Please help me find my gorgeous "OMG" blue sapphire

[SparkleC]

Hello Friends:

I posted recently asking about the process of creating a ring and got some excellent guidance from the group. This weekend, we decided it's time to start looking for the stone! Since my Mister has zero knowledge about jewelry and he wants me to be happy, he's told me to take the lead on the project. I'm giddy with excitement!!

I know this group has the collective wisdom and knowledge to help me on my search.

First, what I'm looking for:

Color:Cornflower to electric blue. I know that's not very specific but I find color very hard to describe. It needs to be bright blue. I will post some pics of some of my favorite PSers gorgeous stones and a few I like on line.

• Based on my reading here, I know that a stone may darken when set so I'm really looking for feedback regarding not only the color as a loose stone but in a setting. I don't care for bezel settings so I'm hoping a more open setting will help with this concern. I welcome your feedback.
• I'm still not sure whether a sparkly or sleepy stone will make my heart go pitter patter more. I think the color is going to be the ultimate factor.

Cut/Size

• looking for a round but open to a "roval." I just don't want the stone to be too elongated
• 6.5-7 mm but would consider a little smaller or bigger if the color is right and within budget

Treatment:

• I'm fine with a heat treated stone

Budget

• $5000 for the stone

Do you think I'm being reasonable in what I'm looking for and my budget?

Here are some sapphires I have seen on line that really caught my attention. For some reason, I keep getting drawn back to GemFix. Any feedback on working with them would also be very appreciated.

https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1322
Wrong cut and out of budget but....oh MOMMY!!! that color in the video is to die for!!!

https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1325
In budget (by the skin of my teeth! ), right cut. Love the color but is it going to darken in a setting??

https://gemfix.com/gems/sapphire-blue-11-1336
very yummy!

I also love some fabulous PSers sapphires. These are more examples of the color I want.
@mpc ring color is devine




@Acinom so gorgeous!


Thank you all in advance for helping me on my quest. This just got so real!!!

 

[lovedogs]

I think if you want "glowy/velvety" like @Acinom and @mpc You'll need to up the budget (probably) and definitely be open to all cuts. It's such a hard color to find that color needs to come before cut shape.

I think the first gemfix one is a quality contender, but is over budget.

Second one is gojng to be too dark in a setting .

Third is bright but doesnt have the electric glow of your inspiration stones.

 

[lovedogs]

Also look at fine water gems. I would pay most attentiln to the hand pics because they are taken IRL. In natural light.

I think you likely want this color (another one that breaks the budget unfortunately)
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p362/2.55_ct_Blue_Sapphire.html

This is great but it won't have the "glow"
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p570/2.29ctBlueSapphire.html

 

[qubitasaurus]

Ask Enhoerning gems if they can find you one, or alternatively I like lovesdogs suggestion of finewatergems. Also concavegems has a few which are very nice. You may be headed for a <2 ct stone (this should be arround 6.5 mm round give or take) if you want it to glow like that, but it sounds totally doable (although I'd loosen up on cut to oval, round and cushion as this'll give you more options and mean you don't have to compromise as much on colour).

 

[AV_]

WWW

 

[chroman]

This is great but it won't have the "glow"
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p570/2.29ctBlueSapphire.html

OMG the hand shot!!

 

[icy_jade]

Didn’t finewater have 20 or 30% off for all sapphires recently? Maybe can call and check if they are still willing to give that offer.

 

[chroman]

Didn’t finewater have 20 or 30% off for all sapphires recently? Maybe can call and check if they are still willing to give that offer.

25% until tomarrow - but no returns

 

[SparkleC]

I think if you want "glowy/velvety" like @Acinom and @mpc You'll need to up the budget (probably) and definitely be open to all cuts. It's such a hard color to find that color needs to come before cut shape.

Thank you, lovedogs. I appreciate your honest feedback. I might could up the budget a bit, but I think I would first look to see what I could find if I went a little smaller.

The main reason I was drawn to round or oval is I'm thinking about something like this for a setting:



I haven't really seen a different kind of cut in a swoopy bypass style before. But maybe I've not been looking for it so I didn't notice it. What are you thoughts regarding the cut that would look good in this kind of setting?

 

[lovedogs]

oooh those are lovely ideas for a setting! Very nice. I feel like it could work with other shapes as well, especially with someone experienced with settings. Of course it will be easier with a round or oval, but do-able in other shapes.

 

[whitewave]

Also check with Inken. I never can remember her Etsy store. Can anyone help?

 

[whitewave]

I found it: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EnhoerningJewelry

 

[SparkleC]

Ask Enhoerning gems if they can find you one, or alternatively I like lovesdogs suggestion of finewatergems. Also concavegems has a few which are very nice. You may be headed for a <2 ct stone (this should be arround 6.5 mm round give or take) if you want it to glow like that, but it sounds totally doable (although I'd loosen up on cut to oval, round and cushion as this'll give you more options and mean you don't have to compromise as much on colour).

Thanks, quibitasaurus. Enhoerning gems wasn't on my radar. I did a quick peek and saw this lovely but it's been sold.

https://www.enhoerning-jewelry.com/loosegemstones/150-ct-unheated-madagascar-sapphire-gia

But like you suggested, they might be able to find one.

I also checked out concave gems. I'm such a dumb-dumb it took me a while to figure out that Corundum is a sapphire! Duh!! I'm always trying to learn more. So I hope this isn't a real rookie question. Their photos have a strange look to them compared to others I've seen. Is this because they are trying to capture a sparkle? Example:

http://concavegems.com/query3.cfm?yVarieties=All&ySpecies=All

The main reason I was focused on a round or oval was the setting I was leaning towards. See my post above. I'd welcome your thoughts on cuts that would compliment that kind of setting.

 

[whitewave]

I have used Gary at Finewater for many stones and Inken found me my emerald.

 

[SparkleC]

Also look at fine water gems. I would pay most attentiln to the hand pics because they are taken IRL. In natural light.

I think you likely want this color (another one that breaks the budget unfortunately)
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p362/2.55_ct_Blue_Sapphire.html

This is great but it won't have the "glow"
https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p570/2.29ctBlueSapphire.html

lovedogs, you're just mean!! LOL!!! That hand shot on the first one nearly brought me to tears. But the photos look so different! I guess that's why you have to see everything in person.

 

[SparkleC]

WWW

Thanks, AV. This one is hard for me to visual IRL. Definitely one to see in person. Am I right in thinking this one is more sparkly than some of the other ones?

 

[SparkleC]

25% until tomarrow - but no returns

Well that stinks!!

 

[SparkleC]

I found it: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EnhoerningJewelry

thanks, whitewave. Just so I'm keeping everything straight in my head, is this vendor the same as the one that
qubitasaurus suggested? Or just a coincidence with the name??

Ask Enhoerning gems if they can find you one, or alternatively .

 

[lovedogs]

lovedogs, you're just mean!! LOL!!! That hand shot on the first one nearly brought me to tears. But the photos look so different! I guess that's why you have to see everything in person.

I'm sorry Just wanted to show you what I consider "ideal" in terms of color.

 

[SparkleC]

oooh those are lovely ideas for a setting! Very nice. I feel like it could work with other shapes as well, especially with someone experienced with settings. Of course it will be easier with a round or oval, but do-able in other shapes.

thank you! I'm just so drawn to that swoopy look. you've inspired me to be more open to cut. If it compliments the overall aesthetic of the piece, I'm open to anything.

 

[SparkleC]

I'm sorry Just wanted to show you what I consider "ideal" in terms of color.

No you're totally right. It's helpful. At this point I'm still hoping to stay in budget. It's self imposed as my Mister said, I want you to be happy. If I dropped down to 6ish mm do you think I could find that color in budget?

 

[lovedogs]

No you're totally right. It's helpful. At this point I'm still hoping to stay in budget. It's self imposed as my Mister said, I want you to be happy. If I dropped down to 6ish mm do you think I could find that color in budget?

I get it completely. I'd ask enhoering (as suggested above), or Yvonne Raley from etsy. Or just email Finewater and ask what he says given your budget and size desires

 

[whitewave]

thanks, whitewave. Just so I'm keeping everything straight in my head, is this vendor the same as the one that
qubitasaurus suggested? Or just a coincidence with the name??

Same. I didn’t see someone else suggested her.

Many vendors will look for you at gem shows or buying trips f you have time to wait.

 

[SparkleC]

I get it completely. I'd ask enhoering (as suggested above), or Yvonne Raley from etsy. Or just email Finewater and ask what he says given your budget and size desires

Thanks. the design I have in mind is so simple because I want the stone to be the star. Plus, my taste in general for jewelry is simple and elegant. Considering I've really only allowed myself to start seriously looking tonight, I know this can be a l-o-n-g process. No need to start compromising on size or cut until I actually talk to a vendor. But I'm so glad you challenged me to think more broadly. I'd hate to miss a beautiful stone because I was limiting myself.

Is it rude to reach out to more than one vendor at a time?

 

[AV_]

Thanks, AV. This one is hard for me to visual IRL. Definitely one to see in person. Am I right in thinking this one is more sparkly than some of the other ones?

I can only tell what I think I am seeing in the same web page you are seeing: the stone seems to have had its crown recut precisely, leaving a symmetrical & correctly deep, traditionally faceted pavilion (a jumble of little rectangular facets, more or less aligned & best left to the pavilion) - the combination is classical & allows a great compromise of brilliance & colour, tricky to achieve with a precise facet pattern.

This is not priced to sell because the colour is - impossible.

 

[lovedogs]

Thanks. the design I have in mind is so simple because I want the stone to be the star. Plus, my taste in general for jewelry is simple and elegant. Considering I've really only allowed myself to start seriously looking tonight, I know this can be a l-o-n-g process. No need to start compromising on size or cut until I actually talk to a vendor. But I'm so glad you challenged me to think more broadly. I'd hate to miss a beautiful stone because I was limiting myself.

Is it rude to reach out to more than one vendor at a time?

They are the same. Sometimes she posts on etsy, and I think she also has a website/instagram.

I personally don't think it's rude, especially at first (to get an idea of who might have something you want or need). Obviously if 2 people think you are buying from them then it's harder.

 

[SparkleC]

Same. I didn’t see someone else suggested her.

Many vendors will look for you at gem shows or buying trips f you have time to wait.

No problem!! I'm asking so many questions, it's bound to happen!

 

[SparkleC]

I can only tell what I think I am seeing in the same web page you are seeing: the stone seems to have had its crown recut precisely, leaving a symmetrical & correctly deep, traditionally faceted pavilion (a jumble of little rectangular facets, more or less aligned & best left to the pavilion) - the combination is classical & allows a great compromise of brilliance & colour, tricky to achieve with a precise facet pattern.

This is not priced to sell because the colour is - impossible.

WOW! I am in the presence of deep knowledge. You are brilliant!! I'll have to read that one several times to truly understand everything. Thank you so much for such a thorough explanation.

 

[SparkleC]

I personally don't think it's rude, especially at first (to get an idea of who might have something you want or need). Obviously if 2 people think you are buying from them then it's harder.

that makes sense. Simply inquiring shouldn't create a sense of commitment for a sale. I want to make sure I'm being fair and ethical when I begin to narrow down my choices. I'm sure there's a tremendous amount of work that goes into sourcing stones.

 

[AV_]

Oops... If I can explain the mess, I will. I've been looking at things & thinking about 'cut' for too long!