Price for Blue Sapphire

[Safires]

Hi Pricescope!

Been lurking for a while but it's time to jump in to the game. I've been looking to purchase a blue sapphire engagement ring for my soon to be fiance and am having some difficulty determining the right price.

I found a beautiful Deep Blue Sapphire 5.09ct Heated GIA similar to this one: Blue Sapphire - Cushion 5.03 Ct. It's pretty clean and has been pretty difficult to find many inclusions, even with a loupe.

It's quoted at $23,000 but I'm trying to see if I can get the price lowered but am unsure as to by how much. Sapphire pricing is so opaque and I'm not sure how much I should negotiate it down to. I hear stories of diamonds being negotiated down as much as 30% which sounds crazy. I really like the jeweler and will want to keep coming back to them for future jewelry but don't want to insult them.

Thanks ahead of time for the advice!

 

[Nosean]

Hi,

try to avoid these overpriced vendors. You are fine with a heated sapphire so for 23 K you can find a better color - not too dark ( if you like the dark color try to get it much cheaper).
I would visit a larger gem show - talk to the vendors, don't be shy, ask "stupid", compare stones in different light conditions - this is usually customer service.
Blue sapphire is a daylight stone - some LED lights are gorgous for blue stones - avoid this, not the color you will see most of time.

A lab report is a must have! AGL or Lotus for example...

Just my personal opinion...

 

[luv2sparkle]

Not sure where you are searching from, but check out Joe Escobar. He has some lovely pieces online. Also Cushiongems.com has some gorgeous stones with videos.

 

[Safires]

Hi,

try to avoid these overpriced vendors. You are fine with a heated sapphire so for 23 K you can find a better color - not too dark ( if you like the dark color try to get it much cheaper).
I would visit a larger gem show - talk to the vendors, don't be shy, ask "stupid", compare stones in different light conditions - this is usually customer service.
Blue sapphire is a daylight stone - some LED lights are gorgous for blue stones - avoid this, not the color you will see most of time.

A lab report is a must have! AGL or Lotus for example...

Just my personal opinion...

I'm working through a independent jeweler at the moment and have looked at quite a few stones. It's hard to tell from the lighting with the picture. Maybe I'll try to upload a video.

It has a GIA and came back with top marks (minus origin).

Thanks for the advice on the lighting!

 

[Safires]

Also Cushiongems.com has some gorgeous stones with videos.

Man that site has some beautiful unheated sapphires. Just starting to get in to gemstones so perhaps for the next gift!

 

[arkieb1]

Upload a video or pic of the stone on the back of a hand against skin in natural lighting either in the shade outside or next to a bright window. Then you might have a chance of capturing the colour and even then most cameras tend not to correctly capture the actual real colour of sapphires.

 

[minousbijoux]

I'm working through a independent jeweler at the moment and have looked at quite a few stones. It's hard to tell from the lighting with the picture. Maybe I'll try to upload a video.

It has a GIA and came back with top marks (minus origin).

Thanks for the advice on the lighting!

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "top marks?" As far as I'm aware, GIA does not grade stones in the same way that AGL does with its Prestige report, so they do not comment in terms of quality level...