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Sapphire Stone Help

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codez3ro

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 5, 2013
Messages
7
Hi everyone,

I've recently began to look for a sapphire for my girlfriend (I would like to buy the setting separate eventually).

So, originally I was looking at diamonds, but after a talk with her I discovered she'd prefer something a little less "traditional" and would actually prefer a White Sapphire and to eventually have black sapphires go around the ring. Her birth stone is also a sapphire, so I suppose she has a soft spot for it.

As far as cuts go, I know she WANTS an asscher, but knowing that they're tough to find she's also interested in cuts like Emerald as well (so it would seem square/rectangular cuts).

I've read through the "New to coloured gemstones" post, but I'm still a bit confused. I also plan on speaking with a local jeweler to get a better idea of what I should be looking for.

I have a price range up to about $2500 for the stone at the moment. Can anyone help me in the right direction? Can I even find a white asscher cut or emerald? If I go this route, can it be difficult to get a setting?

Anything provided will be great! Thank you!!
 
Setting wont be a problem with any cut.

Emerald cut is not very popular in white sap because emerald-cut is made to show color, while on a white stone you want a cut with many facets = sparkle.

asher is better but also rare in white sap.
 
The setting will be the least of your worries, it is the stone that is going to be problematic.

An asscher cut white sapphire will look nicer but it'll have to be custom cut. Your chances of finding a step cut white sapphire without having to go custom is higher but it is still a very long and difficult search, in addition to not looking that attractive. Coloured stones need colour due to their lower dispersion factor. Without a fancier or busier cut, it'll look like a piece of white glass. I am doubtful that your local jeweller will be able to source either cuts.

I seem to see more lab created white sapphires though...

http://www.simplysapphires.com/white?zenid=3db0d0f48805c5a3c6d25e701c9bcf86
http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/
(For NSC, go down the white sapphire link at the upper left)
 
Has she seen a faceted white sapphire in person? I have real doubts that she'd love one as the center stone of a ring. It will be basically the color (non-color) of a diamond, without a diamond's sparkle. Perhaps she should visit some jewelers & ask to see the largest white sapphires they have, if any, before you go the custom route on one. Either a diamond or possibly a colored sapphire -- say, yellow -- might make her happier in the end. She could combine that with any halo she likes, though I've never heard of black sapphires -- anybody else?

--- Laurie
 
"Black" sapphires for the most part are just very dark blue sapphires. So dark that they look black. Many designers work with black sapphires. John Hardy is one that our store carries.
 
Hm...thanks for the input, I may have to have a discussion with her about this.

I know she leans away from getting a diamond due to the general over pricing (I would imagine all stones have quite the markup regardless). I think she's also see that movie Blood Diamond a few too many times (and other various documentaries).

Perhaps a color would be a better way to go. I had read that step up cuts can be problematic with a sapphire, which could be why it's so difficult to find and I've read that you want to avoid re-cutting.

I was hoping to avoid something lab created as well, as it just feels cheap to me (it may just be a stigma thing).

I believe she has NOT seen these cuts in person on a white sapphire.

As for the Local Jeweler thing, I'm local to NYC, so I imagine I have a large pot to choose from.

So I suppose my next question to people here would be these:

Cut seems to be fairly important to her, so if I can get something like Emerald or Asscher, that'd be great. What should I be looking for to do this? Is there a stone other than a diamond (she want's something less "traditional")? If I stick with a sapphire, would I have better luck with a color?

I'm sorry if all of these are basic, I can fix your computer and tune up your car or have a meeting in front of clients, but for the life of me, I can't grasp how to get a quality stone for a fair price haha.

Edit - I just spoke with her about this and she pointed me out to this - http://www.etsy.com/listing/116204885/asscher-cut-white-sapphire-275-carats?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=supplies_high&gclid=CL_ZoOqI6bgCFRKk4AodhBcA9g

I'd say it doesn't look "shiny" personally. I assume this is what everyone is talking about?
 
That stone has a very distracting veil IMHO. Heated white sapphire in ascher, Emerald, princess, etc cuts is not that uncommon. Gem Select used to carry tons of it as diamond side stone sbustitutes. Perhaps check with multicolor as well. You will have less scintillation (brightness, fire) and almost no dispersion (spectral colors) as compared to a diamond. That said, sapphire has more of a glow than diamond.

If the blood diamond thing is the issue,you know you can source Canadian diamonds as well (for a premium)?
 
Silverbackmp|1375802262|3497568 said:
If you are set on white sapphire, I believe I would look around a little bit. That stone is massively overpriced IMHO withe very distracting veil running through it. Heated white sapphire in ascher, Emerald, princess, etc cuts is not that uncommon. Gem Select used to carry tons of it as diamond side stone sbustitutes. Perhaps check with multicolor as well. You will have less scintillation (brightness, fire) and almost no dispersion (spectral colors) as compared to a diamond.

If the blood diamond thing is the issue,you know you can source Canadian diamonds as well (for a premium)?
Click to expand...

Thanks, the veil you speak of is that huge arc on the right side of the first picture I assume? To me, I'd say it looks scratched, but I know nothing haha.

On sites like gem select, what makes the price differences to drastic? It seems that they're "natural". I know with a diamond about the 4 "c"s (I did plenty of research in those only to find out that she wanted a sapphire :knockout: ) I know that heated stones can give off better color and it seems that that process is a personal preference and not always a reason for a lower or higher price.

I think the blood diamond thing is a part of it, but for whatever reason she also really wants a sapphire (so far). I'm only the purchaser, I don't have to wear it haha. So she may as well get what it is she wants in the end, even if that causes me to search near and far haha.
 
The huge inclusion aside, yes, white sapphires in this cut look rather dull. The Etsy sapphire is also overpriced. There's a 4 ct unheated asscher in the SimplySapphire store I linked to with an AGL memo for less than $1000.
 
Chrono|1375802756|3497574 said:
The huge inclusion aside, yes, white sapphires in this cut look rather dull. The Etsy sapphire is also overpriced. There's a 4 ct unheated asscher in the SimplySapphire store I linked to with an AGL memo for less than $1000.
Click to expand...

Thanks chrono, I did see that one at $979. I posted that etsy link more because she found it in an asscher cut. I was trying to explain how it looks dull.

I personally would like it to have a bit of shine, so I may have to convince to move away from "white".
 
A veil is a partially healed fracture (internal to the stone). Gem select normally carries lower end and/or lower priced item. Their colored sapphires are BE treated. Their white sapphires should just be heated.
 
Unfortunately, no other stone does white or colourless best with minimal drawback other than diamonds. Secondly, step cuts and asschers are the least sparkly type of cut although a light coloured asscher spinel is a good alternative.
 
If lime green or yellow is doable you may look at chrysoberyl. Very bight and sufficient hardness. Fairly rare (muche rarer than diamonds, sapphires, etc) but not well known thus not a huge price tag. Check out the lower right hand stone here for ideas: http://www.gemfix.com/chrysoberyl.html not an ascher but a square cut that maximizes scintillation. You would probably want a bigger stone for solitaire but one of the recommended lapidaries may be able to cut you one.

For a non gem buff, I would stick with diamond, corundum (sapphire, ruby), spinel, or chrysoberyl/alexandrite for an e ring.
 
Silverbackmp|1375804275|3497601 said:
For a non gem buff, I would stick with diamond, corundum (sapphire, ruby), spinel, or chrysoberyl/alexandrite for an e ring.
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into those. I think I've convinced her that she should see some of the stones first to help better decide and so that I have a better idea of what direction to go and what I need to research.

Thank you for all of the help so far!
 
You could always buy a diamond off the second hand market (LT, DB, Ebay or cosignment vendors) you still pay a bit more but not jewelry store prices.

I'm not in love with white sapphires so I would definitely talk to your GF and see how see either feels about colors or perhaps diamonds from Canada or Israel.
 
If you're local to NYC, it would be good to go there and see colored stones in person if you are leaning in that direction. Stones that are not diamonds have different characteristics than diamonds.

If you want to look at some nice designs with colored stones, this is one of my favorite sites:
http://www.ivynewyork.com/
 
Just following up. We've decided to go and look at some in person to get a better idea. We have an appointment with "the natural sapphire company" at their showroom.

I know there are many stories against them as a company, but we also aren't committed to buying from them and it gives an opportunity to see a variety of stones in person. Hopefully after this I'll have a better idea.

I personally like the way the colored stones as opposed to the white appear to look (thanks to everyone that has been posting images). But we'll see what SHE has to say.

After this adventure and probably looking at several places I'm sure I'll be back to learn more and understand more about the stones and to make sure I'm getting fair pricing (I HATE being taken advantage of). Unfortunately I have no idea what a $500 stone vs a $2000 stone looks like, I'd be as simple to assume size...yes I'm sure probably normal ignorant guy stuff.

I've been on many forums for other various things (mostly cars and tech) and this forum has been by far the most helpful and the lack of flaming is amazing! :appl:
 
Simply put, there are also the 4 C's that dictate pricing; colour is the most important, carat weight, clarity (eye clean is the standard), cut (cutting matters but not as crazily as diamonds) and in the case of sapphires, treatment.
 
Please provide a field report of your experience with NSC for our benefits.
 
Chrono|1375831470|3497858 said:
Asscher styled coloured gemstones were incredibly popular on Pricescope a mere few years ago and I could find one easily. It seems to have fallen out of demand these days.

Asscher ruby
http://www.gemfix.com/ruby.html

Very silky step cut blue sapphire
http://www.spectralgems.net/?attachment_id=1030

Lovely sparkly step cut blue sapphire
http://www.spectralgems.net/?attachment_id=1029
Click to expand...

How is your search coming along codeze3o? It looks like that last one Chrono linked was sold.
 
Hey everyone!

My girlfriend and I were actually at The Natural Sapphire Company today. I live fairly close to NYC so it was easy to go to their showroom.

After bringing her to look at everything she changed her mind a bit. She likes the Montana Sapphire (mostly for the tealish color) and thought it was kind of cool that they're from the U.S as well.

We were shown one that she liked very similar to this, but it was 1.10ct at around $1000 - http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/sapphires/c-9-unique-sapphires/p-50540-asscher-unique-sapphire-u4598/

The woman we met with was incredibly nice. She didn't hesitate to answer any of our numerous questions. She explained that none of their stones were heated unless specifically stated. She didn't pressure us at all. It was really a nice experience for someone that knows nothing.
 
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