Sapphire I acquired in Afghanistan

[btripp6]

These are pictures of a 5.5 carat sapphire that I got in Afghanistan. I paid $25 a carat and I am just wondering if it was a good deal or not?

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Edward Bristol]

If it were sapphire it would be a good deal, but it won't.

 

[chrono]

It is more likely to be something else other than a sapphire or a synthetic sapphire so your $25/ct might end up being rather expensive. Seeing how large and clean it is (through the giant window), my guess is synthetic sapphire.

 

[btripp6]

That figures. Guess that will teach me to get stones for my wife on the cheap!!

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate your assistance guys.

 

[minousbijoux]

Hey, its still pretty!

 

[Kaede]

Think of it this way: Have you gotten $160.00 worth of enjoyment from it? Thinking about it, posting about it, and the stories you can tell about it? If you have, it was worth it.

 

[SB621]

Just an FYI since my husband was stationed overseas too.

He would pick up a few gemstones (nothing terrible expensive) and I would have it set because it was still beautiful. He picked up some lapis and other small gemstones. We set them in some DanielM settings that I wear occastionally and some that we will give to our daughter. Nothing expensive but I love the symbolism behind it.

Happy Memorial Day!

 

[btripp6]

Hey, its still pretty!

Yes it is!!

Think of it this way: Have you gotten $160.00 worth of enjoyment from it? Thinking about it, posting about it, and the stories you can tell about it? If you have, it was worth it.

So if that is the case, yes it was.

Just an FYI since my husband was stationed overseas too.

He would pick up a few gemstones (nothing terrible expensive) and I would have it set because it was still beautiful. He picked up some lapis and other small gemstones. We set them in some DanielM settings that I wear occastionally and some that we will give to our daughter. Nothing expensive but I love the symbolism behind it.

Happy Memorial Day!

That's nice. I hope my wife feels the same way. I have gotten some really nice stones for her and she has appreciated them.

 

[Jim Rentfrow]

Hello,

A majority of the sapphire from Afghanistan is extremely dark and the markets for the contractors and soldiers are flooded with synthetics.

$25 a carat for a lab created sapphire is not a bad price and if you like it then it was worth it!

 

[airplay355]

I'm curious...if it were lab created, why wouldn't someone cut it perfectly? There's no reason to preserve fake rough, right?

 

[chrono]

To make it look more realistic, as though it were a natural stone cut to preserve weight. Just as there are synthetic ruby made with inclusions to look like a real ruby.

 

[airplay355]

Interesting. Well, here's hoping it's real

 

[btripp6]

Interesting. Well, here's hoping it's real

It would be nice if it was but I am starting to be more than a little doubtful about it being real. It is a real pretty stone, real or not, so I am happy with it. If I knew a place here in Alaska to get it checked I would do it but I am going down to the lower 48 in a couple of months and will get it checked then.

 

[guilhermeesq]

i would not be suprised if it came back natural.

stranger things have happened before.

 

[mineralshub]

Hi,
Sapphire from Afghanistan are not of gem quality. This stone can be a heated Hackmanite which does look like a Sapphire and a lot of people confuse it with a Sapphire. cut Hackmanite costs roughly $10/carat . It is a soft gemstone which is hard to cut and polish.

 

[deskjockey]

One thing you could do once you figure out what it is, is have it recut to make it more pretty. It's not like you spent an arm and a leg and the material is super expensive, so losing some of it won't be a huge waste. Unless of course it turns out to be something difficult to cut, as someone mentioned. That could make for a really fun project even if it's not what you thought it was when you bought it