Sapphire lustre. What setting helps the most?

[MoonMan]

I purchased a loose sapphire. Details are:

Carat: 1.29
Colour: between lavender/smoky pink in artificial light.
Cut: Round/Mixed brilliant
Clarity: Two small inclusions but otherwise very clear.

The company I purchased from will remain nameless for the time being. I was impressed with their colour representation of the stone online to what it looked like in person. Pricey but it was exactly what we were looking for.

Artificial light, the bathroom in particular for some reason, gives the stone the best sparkle. Natural light washes it out a bit with a blue tint from the side.

Question: What setting (platinum) will maximizes lustre in sapphires? Do I want a lot of material encapsulating it to prevent light entering from the side or will an open setting create the best results? I'm not so much concerned with the colour change between lighting but the overall sparkle.

Thanks!

 

[chrono]

What sort of light is used in the bathroom? You can set it in a more enclosed setting to block out light coming from the sides but there are also drawbacks to that, namely:
1. If not well cut, you will decrease the sparkle
2. If not well cut, the stone may darken more than you like
3. If the stone isn't well saturated, it may become browner / muddier / greyer.

An open setting may wash out the stone, as you've already noted in the unset stone. Metal type can enhance the saturation (pop of colour) a little or make it look less attractive. Without seeing the stone or a picture of it, this is all I can advice safely for now.

 

[corundum_conundrum]

I've never really heard of this, but would rose gold help the pink to pop?

But you are already set on platinum, so try wrapping the stone in aluminum foil to get a sense of what it would do to the stone if bezeled (blocking light from the sides in the way chrono is suggesting).

 

[MoonMan]

Artificial Light:



Natural Light:



It's full blown winter here and snow everywhere so light in general has a strong snow reflection so very blue. Again, colour change isn't the issue so much as sparkle.

I like the idea of the tinfoil to see what it would look like. I'll definitely try that.

 

[FrekeChild]

Can you post a face on view?

 

[MoonMan]

From the top:

 

[chrono]

Sparkle is a function of cut. If not well cut or sleepy (silky from microscopic inclusions) or dirty, the sparkle will be lessened. You have two opposing "problems". If you enclose the stone, the colour will be enhanced but you might lose out on the sparkle. If you have an open setting, the stone will sparkle but the colour will be pale and washed out. If not too late, I would return it to find a sapphire that doesn't lose its colour yet sparkles. You should not have to "work" so hard to see its beauty. If this is not an option, you might consider a collet style bezel. I am concerned that a white metal will make the sapphire too steely and paler.