Sapphire Stone Question

[Jedofhelium]

Hello, I have spent the a lot of my free time over the last three or so months researching and looking at sapphires for an engagement ring for my girlfriend of five years. Being a college student it's been difficult to find a gem that won't look awful, but won't clear out the bank. Therefore I have a few questions for you all, the experts, regarding a potential gem if you'd be so kind.
Link: https://www.gemsny.com/sapphires/1.23-Carat-Oval-sapphire-S48243OV/?type=ring&r=1057179464

1. Is GemsNY reliable? I've seen a lot of positive reviews for the website, but I'm also sketched out by the permanent sale the website is always having and the fact that their gemstone certification information is very vague and I had to dig to find it.
2. Based on the description is the sapphire worth the price? I understand that it's a retailer trying to hide as a wholesaler and what they appraise it at is not realistic, but would I be paying to much for what it is?
3. Also how is this stone? Is its imperfections going to show?

Thank you all!

 

[arkieb1]

The sapphire you have selected is going to look near to black on the hand ie be very very dark, not particularly sparkly and not particularly attractive.

 

[Bron357]

Yes, as Arkieb1 advises, the sapphire will look black once set into a ring and won’t have any real “colour” or “sparkle”.
Of course some people like very dark sapphires but most people prefer a blue sapphire that looks blue.
Do you know what her preferred tone is? Blue sapphires can be pastel blue, medium blue, blue green, blue purple and very dark blue and shades inbetween.

 

[qubitasaurus]

No very dark, will black out entirely.

You'd be better off with something like this

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/sapphire/bsnt10131aa/&930512007

Also can check some of the instragram vendors such as higems, and thegemcollector. I think staying on budget is a great idea, but sapphires are somehow stupidly expensive right now. So if you want a > 1ct stone for less than $1000 it might be better to be a bit more liberally risk taking and expand your options to consider some of the international instagram vendors.

edit have you considered the cost of setting? If you get a stone with noncalibrated dimesnions you'll need a custom built ring. This limits your choices slightly and means you should have arround 700-1000 sitting around for the setting (even if it is a plain solitaire).

 

[Lilith112]

What's your max budget? Do you have any treatment preferences e.g. unheated only, heat-only, etc.? What kind of color are you looking for? Shape & size?

 

[Bron357]

I’d suggest having a look at Ivy & Rose if your fiancée to be likes the vintage style. They are a recommended vendor and specialise in Art Deco / Art Nouveau style settings, they also have assembled rings. Their prices are excellent value for money. Here are two “ready to go” sapphire rings at around the same price as the very dark sapphire alone.

 

[Musia]

Link: https://www.gemsny.com/sapphires/1.23-Carat-Oval-sapphire-S48243OV/?type=ring&r=1057179464

This stone is indeed way too dark and it is heated, but they have many lighter stones. You can use filters and narrow your search on this site. I bought my first stone from them and I liked the service they provided. I can't tell you whether I liked the stone or not since it was tiny 0.14ct Brazilian alexandrite, I didn't even dare to touch it. And I knew nothing about colored stones at the time of my purchase. I bought it for my daughter who will use it as an accent stone.

 

[LilAlex]

Yeah that's gonna be too dark.

I bought a 2.5-ct unheated pastel (read: pale) radiant-cut Ceylon for a very fair price from them and it actually looked better than the photos. Their photos are less "unrealistic" than almost anyone's. Don't know about the videos. Mine had GIA but their UGL (?) or whatever is just an appraisal and is kinda sus as you imply. Not inaccurate but the dollar value is not super-meaningful.

In your price range, I'd buy a vintage pre-made ring; it's less than half the cost of all the custom work. I'm less inclined toward a vintage-look ring.

 

[Jedofhelium]

Thank you everyone for the replies!

I didn't consider the color being darker when put in the setting. I think she wanted something more like the traditional deep blue sapphire if that makes sense(Like Bron's pictures). We aren't too concerned about treatment(Heated or unheated).

The plan is to use the stone as the centerpiece as we are going to use 2 diamonds from her great-grandmother and grandmother's wedding rings (They suggested it and insisted, we aren't cannibalizing grandma's wedding rings without consent, we aren't monsters I promise.)

Sadly she wasn't a fan of the vintage look when I showed her.

I will keep looking for lighter colored sapphires and check out some of the places you all suggested.

All together I'd say my budget is around $1500-1600, was quoted about $400 on a setting(Silver because she's allergic to gold) and then the rest on a stone. Is that too unrealistic for a sapphire?

Thank you!

 

[Kitten35]

What are the size of the diamonds? You want it to be in proportion.

Here is a pretty blue sapphire from art cut gems for only $400. Others on here can speak to cut quality, I think it is nice but I am not as knowledgeable as some here. It also has a cert.

UBSaph 2

UNHEATED BLUE SAPPHIRE (Ceylon) -- .85 ct. (All uses, N, Type II)

www.artcutgems.com

It is smaller so it is why i asked the size of the diamonds. With a stone like that and the diamonds provided, you could potentially get her a simple platinum setting (an empty semi mount that fits your stones) and have someone set the stone. A search on ebay revealed some pre-loved settings witout stones that were going for around $650-700.

Platinum would likely be more secure for the stones than silver and wear better. You would still need to pay someone to set the stones so budget around $150(?) for that. Total about $1350 for my searches this morning.

For more mountings Check out American set on ebay. I believe they set too.

We could help you find something like that— my example at or under budget leaving a bit for a simple wedding band.