Rookie in search of sapphire

[Autumn in New England]

My SO calls this "buy once, cry once". Once you start researching you realize your budget needs to go up to get what you really want!

lol So true!! I upgraded my blue sapphire twice over the years, and my third (hopefully forever) stone was 17x the cost of the first. Between studying at the GIA and this forum, I had to readjust my expectations and the price points that come along with it!

 

[Double E]

lol So true!! I upgraded my blue sapphire twice over the years, and my third (hopefully forever) stone was 17x the cost of the first. Between studying at the GIA and this forum, I had to readjust my expectations and the price points that come along with it!

Can’t agree more~So I am quite lucky on my Spess bought recently, which allows me to stay within my budget. Thanks very much Autumn in New England

However, I do anticipate larger money if I am in the market for another Gem species in future~

Btw I didn’t know you studied in GIA. Something I have interest in also^^

 

[Autumn in New England]

Can’t agree more~So I am quite lucky on my Spess bought recently, which allows me to stay within my budget. Thanks very much Autumn in New England

However, I do anticipate larger money if I am in the market for another Gem species in future~

Btw I didn’t know you studied in GIA. Something I have interest in also^^

I look forward to you sharing the spess, when you're ready!

 

[Double E]

@Autumn in New England I'm waiting on pictures/video of the emerald cut from AfricaGems.
And, Jeff W said he would have time to recut one for me, if I decided quickly. Those are a little more money, but I get the impression that they are going to be nicer. He said they're not cut well right now, but he could fix that. He said also, "There are just a few very very small fingerprint/veil type inclusions and a tiny feather or two, and even some of that will cut out. Very very clean for blues of this size."

Re-cut to step cuts...
Jon

I guess I wont be able to resist a right hued gem from Jeff with his cut…

But it’s your call^^

 

[emmy12]

lol So true!! I upgraded my blue sapphire twice over the years, and my third (hopefully forever) stone was 17x the cost of the first. Between studying at the GIA and this forum, I had to readjust my expectations and the price points that come along with it!

I just found myself in the same boat with my emerald search! I thought I could get a small emerald <1ct and be happy with it but once I saw it on my hand beside a 5ct+ cab I realized I need to 10-15x my budget for the single dream ring.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I just found myself in the same boat with my emerald search! I thought I could get a small emerald <1ct and be happy with it but once I saw it on my hand beside a 5ct+ cab I realized I need to 10-15x my budget for the single dream ring.

And we're going to need to see her once she's been found!!

 

[emmy12]

And we're going to need to see her once she's been found!!

Gonna take me a while to save up those pennies I've been wanting to post a pic of that emerald cab ring in the Rainbow Gems thread but I keep missing green!

 

[dk168]

The regular contributors of this board would know I am a huge Jeff White fan, and I have not had a bad stone from him!

Can't fault his cutting and easy to communicate/deal with.

Only one recut so far though, a pink Sapphire he sourced for me while he was at Tucson in 2020 before the pandemic; all the others were commissioned.

DK

 

[dk168]

P.S. We always seem to start with one budget and then end up doubling it or worse! This place does that to you.

This board is a great enabler!

Some members are worse than the others for certain - no need for names!

DK

 

[HopeJon]

Ok, I think I'm going with the larger of the two from Jeff. I deleted the video link I had posted and will tell you why later. @dk168 Jeff said the only way to legally get blue Sri Lankan sapphires out of Sri Lanka is to get them already cut, thus the recut. He said they are stepped pavilions and brilliant crowns, iirc But he purchased these two because he thought they were good candidates for step recuts.
I owe everyone for giving me such great direction and information! But not money, because I don't have any left
I can't wait to post pictures and will get my wife in the thread for the project part. And she'll be much more fun than me
Jon

 

[dk168]

@HopeJon I have heard that before, about certain countries would only allow gems to be taken out/exported is to have them cut locally first.

I do not know much about the origin of the pink Sapphire he sourced for me while he was attending Tucson 2020 - I just said yes when I saw the video of the stone!

DK

 

[Rfisher]

Ok, I think I'm going with the larger of the two from Jeff. I deleted the video link I had posted and will tell you why later. @dk168 Jeff said the only way to legally get blue Sri Lankan sapphires out of Sri Lanka is to get them already cut, thus the recut. He said they are stepped pavilions and brilliant crowns, iirc But he purchased these two because he thought they were good candidates for step recuts.
I owe everyone for giving me such great direction and information! But not money, because I don't have any left
I can't wait to post pictures and will get my wife in the thread for the project part. And she'll be much more fun than me
Jon

Am exited to follow along with your project! Hope you are able to post before and after recut photos.

Not that it matters - but I liked the color of the larger of the two, as well.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Gonna take me a while to save up those pennies I've been wanting to post a pic of that emerald cab ring in the Rainbow Gems thread but I keep missing green!

I'll tag you when I spot an opening!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Ok, I think I'm going with the larger of the two from Jeff.

Yay! I'm thrilled for you both, and can't wait to see the finished piece!!

I owe everyone for giving me such great direction and information! But not money, because I don't have any left

I can't wait to post pictures and will get my wife in the thread for the project part. And she'll be much more fun than me
Jon

This is going to be doubly fun once your dear wife joins in... looking forward to it!

 

[Heathcat24]

Hi all! I just wanted to come in and say "THANK YOU!" to everybody who participated in this thread! I am the recipient of this divine sapphire and I am just ABSOLUTELY floored and over the moon! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

@HopeJon gave it to me last night. To say I was surprised is such a complete understatement! I was so overwhelmed and emotional. Tears were shed. It is so meaningful and so special, and I cannot even tell you how much I adore it - but, more importantly, how much I adore HIM. I am so, so blessed!

I loved reading back through this thread and seeing the whole process. You all gave such wonderful insights and advice. This stone truly has my heart now.

I had already done a "project" for this "milestone" birthday (which I gifted myself a little early so I could wear it out to dinner with friends. LOL!) and I had NO IDEA @HopeJon had been on this forum or that he was even looking at anything jewelry-related! (I'm so glad he knew where to come for help! Haha!)

That said, I really don't know what I'm going to do with it because I want the setting to be as special as the stone! I'm pretty sure it's going into a ring since I really don't have many and I want to be able to SEE IT! The color is just PERFECT (Blue is my FAVORITE!) and I LOVE the emerald cut. (He and I have the EXACT same taste, so he nailed that!)

When I start seriously thinking about settings, I will start a thread. I don't know the "rules" with colored stones. (Bezels? Halos? Can I do brilliant sides with a step cut?) so I am going to need your help, too!

Thank y'all for helping to make my birthday so special!

 

[whitewave]

Can I see it? I didn’t get to see the video before he deleted it, thanks.

 

[Heathcat24]

@whitewave I am so bad at taking and resizing pictures, but here she is! Also, here is a link to the video after the recut...

(I think my hubby's name showed up on one of the videos and he was afraid I would see it on here. LOL!)

 

[maru8888777]

What a gorgeous stone! I hope you are thrilled! Wear it in good health!

 

[HopeJon]

I see you've met my wife She's much more entertaining than I am! As @Heathcat24 said, I thank you all so much for your help! I could have ended up with something bigger/cheaper, but I knew y'all wouldn't do me that way, Lol! I am VERY happy that I ended up with JW!

The video I deleted earlier in the thread, I believe, was a video of two options that Jeff had before they were recut. Both stones are in the video. The smaller stone I didn't choose is shown first, then the second stone I did choose is shown in the second half of the video. Here is that video: Stones before being cut by JW

 

[emmy12]

Stunning! Can't wait to see what you do with it

 

[Heathcat24]

Y'all probably know this already but she LOVES the outdoors! And it is so sunny today!

 

[Heathcat24]

What a gorgeous stone! I hope you are thrilled! Wear it in good health!

I am sooooo THRILLED! Thank you so much!

 

[Heathcat24]

Stunning! Can't wait to see what you do with it

Thank you! I love it and want to put it in a setting where it will shine!

 

[Avondale]

something bigger/cheaper

To be fair, judging by your wife’s pictures, the stone you got for her is a pretty nice size. Definitely not too small!

 

[Rad_Fan]

congrats!

 

[whitewave]

Oh , yes, that is a gorgeous one. He did a great job and lucky you!

 

[Neptune]

Y'all probably know this already but she LOVES the outdoors! And it is so sunny today!

Beautiful blue and step cut.

 

[Heathcat24]

I wanted to come back and update this thread! I just got my amazing sapphire set - and it is all thanks to this wonderful community. ESPECIALLY y'all in this Colored Stones forum, who helped my sweet hubby pick out this special, special gift.

From the bottom of my heart, again, THANK YOU.

Jeff White Sapphire + CVB = WOW!

I am so excited to finally get to post this! Last October, my husband created a Pricescope account to surprise me with a sapphire for my birthday. Thanks to this amazing community, @HopeJon floored me with an absolutely FABULOUS Jeff White stone. Here is his original thread...

www.pricescope.com

 

[qubitasaurus]

Well my wife is always on this site. She's the "expert", and I know nothing. Now I'm sneaking in requesting a little help, and a little short on time. I thought I could do some research and learn what I needed to make an informed and wise decision, but it's much harder than I anticipated.
Here are my loose parameters.
Blue sapphire, shape doesn't really matter, but I would like a heart shape first, then probably cushion or maybe a pear.
Budget $3000.
It probably doesn't matter if it's heated. I don't think she would care. She says cut matters the most but she's referring to diamonds I believe. I'm not sure if cut is most important in sapphires.
She loves her "projects", so I think a single stone is the best option. Plus, did I say I'm out of time??
I think I need a trusted vendor/AGL report before I drop $3000 on the internet and trusting you all to point me in the right direction.
Here's one that caught my eye. What do you think?
This one is a good bit over budget, but I can't find many hearts.

Heart Shape Natural Blue Sapphire | 2.45cts | #11-1137 - Gemfix

Natural Blue Sapphire Heart Shape Certified with Lab Report

gemfix.com

Thank you in advance for your help!
Jon

This kind of cut is called a checkerboard cut crown, due to the many different daimond shaped fascets. It's typically done to hide inclusions which make the material less suitable for faceting. If your wife likes daimonds I'd probably avoid checkboard cut stones for her -- as she may get put off by the slightly unusual/unconventional faceting and the inclusions in the stone.