Opinions on this teal sapphire

[Lilette]

Hello,

I’ve been on the search for a teal sapphire for a while, and got this one the other day. It’s exactly what I wanted - (perfect color, very clear, perfect size) but I noticed it has a huge window . I’d love some other people’s thoughts about if I got ripped off, should return, keep, etc.

It’s non heated, Madagascar origin, 5 ct and was about $10,000. It would be for low profile, art deco style engagement ring.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[newtojewels]

Hello,

I’ve been on the search for a teal sapphire for a while, and got this one the other day. It’s exactly what I wanted - (perfect color, very clear, perfect size) but I noticed it has a huge window . I’d love some other people’s thoughts about if I got ripped off, should return, keep, etc.

It’s non heated, Madagascar origin, 5 ct and was about $10,000. It would be for low profile, art deco style engagement ring.

Thank you so much for your help!

I'm no expert but to me that window would be a deal breaker, especially at this price point. But since it sounds like you have it in-hand, can you put aluminum foil under it to act like a cup and see what you think of the window then?

A few teals I've found for comparison (again, not an expert!!!). These all look like they have more going on in the center. Hopefully someone who really knows chimes in, though.

2.09 carats untreated from Madagascar for $2995. Too bad it's so much smaller than you want because gosh it looks pretty to me. I feel like I would get the color and cut I like and change the setting to hit my goal finger coverage.

Unheated Teal Sapphire Octagon Emerald Cut | 2.09cts | #15-1444 - Gemfix

Unheated Natural Blue Green Teal Sapphire Emerald Cut

gemfix.com

5.09 carat darker sapphire that I saw at a few sources. Africa Gems has a video but other places have this cheaper:

Low Price Sapphire - Emerald Cut - Blue Green Color - 5.09 Carats - 11x7.46x5.78mm - GIA Certified

New

www.africagems.com

5.10 carat, same boat that other vendors have this available for less but Africa Gems has the video:

Gorgeous No Heat 5.10ct Teal Blue Green Sapphire Stone, Octagon Cut, GIA, 9.97 x 8.73 x 5.86 mm

Seller of high quality loose gemstones, diamonds, jewelry, findings and mountings

www.africagems.com

 

[Lilette]

I actually got this from Africagems, and he sent a hand comparison video with “mine” and the 5.09 carat one you linked. In the video I preferred this one, but didn’t notice any windowing until I saw it in person.

I’ll definitely try the aluminum foil, thanks!

 

[lovedogs]

For that price I wouldn't accept a huge window. Have you reached out to someone like Dan Stair to ask about rhe possibility of a recut? Sometimes he can just cut the girdle to avoid losing face up size.

 

[Lilette]

I haven’t asked anyone about re-cutting. It’s pretty shallow (probably why it’s such a big window). I have been wanting to ask an independent appraiser for their opinion, but so far I haven’t heard back from any of them.

I’m not sure if I should ask my future fiancée to invest more into this stone when theres still time to return it.

 

[newtojewels]

I actually got this from Africagems, and he sent a hand comparison video with “mine” and the 5.09 carat one you linked. In the video I preferred this one, but didn’t notice any windowing until I saw it in person.

I’ll definitely try the aluminum foil, thanks!

Do you have any photos/videos of that hand comparison?

 

[Lilette]

Stills from the video - now that I’m really looking for it I can sort of tell.

“Mine” is the far left, center is the 5.09 ct, and far right is a radiant cut

 

[Bron357]

It’s a lovely colour and a lovely size but the window is letting it down. I wouldn’t have paid $10k for it due to the window.
The window can be mitigated by a cup setting, ie white metal (not yellow) in the under gallery but this may not suit the ring style you want.
Most coloured gems have a window side on but it’s the view looking down that counts as that’s the view you see looking down admiring your beauty on the hand.
The thing about windows is that once you feel “blah” about it, that feeling stays.

 

[Autumn in New England]

It's a lovely color and the clarity is great... I also love the size and the fact that it's not heated. But as others have said, the window is a deal breaker for me. I'd rather go smaller and have a good native cut (nevermind the benefit of a precision cut) than lose so much brilliane through the center of the stone (after all, sparkle is why we collect faceted gems). I think you can do better with that budget, my friend. Welcome to the boards!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I would return it. That window is massive. I’m not sure I’d even settle on that window at half the price and I’m generally less discerning and will settle more than the average PSer!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

i have a windowed stone and it drives me crazy and it cost no where near what your stone cost
i do think the colour is beautiful and i love art deco

you know in Victorian times they used to find seeing the skin through the window very erotic,
but times have changed , we now show our ankles !

 

[lovedogs]

Stills from the video - now that I’m really looking for it I can sort of tell.

“Mine” is the far left, center is the 5.09 ct, and far right is a radiant cut

Fwiw I would return it and strongly consider the middle one.

 

[Lilette]

Fwiw I would return it and strongly consider the middle one.

Yes, the center stone is pretty and annoyingly about 2K more and heated. I looked for a few months, and it seems I’ll be starting the search again because of this stupid window!

 

[newtojewels]

Yes, the center stone is pretty and annoyingly about 2K more and heated. I looked for a few months, and it seems I’ll be starting the search again because of this stupid window!

People say this all of the time, but you don't wear the certificate. Is it really that important to you that it be unheated? Of course everyone is different, but it's worth ranking your priorities!

Sorry that this stone ended up being disappointing

 

[lovedogs]

People say this all of the time, but you don't wear the certificate. Is it really that important to you that it be unheated? Of course everyone is different, but it's worth ranking your priorities!

Sorry that this stone ended up being disappointing

I agree 100%. With all of these specific characteristics you're after, I think trying to find unheated is just setting yourself an impossible task.

 

[Lilette]

Good point, I actually don’t mind the stone being heated. I bought it thinking it was heated as the seller said it was. I asked for it to be sent for certification as I was nervous about buying online. The GIA report came back saying no evidence of heating, and I got excited.

 

[seaurchin]

Another option is having the window corrected, as someone mentioned earlier, if you like it otherwise. I’ve recently had two gems (with a third on the way back to me now) recut by Boyd Fox (Texas, USA). Mine were all about 7-8 carats and under $300 each to recut. I was very pleased with the results. You could send him pics and ask if he could close the window and ask for a quote.

 

[Lilette]

Another option is having the window corrected, as someone mentioned earlier, if you like it otherwise. I’ve recently had two gems (with a third on the way back to me now) recut by Boyd Fox (Texas, USA). Mine were all about 7-8 carats and under $300 to recut. I was very pleased with the results. You could send him pics and ask if he could close the window and ask for a quote.

Thanks for the suggestion! I just sent him an email

 

[seaurchin]

If you feel like scrolling through the two threads of mine below, they show my spessartite and my peridot before and after his recut. They were both far better looking afterwards. Also, I don't know if it applies to your gem but I don't think any of mine lost any size in the circumference. I was relieved about that because my husband was teasing me that I might get back a very beautiful gem the size of a grain of rice haha. I should have my recut rubellite back from him in a couple of days and will post it then, too.

All three of my recut gems (including the rubellite that's on its way back to me now) were from Starlanka and I guess what you'd call native cuts. My gems cost more like under $1,000 than $10,000, so I don't know how the costs work out with a more expensive gem. But mine seem to me a better deal to buy a large native cut gem, then get it recut as funds allow (plus I could break the costs up that way). JMO and good luck with it!

Setting for new Spess

I expect to pick up my new spess at the post office tomorrow. I have some ideas for a ring setting but I'm not good at picturing it. It's just under 8 carats and something like 10X12mm. What I have in mind is a 14k yellow gold setting, with three diamonds at the top of the spess and three...

www.pricescope.com

Help with a Peridot

Ugh, gems are so hard to photograph accurately. Anyway, I just got this peridot and am debating if I should keep it. I like the color okay but not the cut, especially the window. It was a little under $400 with shipping and is little under 6 carats. I'm wondering if it would be worth it to get...

www.pricescope.com

 

[Lilette]

If you feel like scrolling through the two threads of mine below, they show my spessartite and my peridot before and after his recut. They were both far better looking afterwards. Also, I don't know if it applies to your gem but I don't think any of mine lost any size in the circumference. I was relieved about that because my husband was teasing me that I might get back a very beautiful gem the size of a grain of rice haha. I should have my recut rubellite back from him in a couple of days and will post it then, too.

All three of my recut gems (including the rubellite that's on its way back to me now) were from Starlanka and I guess what you'd call native cuts. My gems cost more like under $1,000 than $10,000, so I don't know how the costs work out with a more expensive gem. But mine seem to me a better deal to buy a large native cut gem, then get it recut as funds allow (plus I could break the costs up that way). JMO and good luck with it!

Setting for new Spess

I expect to pick up my new spess at the post office tomorrow. I have some ideas for a ring setting but I'm not good at picturing it. It's just under 8 carats and something like 10X12mm. What I have in mind is a 14k yellow gold setting, with three diamonds at the top of the spess and three...

www.pricescope.com

Help with a Peridot

Ugh, gems are so hard to photograph accurately. Anyway, I just got this peridot and am debating if I should keep it. I like the color okay but not the cut, especially the window. It was a little under $400 with shipping and is little under 6 carats. I'm wondering if it would be worth it to get...

www.pricescope.com

Wow, those turned out great!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I would return it and revise my criteria when starting the search anew, to ensure I could get a nicely cut stone.

 

[lovedogs]

Wow, those turned out great!

I had a very good experience w Dan Stair recutting a specs for me, just FYI

 

[Lilette]

Luckily the seller is in California, my future fiancée just emailed about the windowing. Will return unless a massive partial refund is offered, in which case we’ll look at a recut.

 

[Lilette]

Waiting to hear back about a refund and re-visiting previously admired stones.

I’m eyeing this beauty from finewater. It would be a massive jump in price and blow the budget, so I would have to contribute funds. Another caveat would be no returns, as my future fiancé and I have already been searching for months at this point..

I don’t think this would work with the original ring setting I had in mind from Berlinger





Maybe a setting more like this vintage spinel?


If anyone happens to come across any emerald shaped teals around 10mm, please send them my way!

 

[newtojewels]

Waiting to hear back about a refund and re-visiting previously admired stones.

I’m eyeing this beauty from finewater. It would be a massive jump in price and blow the budget, so I would have to contribute funds. Another caveat would be no returns, as my future fiancé and I have already been searching for months at this point..

I don’t think this would work with the original ring setting I had in mind from Berlinger





Maybe a setting more like this vintage spinel?


If anyone happens to come across any emerald shaped teals around 10mm, please send them my way!

Why would there be no returns on the Finewater stone?

There's a quote that goes something like, "Buy once, cry once". If this is the stone you're comparing everything else to and it's possible for you to get it, you should consider just blowing the budget to get it. Obviously it's different if it isn't exactly what you want or you can't get your desired setting if you choose this stone or whatever, but you're already planning to spend a lot of money on this sapphire. It would be such a shame to potentially get something with issues you'll always think about. You're not comparing a $1k stone to a $20k stone, the other options on your list are still expensive.

Of course, it's easy for me to blow your budget for you! And I don't actually know if the Finewater stone is a good purchase, I'm speaking more generally.

This color range is kind of similar to indicolite tourmaline. Not sure how often you're planning to wear this ring and how hard you are on your hands, but have you considered that instead? It's certainly more budget friendly!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think if you have the money and it won’t create financial hardship you should stretch to buy what you truly want. It sounds like you have been hunting a long time, so your current budget isnt exactly working for you. I’m not saying to get the Finewater one for sure. But you might consider it or pursue options like asking Yvonne Raley or Inken Krause to source you what you want. You will pay more than you might otherwise for their help but it’s worth it for a special purchase.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

One thing to consider with a recut is that re-cutting comes with the risk of a color change to the gem. I unfortunately changed a large lovely red spinel with a purple modifier into a mostly purple spinel with a precision recut. I regret that.

This is an important ring- your engagement ring. I agree with other members that you should probably keep searching or increase your budget to buy the Finewater sapphire. But only if there is a return policy.

 

[lulu_ma]

Oh that Finewater one looks nice-and unheated is a bonus.

Perhaps you can do a simple setting now and upgrade the setting later?

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

I have a peridot and a Mali garnet from Finewater 6ems, can't say enough good things about Gary and his business.

 

[Lilette]

Why would there be no returns on the Finewater stone?

There's a quote that goes something like, "Buy once, cry once". If this is the stone you're comparing everything else to and it's possible for you to get it, you should consider just blowing the budget to get it. Obviously it's different if it isn't exactly what you want or you can't get your desired setting if you choose this stone or whatever, but you're already planning to spend a lot of money on this sapphire. It would be such a shame to potentially get something with issues you'll always think about. You're not comparing a $1k stone to a $20k stone, the other options on your list are still expensive.

Of course, it's easy for me to blow your budget for you! And I don't actually know if the Finewater stone is a good purchase, I'm speaking more generally.

This color range is kind of similar to indicolite tourmaline. Not sure how often you're planning to wear this ring and how hard you are on your hands, but have you considered that instead? It's certainly more budget friendly!

I would love to do an indicolite, but this will be for my engagement ring and subjected to daily wear.

I was originally looking for emerald cut because I loved the Berlinger ring so much but wanted a bigger, better center stone.

After I’d already decided on the emerald cut I saw the finewater and thought it was amazing, but would probably change the setting.

I believe they offered a slight discount, but with “final sale” as a caveat. I definitely agree that it’s worth it to spend more to get what I want, and would contribute the extra funds to the budget to do so.