected based on the video. I knew it was a gamble, and this time I lost.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Oh bummer. Can you return it? It's very green.....

 

[Begonia]

Darn!!!
Gosh it sure doesn't look like the vendor photos at all. How disappointing!
So sorry.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Well, it’s not what I’d hoped and expected based on the video. I knew it was a gamble, and this time I lost.

That's olive with chartreuse and if they'd shown it as olive, I'd say that's a nice sapphire, but that's not the color sapphire they advertised.
It's too bad, I'm disappointed for you that it didn't work out as you hoped.

 

[Avondale]

What kind of wizardry was used to get this stone to look like that in the vendor video? Even with what @pokerface said, you do have it in direct sunlight and it's still nowhere even close. I'm willing to call it straight up intentional misrepresentation.

 

[toomuchB]

I was eyeing this stone. It is a shame you can't replicate that color. I can imagine the disappointment... I hope he could offer a refund even if he does not usually do them (I assume).

Not to defend this vendor from this specific case, but I had a good experience buying a green tanzanite from him. I am glad I saved this rare color from heating, which it was set to be days before I bought it. He sent it to the Kenyan Ministry of Mining for a free report before sending it to me, they ID'd zoisite. When it arrived, a respected EU lab near me ID'd it as zoisite too. The price was right.
Here's this vendor's (first) vs my video (second) and my pics (third in outdoor light and fourth indoor)

https://imgur.com/a/6OwWczm

 

[Catmom]

Oh that's such a shame. It looks like a totally different stone.

 

[LilAlex]

Oh that's too bad. Thank you for sharing your disappointment, @Mrsz1ppy. I have sure enjoyed your many success stories and beautiful finds! Too often this is like an investing (or gambling) forum where folks just share their wins.

In retrospect, seems like "opalescent" was just a generous euphemism for heavily included. And I agree that the hue in person is nothing like the Caribbean Sea turquoise in the vendor photo.

 

[toomuchB]

In retrospect, seems like "opalescent" was just a generous euphemism for heavily included. And I agree that the hue in person is nothing like the Caribbean Sea turquoise in the vendor photo.

I truly cannot stand the term 'opalescent' for silky sapphires/spinels.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I queried him, and sent the same photos. He said his photo was taken at 5:00 pm. Mine was at noon. I have been warned about the ‘closer to the equator’ factor.

He did not offer to ‘do’ anything so that is why I am letting PS know about my experience. I am here to learn. It looks better next to some blue cabs, so I will show that after I get my Fourth of July prep done.

 

[CBianco]

I've noticed most "opalescent" or "milky" sapphires are very very photogenic. In my limited experience with them, they are quite lacking in person especially compared to a brilliant stone. But maybe that's just my personal preference.

However when the color of the stone is completely different from vendor photos, then that's a whole different story. So sorry this happened

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Here are some pictures of the stone as I think I will set it. The blue seems to bring out what blue there is in the center stone. Am hoping yellow gold will help. Any thoughts?

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I really like the combination and think it could work nicely. It will make a very pretty ring. I think I like it N/S oriented in this case. Any design ideas yet?

 

[toomuchB]

At the end of the day its an attractive sapphire, just not what was advertised. I see no hint of brown, which often affects 'olive'y sapphires

I am curious if you checked whether has that paraiba like color under a UV light?

I agree with the above that the blue compliments it well.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

At the end of the day its an attractive sapphire, just not what was advertised. I see no hint of brown, which often affects 'olive'y sapphires

I am curious if you checked whether has that paraiba like color under a UV light?

I agree with the above that the blue compliments it well.

I need to do that. Thanks for reminding me.

It is an interesting sapphire, and I will set it.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I really like the combination and think it could work nicely. It will make a very pretty ring. I think I like it N/S oriented in this case. Any design ideas yet?

The cabs are from a deconstructed brooch, and I want them used as they are mounted, with the chain segueing into the shank. Been waiting for the right center stone. I like N/S orientation best, too.

What I am undecided about is if I should prong or bezel set the center sapphire, and the color metal that will complement it best, and bring out The blue tones.

I am very happy that there is no brown.

 

[LilAlex]

The blue seems to bring out what blue there is in the center stone. Am hoping yellow gold will help. Any thoughts?

Completely agree -- looks lovely with those side stones!

 

[Neptune]

I know these aren’t 3-stone but at least you can see the possibilities of prong and bezel sets in yellowish metal.

Search: 75 results found for "Green sapphire"

Beauty from the earth – fine jewelry mindfully made in NYC. WWAKE is a 100% women run, design driven, and sustainably minded fine jewelry company.

wwake.com

Just curious, you haven’t been able to “recreate” that cuprian blue at all?

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I know these aren’t 3-stone but at least you can see the possibilities of prong and bezel sets in yellowish metal.

Search: 75 results found for "Green sapphire"

Beauty from the earth – fine jewelry mindfully made in NYC. WWAKE is a 100% women run, design driven, and sustainably minded fine jewelry company.

wwake.com

Just curious, you haven’t been able to “recreate” that cuprian blue at all?

Nope. Tried with uv light too.

 

[pokerface]

I think this is a perfectly nice green sapphire, but not sure how they were able to get that bright paraiba color in the photo. I don't think it qualifies as an "opalescent" sapphire - which actually is a real thing which can be certified by AGL. IMO opalescence only happens when there are two contrasting colors present in the stone (mine is orangey blue) along with inclusions to give it that sleepy glow. I still strongly prefer my opalescent stones over ones that are "higher quality" but clear and glassy. I would ask for a return on the basis of it not exhibiting opalescence - and I'm assuming you paid a higher price based on the description as such. I did look up the IG vendor and found the original post, which includes two videos showing the stone looking much like your photos and exhibiting strong extinction on half the stone. My assumption would have been that the stone looks like the second two videos and I would have abstained from purchase. Sorry that this one was a learning experience!!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I think this is a perfectly nice green sapphire, but not sure how they were able to get that bright paraiba color in the photo. I don't think it qualifies as an "opalescent" sapphire - which actually is a real thing which can be certified by AGL. IMO opalescence only happens when there are two contrasting colors present in the stone (mine is orangey blue) along with inclusions to give it that sleepy glow. I still strongly prefer my opalescent stones over ones that are "higher quality" but clear and glassy. I would ask for a return on the basis of it not exhibiting opalescence - and I'm assuming you paid a higher price based on the description as such. I did look up the IG vendor and found the original post, which includes two videos showing the stone looking much like your photos and exhibiting strong extinction on half the stone. My assumption would have been that the stone looks like the second two videos and I would have abstained from purchase. Sorry that this one was a learning experience!!

You are correct. I let my excitement at the cuprian color cloud my judgement. Paid around $500/carat.

I did not know that AGL will cert as opalescent. Good to know!

I will chalk this up to the school of hard knocks.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

 

[toomuchB]

I don't think it qualifies as an "opalescent" sapphire - which actually is a real thing which can be certified by AGL. IMO opalescence only happens when there are two contrasting colors present in the stone (mine is orangey blue) along with inclusions to give it that sleepy glow.

I had no idea this was a thing, thanks for educating me. Do you know if there's a published paper on the topic or one that mentions it? I would love to read on it. I might email AGL directly.

I Googled and found this gorgeous one which belongs to @Sparklemore, with the AGL comment, for those who want to see a true opalescent effect with contrasting colors. I see a pinkish-yellow glow in a violet-blue-purple sapphire. So cool.

Opalescent gems

Inspired by the recent thread by @Lexililac , so wanted to ask about this phenomenon. Is it microinclusions/silk that make gems do this? And how would I go about trying to find a stone like this? I love the effect, but searching for it is proving tough.

www.pricescope.com

I suppose I should correct my above statement and say I hate the trendy overuse of that term for silky sapphires, which can be beautiful in their own right.