Re-cutting sapphire

[Ionysis]

I’m looking for recommendations on a cutter who might be able to rescue a heavily windowed 6ct sapphire.

Usually I wouldn’t bother with recutting (because I would never now buy a windowed gem) but I spent a lot of money on this stone many years ago before I was “educated” on what NOT to buy.

I’ve tried two different settings and I still loathe the stone. It’s not even about trying to make it more sellable or improving the value - as it’s so shallow I’m bound to lose a lot of weight in a recut. It’s about the aesthetics. I just hate looking at it.

It may not even be possible to improve it, might end up losing the colour, but I need a really top notch specialist to give me a view.

Any suggestions? I would send it anywhere in the world if the person is good.

 

[Bron357]

Photos?
Are you sure that investing additional money into the sapphire will make you feel better about it?
I mean, you will be investing more money into a gem that you already feel you spent too much on.
And to try and improve its optics you are going to lose size, maybe a sizeable chunk of size, and still, the resulting and remaining colour / tone may be not be as you hope.
You might spend more money to end up with a smaller sapphire that you still can’t love and are likely to, in fact, loathe even more.
Why not rehome it?
Lots of people prioritise size over other factors. Most people outside Pricescope don’t even know what a window is let alone why it is undesirable.
Here in Sydney, Australia we have a most competent cutter in Doug Menadue from Bespoke Gems. I’ve seen other cutters, in the US, mentioned by others.
Whereabouts are you located?

 

[Ionysis]

I’m in the Middle East.

I get what you’re saying Bron, I really do. I suppose I need an expert just to see if it’s even a valid candidate for a recut.

The first thing I suppose is to get it out of its current setting and take some photos.

I might be able to find a setting for it that I am more comfortable with instead I guess (third time lucky?!).

Perhaps a pendant....add some eff off big diamonds and sell it to someone who likes size and prestige.

But I do want to get a cutters opinion first.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

I’m in the Middle East.

I get what you’re saying Bron, I really do. I suppose I need an expert just to see if it’s even a valid candidate for a recut.

The first thing I suppose is to get it out of its current setting and take some photos.

I might be able to find a setting for it that I am more comfortable with instead I guess (third time lucky?!).

Perhaps a pendant....add some eff off big diamonds and sell it to someone who likes size and prestige.

But I do want to get a cutters opinion first.

Post a pic of the sapphire as it is set now, don't worry about unsetting it. There are lots of very well educated and experienced eyes here to help you. I just love jewels and large ones especially! Having said that I would encourage you not to recut unless there is damage to the stone. I have watched and learned from other PSers having stones recut and being disappointed either about the resulting size, resulting change of saturation, or both. It seems some (including myself at times) assume the native cutters do not do a good job cutting them originally. Then we learn that they actually did create the best gem from the rough. A 6 carat sapphire is quite the prize, in my opinion. I agree with Bron. My vote would be to rediscover her unique beauty or pass her along to someone who will. There has just been so much disappointment with recutting, as well as loss of significant value, in my opinion.

 

[whitewave]

Yes, pics please!

 

[Polyhex]

Please share photos and dimensions including depth of stone.

There are a limited # of cutters who take recuts -- many high end, artistic cutters will not do them. They make less money on them, and they have less artistic freedom because they are not starting from rough and the customer has expectations.

Here is the list that has been recommended to me:

• Dan Stair, very busy, will likely take 3 months to get to your stone because he is in high demand from dealers, have used him and he's excellent.
• Jerry Newman, retired but still taking recuts, less busy because he's not doing commercial orders, has been able to get to stones in less than a month, have used him and he's excellent.
• Jason Delk, recently recommended to me but have never used him.

I can show you an example of a stone where the perceived color dramatically improved on a heavily windowed and shallow stone, and the creative cutter was able to keep as much size as possible. This was Jerry Newman.

Tsavorite, pre-recut: 2.23cts and 8.95 x 8 x 4.3







This was the auctioneer's glamour photo, I bought this ring for the diamonds and I was curious to get a "free tsavorite" and see what I'd be able to do with it. The color was much darker and muddier in real life, but this does a good job of showing the cleavage plane and large inclusions.



Post-recut: 1.68cts and 8.4 x 6.9 x 4.2 (25% weight loss, less in terms of face up size)







As you can see it had a dramatic improvement in not just light return but perceived color saturation and even tone. When I got it back, I could hardly believe it was the same stone. He used a very creative cut design to retain as much face-up size as possible, and the small table actually hides the cleavage plane and inclusions better than the first cut of the stone. It's functionally eye clean now and it has a HUGE inclusion in there.

This was the work of a magician! It cost $200, complete top and bottom recut.

Part of getting these excellent results is that I give each cutter a writeup of my preferences in stones, and I tell them exactly what I like and dislike in the specific gemstone and what I am hoping to attain. In this case I told him I wanted to maximize face-up size but he had complete freedom over the shape used. It's gorgeous now, I can't wait to set it.

 

[femmemannequin]

Please share photos and dimensions including depth of stone.

There are a limited # of cutters who take recuts -- many high end, artistic cutters will not do them. They make less money on them, and they have less artistic freedom because they are not starting from rough and the customer has expectations.

Here is the list that has been recommended to me:

• Dan Stair, very busy, will likely take 3 months to get to your stone because he is in high demand from dealers, have used him and he's excellent.
• Jerry Newman, retired but still taking recuts, less busy because he's not doing commercial orders, has been able to get to stones in less than a month, have used him and he's excellent.
• Jason Delk, recently recommended to me but have never used him.

I can show you an example of a stone where the perceived color dramatically improved on a heavily windowed and shallow stone, and the creative cutter was able to keep as much size as possible. This was Jerry Newman.

Tsavorite, pre-recut: 2.23cts and 8.95 x 8 x 4.3







This was the auctioneer's glamour photo, I bought this ring for the diamonds and I was curious to get a "free tsavorite" and see what I'd be able to do with it. The color was much darker and muddier in real life, but this does a good job of showing the cleavage plane and large inclusions.



Post-recut: 1.68cts and 8.4 x 6.9 x 4.2 (25% weight loss, less in terms of face up size)







As you can see it had a dramatic improvement in not just light return but perceived color saturation and even tone. When I got it back, I could hardly believe it was the same stone. He used a very creative cut design to retain as much face-up size as possible, and the small table actually hides the cleavage plane and inclusions better than the first cut of the stone. It's functionally eye clean now and it has a HUGE inclusion in there.

This was the work of a magician! It cost $200, complete top and bottom recut.

Part of getting these excellent results is that I give each cutter a writeup of my preferences in stones, and I tell them exactly what I like and dislike in the specific gemstone and what I am hoping to attain. In this case I told him I wanted to maximize face-up size but he had complete freedom over the shape used. It's gorgeous now, I can't wait to set it.

wow thanks for sharing! dramatic change!

 

[Ionysis]

So resurrecting my zombie thread….

I am about to send my sapphire to Doug Menadue in Sydney. I’ve always loved his work and am really excited that he could do something with my pancake pad.

Some pics here of the stone now unset. It’s got a chip in the girdle, which is wavy as hell, and it’s got a nasty window, but the scintillation of the material is really rather nice.

So so hoping Doug can work his magic with it.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

So resurrecting my zombie thread….

I am about to send my sapphire to Doug Menadue in Sydney. I’ve always loved his work and am really excited that he could do something with my pancake pad.

Some pics here of the stone now unset. It’s got a chip in the girdle, which is wavy as hell, and it’s got a nasty window, but the scintillation of the material is really rather nice.

So so hoping Doug can work his magic with it.

What a beautiful colour
I did not expect that
i really feel for you reasing your OP as i have a hate hate thing with windows and mine is but a small inexpensive peridot and that just gets under my skin and irks me, I'd hate to think how you feel with this stone

Over paying for when i didn't know better i can defiantly relate, exspensive lessons im afraid

i wish you good luck with this saphire so you can then live in harmony with it and enjoy that wonderful colour like you no doubt thought you would when you first brought it

i know some people don't mind windows and in Victorian times some of those peeps just loved them but after two resets already you know what you don't like

good luck and thanks for updating us

fingers now crossed for you

 

[Autumn in New England]

So resurrecting my zombie thread….

I am about to send my sapphire to Doug Menadue in Sydney. I’ve always loved his work and am really excited that he could do something with my pancake pad.

Some pics here of the stone now unset. It’s got a chip in the girdle, which is wavy as hell, and it’s got a nasty window, but the scintillation of the material is really rather nice.

So so hoping Doug can work his magic with it.

This stone is fabulous, @Ionysis... definitely worth the trouble of a recut! I look forward to seeing the result. At 6ct., you have a lot of weight and size to work with.

I had been expecting a blue sapphire, and was pleasantly surprised to see a huge pad!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I had been expecting a blue sapphire, and was pleasantly surprised to see a huge pad!

Me too!