ready to start the hunt for a sapphire

[indigoblue]

I introduced myself a few weeks ago and said that I wanted to find a sapphire for my own ering. The learning curve is still quite steep, but I'm ready to start anyway. I even re-read airplay's thread where he started looking for a blue sapphire and ended up with a pink spinel. I'm about that flexible too, so there's no telling what I might end up buying.

I've looked at a lot of vendor sites, but one keeps calling me back. Maybe the photography is just better there. I don't know. Someone mentioned hiding the source of these pictures. Is it OK to do that? The vendor won't mind? Hope so.

I want a stone that is as big or bigger than the 7.3 mm diamond from my first marriage (my daughter has dibs on it). Heat treatment doesn't matter to me. This ring will be worn with an 11mm wide band (my avatar picture). Yes, that's a lot of real estate coverage, but when I get remarried, I want to look VERY married. Plus, my fingers are fairly long. A little dainty ring looks even tinier on my size 5.25 finger.

Here they are in order of carat size. I already have a favorite. Let's see if it gets any attention from you.

#1
2.20 ct, 7.3 mm, 5.3 mm depth, VVS



#2
2.30 ct, 8.2 X 6.2 mm, 5.4 mm depth, VVS



#3
2.35 ct, 7.8 mm, 5.0 mm depth, VVS



#4
2.38 ct, 7.5 mm, 5.5 mm depth, VVS-VS



#5
2.96 ct, 9.0 X 7.6 mm, 5.6 mm depth, VS-VVS



#6
3.04 ct, 8.6 X 6.9 mm, 6.2 mm depth, VVS-VS



#7
3.06 ct, 9.2 X 7.0 mm, 5.3 mm depth, VVS

 

[NKOTB]

I'm partial to #3, then #1. My only concern, if it was for myself, is that it might be too dark for my liking IRL (though I have yet to buy from that vendor). Do you have any idea what you like in terms of tone?

 

[indigoblue]

I'm still learning the differences in tone and saturation, but I THINK I prefer medium to medium-light. I want something that sparkles.

 

[michellechan2211]

Like NKOTB, #3 is the one that I'm partial to, mainly because I like that color the most. XD;

And yes, you should hide the vendor because there be lurkers who might snatch the stone from under you when the consensus is that you've found a very nice stone. I think that's the rationale anyway. XD;

 

[indigoblue]

Thanks everyone. Number 3 is my favorite too. Guess I'll contact the vendor and get it.

 

[corundum_conundrum]

Check out the Tucson thread I started a little while ago. Tucson is a massive gem and mineral show that occurs annually. Some precision cutters will buy "pre-form" sapphires at Tucson. In other words, they will buy moderately performing sapphires, and then recut them, ideally making them into splendid stones. Depending on whether you have at least a month to wait for a stone, I would send out some emails to some cutters you like and ask them if they plan to acquire any preform blue sapphires, give them your specs, and see if they can come up with anything. Of course, the sapphire from gemfix may turn out to be exactly what you are looking for, but I wouldn't put all your eggs in that basket.

 

[indigoblue]

I thought that they get annoyed when they discover that several of them are looking for the same thing for one buyer (and I can understand why).

Another reason that I like #3 is because the description says that it shifts from blue to violet. I think that's what I want in a stone, but I'll need to see it first.

 

[minousbijoux]

Indigo, contrary to corundum, I don't think you should wait for Tucson. Other stones, yes, but not blue sapphire. As a result, I think you should go ahead and get the stone, and that way, if it turns out you don't like it in hand, you have some experience seeing sapphire first hand to help with future decisions, at which point you could also consider Tucson.

Regarding Tucson, typically, everyone seems to be looking for blue sapphire, and everyone asks cutters to look and as Gene has pointed out, there is no blue rough, but only previously cut corundum needing recutting. This could mean the price is potentially higher than in purchasing from an importer directly. You might also contact Dana Reynolds who has connected with a Sri Lankan cutter to import his corundum and sell it on Dana's Mastercut site. His latest posting indicated that more stones would be coming in soon.

Good luck - fwiw, #3 would've been my choice as well.

 

[indigoblue]

Thanks. I'm not in a big hurry, but I feel that I could wait and wait for just the right stone and pass up some really nice ones during that time. I suppose that if a better stone comes along later, I'll just have to buy it too.

 

[corundum_conundrum]

Hi indigo,

I totally agree with Minou--go ahead and order the stone you liked. I didn't mean to imply you should forgo ordering it in favor of waiting for Tucson. My "eggs-in-one-basket" remark was a way of suggesting that you shouldn't just trust that the #3 would be exactly what you want. Order it, wait for it to arrive, but start sending out inquiries to lapidaries at the same time. Then, #3 should arrive before February, and you can cancel your Tucson requests if it turns out to be everything you hoped, and if its not, return it, and you will have proverbial balls rolling for finding something at Tucson.

In other words, I am NOT saying that you should not order #3. Please do order it. I'm just suggesting that you shouldn't JUST order #3.

 

[LD]

Indigoblue - I didn't bother going onto the website to look at the handshots of all of these but I was surprised at how different some looked on the hand to the up close and personal shots. In fact, in another thread, it completely changed my mind about which one was the nicer. Have you compared all hand shots? If not, may I suggest you do that before ordering #3. It could be that's the one that appeals to you in the hand shots also but just thought I'd mention it!

 

[chrono]

This vendor has started posting handshots and I would base my final selection on that, rather than the stone alone picture due to colour accuracy issues. Secondly, you've posted a huge variation of both hue, tone and saturation. I don't know if it's because you like them all or you aren't quite sure which one you prefer yet. I am sorry I am too busy to search and post each individual hand shot for you but please do so in order for us to make the correct recommendation.

Secondly, I know you want a statement ring set but as I have a finger size not very much larger than yours, I caution you to reconsider wearing such a large stone together with your 11 mm band. When you add the two sizes together, 11 + 7 = 18 mm. Will you be able to bend your finger with 18 mm from the base of your finger to the knuckle? I only have 15 mm to spare up to the knuckle. Of course, part of that 7 mm will be slightly above the wedding band. Even so, that works out to 11 + 3 = 14 mm which is still a LOT. In addition, when the stone is "moved up" that high on the finger, it is at high risk to get knocked about. A sapphire is a durable stone but it is not impervious to damage.

 

[indigoblue]

You're absolutely right that I may not have enough room for the wide band and another ring. I've been experimenting with other rings I own to see how it will look. And I've been scouting out setting possibilities too. If nothing works, the band can become a wintertime RHR.

Yes, these do represent a wide range of hue, tone, and saturation. That's because I'm not certain of what I like. But I'd take any one of these stones in a heartbeat and would be happy.

And I'm working on the hand shots. Give me a few minutes.

 

[indigoblue]

Hand shots:

#3 2.35 ct, 7.8 mm



#1 2.2 ct, 7.3 mm



This is giving me a headache!


#2



#4



#5



#6

 

[chrono]

3: My top pick. The faceting style, colour and everything is just right. It is going to be lively, the saturation is good, tone not too dark or too light. Rounds are also easy to set with many options.
2: A tad violetish, which isn't a bad thing but also a tad lighter.
1: Very blue but very light in tone and saturation. Likely to show more gray under indoor conditions.
4: Too dark and there's this "obstruction" across the crown which will impact brilliance.
5: Uneven colouration. Tone and saturation is also light (grayish).
6. Edges look lighter compared to the rest as though it is zoned. I don't know if that is true in person but it doesn't speak to me the way #1 does.

ETA
I didn't realize the stones were not posted in order.

 

[indigoblue]

Thanks so much. I still prefer #3 also.

 

[petit_bijou]

I also like #3, but when I try to picture it with the band you want to wear it with (in your avatar), I just can't picture it.

I was thinking that for something a bit different, one of the ovals (probably #6) set east-west might be an interesting way to get a lot of finger coverage without impeding your ability to open and close your finger... Just something else to consider!