Sapphires from India

[eesmom]

Hello fellow colored stone lovers,

As I have been perusing Etsy and ebay, I have come across some vendors that are from India. Since sapphires are not generally mined in India,I was curious about their legitimacy? Some of them had good prices on stones and even rings but I was just not sure since I haven't read much about sapphires being bought from India on this forum. TIA!

 

[chrono]

I tend to not buy directly from overseas due to the difficulty in shipping the stone back, should I find issues with the stone.

 

[arkieb1]

Just be careful what you are getting sapphires from India (that come from other places) are frequently photoshopped to look paler and brighter in colour than they really are and they can be heavily included or heavily treated or both as well.

If it seems too cheap, it usually is because of a valid reason.

 

[eesmom]

Thank you both @chrono and @arkieb1 - if it is too good to be true, it usually is. I am trying to filter good venders with unreliable ones as I look and learn. What surprises me are how many positive reviews these Indian vendors have! Have they really sold that many stones?

 

[alltheflorals]

Not as helpful because you are buying online, but I will vouch that India is a legitimate source for sapphires and other gems like emeralds. They might not be mined there but Jaipur is a major gem cutting hub. I was fortunate to have purchased a few from there in person. (And was extremely relieved after confirming they were real with my jeweler!)

 

[eesmom]

Not as helpful because you are buying online, but I will vouch that India is a legitimate source for sapphires and other gems like emeralds. They might not be mined there but Jaipur is a major gem cutting hub. I was fortunate to have purchased a few from there in person. (And was extremely relieved after confirming they were real with my jeweler!)

Could I ask if you bought large or small stones? And what sort of certificate were supplied when you bought the stones?

 

[alltheflorals]

Colored Stone E-rings/Eyecandy

Super dirty sapphire, spinel bypass ring taken on a very cloudy day. Sapphire is AGL heat only and spinel is natural (AIGS). Both stones are a bit over 2 carats each. Spinel and sapphire are Tanzanian. I forgot what the sun looks like!!! All it does is rain!

www.pricescope.com

They were small, windowed (pre-PS days), and even though blue and purple were from a govt sponsored vendor, I set a mental budget just in case we were completely swindled. I think you'll laugh if I tell you about the "certificate." It was the equivalent of the seller writing on a card the carat and color and lack of treatment/heat. They were souvenirs to me more so plus the fun of our first gemstone purchase.

 

[alltheflorals]

I am definitely not advising to buy or not buy online from oversees vendors. My point is just that gemstones from India is not an anomaly. I do think that less scrupulous vendors could take advantage of this reputation and do what they can to make a sale though.

 

[DauphineMucha]

If you are ok buying from outside of the US, AJS Gems is located in Thailand and they are running 25% off all gems till the end of April.

 

[eesmom]

I am trying to be patient and do my due diligence in educating myself during these next few months of being home! But it is so hard when I see such sparkly and pretty stones!
I do appreciate the wealth of information that I am slowly combing through. I feel like there is so much to learn and digest.
I do feel comfortable buying from overseas if they have been vetted on this forum!