Sapphire engagement ring help

[liquidblock]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some help with choosing a sapphire for my engagement ring. My boyfriend and I both know we would like a sapphire rather than go with the more traditional diamond for my engagement ring and thankfully, I recently discovered this community. I have been reading up on the threads here and learning about sapphires and the list of vendors posted on here has certainly been very helpful. So the hunt is on for a sapphire - we have a budget of about $2000 (give or take) for the stone and I prefer a darker blue color. A color-changer with violet/purple tones would be perfect. No real preference in terms of cut or whether it is treated or untreated. Something between 1 to 2 carats that is cut fairly large (i.e. at least 6.5mm in width) would be good - I have big fingers (a size 9).

Some of the sapphires which I like are as follows:


image credit to fine water gems


image credit to spectral gems


image credit to master cut gems


image credit to gemfix

could anyone offer any views on the above sapphires or point me in the direction of which vendors I should be looking at to find a sapphire as described?

much thanks in advance!

 

[treasurehunter]

The last three look good.

 

[Chasiu]

Hi liquidblock, I just wanted to let you know that I actually purchased the 3rd stone (from Master Cut Gems) yesterday afternoon before you posted. Wasn't trying to poach or anything, I had actually been waiting on him to send me a photo ever since his sale started and the weather had been really bad until recently. Sorry!

 

[chrono]

Finewater - Gary described it as VVS but I would clarify whether it is eye clean and at what distance. I understand that the pictures are magnified but two inclusions stand out to me. The tone is also a tad on the dark side for me, so this is something I would ask more questions about.

Spectral Gems - This is not on his website? I think it has the potential to look good and I would follow up on it.

Gemfix - I am concerned that the sapphire will be a tad darker and less intense in person, based on past PSers reviews and experiences.

Chasiu, your username is making me hungry for a steamed meat bun this morning.

 

[liquidblock]

Hi liquidblock, I just wanted to let you know that I actually purchased the 3rd stone (from Master Cut Gems) yesterday afternoon before you posted. Wasn't trying to poach or anything, I had actually been waiting on him to send me a photo ever since his sale started and the weather had been really bad until recently. Sorry!

no worries! please post photos of it when you receive the gem - it looks like a beauty and it would be nice to see more photos of it.

 

[liquidblock]

Finewater - Gary described it as VVS but I would clarify whether it is eye clean and at what distance. I understand that the pictures are magnified but two inclusions stand out to me. The tone is also a tad on the dark side for me, so this is something I would ask more questions about.

Spectral Gems - This is not on his website? I think it has the potential to look good and I would follow up on it.

Gemfix - I am concerned that the sapphire will be a tad darker and less intense in person, based on past PSers reviews and experiences.

Chasiu, your username is making me hungry for a steamed meat bun this morning.

thanks for the in-depth advice Chrono! just for my knowledge (i'm still new at this) - where are the 2 inclusions you see for the sapphire from Finewater? Thought I might learn to spot them for future purposes.

i found a few more on master cut gems and wild fish gems - would you mind giving me your views on them please?





all from master cut gems


from wild fish gems

 

[chrono]

Here they are.

 

[liquidblock]

We finally bit the bullet and bought this gem from Dana of master cut gems (http://www.mastercutgems.com/preview.php?cat=301&id=6923).

We received it in the mail this week and here are some pictures taken (unfortunately) on my iphone:

Taken indoors under white light




Taken next to the window with sunlight - it is slightly overcast today and early morning



The colour in real life is less intense than in the photos taken under indoor lighting. it's a lovely colour and Dana was very responsive and wonderful to deal with.

That said, we will be returning the gem because we are looking for something bigger, but I highly recommend purchasing from Dana because he was absolutely helpful in answering all the questions we had and very detailed in describing the gem when I first enquired about it.

 

[chrono]

I am sorry the stone is too small but agree that it doesn't look strongly saturated. It also looks rather dark.

 

[minousbijoux]

I am sorry the stone is too small but agree that it doesn't look strongly saturated. It also looks rather dark.

+1

 

[liquidblock]

Thanks for the honest feedback Chrono & minousbijoux.

I agree that it is too dark for my personal preference and has made me re-think a dark blue sapphire.

It's been a long couple of months trying to find the right sapphire - my local stores do not usually carry sapphires and buying one online is always tricky, especially since I am not located in the US and some vendors recommended on here do not ship out of the US.

Any thoughts on these few sapphires from Wild Fish Gems?

(A) 2.47 carat african sapphire - would this be too dark given the hand shot in the third picture?





(B) 1.88 carat ceylon sapphire - i can't see the inclusions mentioned in the description, could anyone point me in the direction of where to focus on? i actually like the silk on this but what are your views on the silk?





(C) 2.43 carat tanzanian sapphire - any thoughts on the inclusion by the side of the gem

 

[chrono]

I don't know if this has changed but Ed's photography tends to show a brighter stone than IRL. Part of this might be due to his location where it is very sunny. In looking at most of the pictures, they still seem to be overexposed (I see area where the stone is practically white from strong reflection) but am glad he posted some natural looking pictures to balance it out. I also find his prices difficult to swallow, even if they are ethically sourced.

(A) 2.47 carat african sapphire - would this be too dark given the hand shot in the third picture?
I know you have a preference for darker stones but I don't know if this will be too dark for you.

(B) 1.88 carat ceylon sapphire - i can't see the inclusions mentioned in the description, could anyone point me in the direction of where to focus on? i actually like the silk on this but what are your views on the silk?
Actually, you are looking at the silk. See how you cannot look clearly into the stone, as though it is hazy? That is the silk. Silk is microscopic and evenly distributed so that there is no one thing/inclusion that can be pointed out to you. I like a bit of silk but not too much silk. Silk evens out the colour and lessens any extinction. Too much silk, however, can be a distraction and to some people, look oily. I keep wanting to rub clean stones that look oily or silky.

(C) 2.43 carat tanzanian sapphire - any thoughts on the inclusion by the side of the gem
I would ask Ed more about the inclusion, in particular, the long skinny one close to the surface of the table. I am not fussed about the rest on the pavilion. Other than that, it is well cut with medium saturation. Some green modifier but should be very lively.