Oval green-ish blue sapphire for E-ring

[corundummy]

Hi PSers,
After seeing some rings, my GF has decided that she'd like an oval green-ish blue montana sapphire with a diamond halo set in white gold. I'm looking to pick out a stone and then have the setting made. Ideally, I'd like to keep the entire ring in the 5-6k wheelhouse, but I could expand that budget for something special. I'm hoping for a stone with some size (i.e. > 1.5 cts), but color is the main deciding factor. Heat treatment on the stone is completely fine with me.

The tough part about her request is the oval, it seems the vast majority of montana sapphires are cut into round shapes.

The best looking candidate I've found to date is at gemfix


Any thoughts on this stone? The main problem is that I'm located in Vancouver and they don't ship high value stones internationally. I could try to rig something up with a friend in the US, but that would likely preclude me from being able to return the stone if I didn't love it.

Are there other stones out there that might fit the bill? I've contacted some of this board's favorite cutters (Jerry, gene, matercut) and nothing has popped up yet, although I'm still hopeful.

My other option would be to buy some rough and have it cut. This option appeals to me a bit, as it'd be cool to see the stone take shape. However, I recognize it's a bit of a risky proposition.

 

[Niel]

Try contacting peter Torraca too. He recently had a few Montana sapphires. He did one oval for someone here in a similar setting it was lovely

 

[GliderPoss]

No idea re: shipping but that is a lovely stone! Really nice cut & colour.

 

[corundummy]

Yeah the gemfix stone does look really top notch, it's just a bit tough knowing that if the wasn't quite as amazing in person I wouldn't be able to return it.

Thanks for mentioning Peter, I sent him an email.

 

[lknvrb4]

The Gemfix one looks really nice.

 

[chrono]

Just a couple things to double check, just in case.
1. Does she know that Montana sapphires are notorious shifters? Most of them look like a completely different stone indoors.
2. You mentioned she likes greenish blue but this one is predominantly blue, with only a hint of blue green, per the description.

You are correct that there are some PS members in Canada who've had friends order stones from GemFix on their behalf to get around the shipping limitation rule set by the vendor. However, that friend also plays the role of vetting the stone and sending additional pictures and videos to the member to make the final decision as whether to keep or return the stone.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

What about 469 from Gemfix? It seems more green to me. 8.7 x 6.9 x 4.9mm. $2,950

Honestly, I love the idea of picking out a piece of rough and having it cut, especially for an engagement ring. Then it's a stone that was cut for you and only you. How unique and special is that? But I'm also biased and love the process. You just have to be very discerning, specific and hopeful. My two cents.

I'll keep looking...

 

[corundummy]

Chrono: Thanks for clearing up the color. I'd say a mostly blue stone with a hint of green is more what I'm looking for than a greenish blue stone.

I agree that having rough cut for you adds something to the final stone, I'm interested to see what Peter/Gene can dig up.

 

[MJ_Mac]

Have you contacted Lisa Elser to see if she has any Montana sapphires in her inventory? She's in Vancouver and her cutting is exquisite.

http://www.lisaelser.com/index.html

 

[Acinom]

The stone you picked from Gemfix has a beautiful colour.
I am also biased towards picking a piece of rough and have it custom cut for you. I agree that it could be well worth it contacting Lisa Elser.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

I agree that having rough cut for you adds something to the final stone, I'm interested to see what Peter/Gene can dig up.

I'd also contact Blaze, if you're interested in Montana sapphire rough:
http://blazengems.com/retail/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=83_36

[email protected]

 

[corundummy]

Thanks for mentioning Lisa, it'd be great to get to see some stones in person.

What's the normal protocol if someone is cutting a stone from rough for you? Do they normally find what they think will be a suitable piece of rough and you put down a deposit and anxiously await the result?

 

[SparkliesLuver]

I'd work with Blaze to find a piece of rough. Be specific! See lots of pictures, and even have him mail it to you if you want. Then find a cutter you love. I'd recommend Jerry Newman (http://www.gemartservices.com/index.html). I'd personally have Blaze mail Jerry the rough and then Jerry can give you his thoughts (since I trust his eye more than mine). Blaze has a 10-day return policy. Then you can work with Jerry on the cutting! Hope that makes sense.

 

[chrono]

Please make sure to discuss with the lapidary about your options, should the stone turn out not as expected (smaller/bigger, not eye clean, inclusions or feathers growing, not the desired colour, etc). For some, you have a non-refundable deposit. If getting the rough from 1 place and having it sent to be cut by someone else, the risk is greater in that you are stuck with the stone if you don't like the end result.

 

[iLander]

I'd work with Blaze to find a piece of rough. Be specific! See lots of pictures, and even have him mail it to you if you want. Then find a cutter you love. I'd recommend Jerry Newman (http://www.gemartservices.com/index.html). I'd personally have Blaze mail Jerry the rough and then Jerry can give you his thoughts (since I trust his eye more than mine). Blaze has a 10-day return policy. Then you can work with Jerry on the cutting! Hope that makes sense.

I have a post in Somebody's Gotta Buy this Stone thread about exactly this, with multiple pics of Blaze's latest rough. There is a blue green piece, which may make an oval, ask Jerry. A lot of legwork has already been done . . .

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/somebodys-gotta-buy-this-stone.177156/page-88']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/somebodys-gotta-buy-this-stone.177156/page-88[/URL] Almost the bottom of the page

 

[corundummy]

Thanks iLander. I'm actually chatting with Jerry about that very stone.

For the color that I'm looking for, would it be best to target a heated stone/get the rough heated by the cutter?

Anyone have experience sending stones to get heated here? http://www.sapphiregallery.com/

 

[chrono]

Who will be responsible for the cost/sapphire should the clarity and colour end up as not what is expected? Overall, my experience with custom cutting from rough has more disappointments than success. I wish you the best if you want to go this route.

 

[PieAreSquared]

Even professional faceters who "read" rough for a living can be surprised by their finished pieces, not the color or appearance they expected. Good luck.

 

[corundummy]

I think if I go the rough route I'll have to be prepared to live with the stone, whether it's as tremendous as I'd want to or not.

What you think about this "color changing" sapphire? A bit tough for me to tell what the color would be in normal light.

 

[Niel]

I think if I go the rough route I'll have to be prepared to live with the stone, whether it's as tremendous as I'd want to or not.

What you think about this "color changing" sapphire? A bit tough for me to tell what the color would be in normal light.

Seems dark from the photos

 

[PieAreSquared]

All color is affected more or less (and sometimes MUCH more) by light. Montana sapphires are notoriously shifty.
When you wonder how a stone will look in "normal light" what does that mean to you? Daylight maybe? Colors in morning, noon and evening light will all look slightly different. (Google "Purkinje shift", fascinating stuff).

What light conditions is she in most of the time? That will be most important in choosing the stone.
Office lights (fluorescents) tend to make blues look better, most other colors look worse. Incandescents are great for warm colors; red, yellow, orange, not so good for cool colors like blue.

That said, you really have to see a stone in person to know how it will react to your unique surroundings. At the end of the day, spending $30, $50 or even $100 in shipping and returns but getting the perfect stone, is still cheaper than "settling" for what they call sapphires at retail jewelry chains.