Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Sapphires

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
Date: 5/22/2007 2:32:05 PM
Author: _Sarah_


Date: 5/22/2007 12:44:44 PM
Author: Chrono
I think he may have posted once or twice here in the past. I tried to enquire about his stones a few times in the past but never got a reply. So I didn't buy it. I am rather suspicious about how dirt cheap IJ's gemstones are though so I wanted to try with a cheaper stone to gauge its quality but since he never replied my emails, I felt it was not worth persuing.
Click to expand...

I was curious about their prices also... Is it because they are mostly heated sapphires?
Click to expand...
I'm sure the sapphires are heat treated; I'm just wondering if they were BE-treated too. No idea. Even their spinels and other garnets were way too low $. I am curious though and would not mind trying with a not too pricey item first so if turns out to be something totally off base, my wallet won't be hurt.

LdyNghtWng,
1. What is the quality of the gemstone you received?
2. How is the customer service?
3. Have you purchased more items from them?
4. Did you get the setting from them too?
 
I have gotten a number of items from IJ...the mandarin garnet ring was made by them and I got a ruby ring from them once. Top grade workmanship, with pave diamonds for both. That ruby was heat treated (and listed as such), but looks fabulous and the price was great. Both rings appraised very well by my neighborhood appraiser. I also bought tsavorite stud earrings for my daughter which are stunning, very brilliant, with good workmanship. The photos were right on when it came to colour and sparkle!

Loose stones...I have gotten a few. One is a color change sapphire that they stated had an alexandrite like change and in person, it really does. Also a purple sapphire and a small blue spinel. All as advertised.
 
Hello there,

I have purchased many loose stones from them in the past 2 years. The clarity is always either as stated, sometimes one grade better or one grade less because clarity grading is subjective. 9 out of 10 times, the stuff is as represented or better than I expected. Pictures are very accurate as they are so highly magnified. If the stones says VVS or VS, you''ll at least be assured of very good clarity stone although again, colored stones are never truly flawless in my opinion and I love them for that. I even exhanged an item worth more than 10k and I''ve never been dissapointed with the quality of the stones. To date, I''ve purchased more than 30k in stones and some are not replaceable in today''s market. Their cutting is excellent to very good.

I was able to speak to their principal when I had a special question. On the other hand, don''t expect hand holding, if you know what you want, make your selection and purchase it - returns and exchanges are not simple because of Thai import and export regulations and I for one would not subject a valued vendor to such a headache. This is my experience and I don''t want anyone to take my word for it, try them for yourself and good luck.
Best,

TST
 
I looked at the imperial jewel website and I agree the prices are temptingly good! Sometimes strangely low, like a"Russia" 4 mm lime green demantoid garnet, for $51.

In their diamond section they are selling pink diamonds "heat only"
and also blue diamonds that kind of teal blue color an 18 point blue diamond for $48.75 but according to them "100% natural" and "no treatment whatsoever."

When you go to Education, they have listed "Frequently Asked Questions", the only two questions they have listed but have been unlinked (when you click on them nothing happens) are:

"Where can I learn more about gemstone enhancements?"
"How does the information on a diamond''s certificate effect it''s value?"

I would love to order from them but that and the fact they don''t seem to reply to people''s emails makes it not pass my comfort level test.
 

Hello,


Yes sapphires are actually most often pale blue. They are not often sold most pale blue stones are heat treated in order to get the darker more often desired color. As for the flourescence in diamonds usually flourescence is not desirable two much flourescence will decrease the value of a stone. What flourescence will do is in a yellowish stone the blue flourescence if it is strong enough will mask the yellow color. In the diamonds with better color it can give them a bluish tint but it will more likely be a milky undesirable color of blue. If you are looking for blue i would go with the sapphire not a flourecent sapphire.


Most places that i have looked into have treated sapphires if your looking for untreated i agree with neatfreak, pinkdreamer, and bertrand NSC is the way to go. I have used them in the past and as a true sapphire lover I have never been dissapointed because they are very good about working with you until your satisfied

1.gif

 
Those colored diamonds on their site are most likely irradiated. That would also be in line with their pricing. The other thing you''ll notice is they are using the same pictures for more than one of the diamonds.
 
*correction*

What i meant to say!

If you are looking for blue i would go with the sapphire not a flourecent diamond.
emembarrassed.gif
 
Just to say loads of people here have coloured e-rings.

In my own family, my grandmother has an emerald with diamond side stones, my mother and my sister both have oval blue sapphires with rb side stones and I have a tsavorite with channel set diamond melee.

The UK royal family nearly all have coloured e-rings - princess Diana had a sapphire, Fergie had a ruby etc

Personally I think coloured stones are more unusual and personal - and way less chance of shrinkage syndrome
31.gif


Look at loads of different stones - I was sure I would go with a sapphire, but ultimately I liked the sparkle and colour of tsavs better...

Good luck with your search!
 
Hi everyone, thanks for your advice! I''ve been away from ps for a few weeks, busy with work and such but I did find a stone from NSC that I love ( not for a ring but a necklace later on) and I just got it yesturday. I cant stop looking at it! I love it! I decided to get it because I wanted to see what the pale sapphires look like in person and because I loved the stone, I am very happy with the results and my expeirence with NSC. I do prefer a pale sapphire for a center stone rather than a diamond, I agree with Pandora 11, it does make the ring even more personal. Here are some pics...

IMG_5408.JPG
 
this one has somewhat better focus

IMG_5414.JPG
 
on my hand

IMG_5429.JPG
 
hand 2

on my hand 2.jpg
 
last one

IMG_5431.JPG
 
Gorgeous sapphire!
 
Very very cool sapphire color!
 
Skippy123 and StoneHunter- thanks! This is kind of the pale sapphire I am wanting for my ering, maybe a little more silvery/steely...

Many of you probably know of velouriaL''s green tourmaline e-ring I am very curious and interested in the cut of the stone, a octagonal modified princess cut, right? I am wondering if anyone else has had expeirence or has seen other stones of this cut. The cut is like the "Nortern lights cut" that I love, more of a squarish octagon rather than a round one... Basically I want to know if I would be able to find a sapphire with this cut on the market.

Northern lights octagonal.jpg
 
Sarah,
Velourial''s green gemstone is from ACS. Perhaps if you ask Barbara Smigel of www.acstones.com (with a picture of the stone and its desciption) she might remember the cutter who cut that tourmaline. This style of cutting is known as a fancy cut and will be difficult to find. Perhaps the original cutter can cut you one in the gemstone of your choice.
 
Date: 6/20/2007 9:49:43 AM
Author: Chrono
Sarah,

Velourial''s green gemstone is from ACS. Perhaps if you ask Barbara Smigel of www.acstones.com (with a picture of the stone and its desciption) she might remember the cutter who cut that tourmaline. This style of cutting is known as a fancy cut and will be difficult to find. Perhaps the original cutter can cut you one in the gemstone of your choice.
Click to expand...


Ok thanks thats deffinately worth looking into.
 
Date: 6/20/2007 3:26:56 PM
Author: StonesRock07
What size stone are you looking for because this stone is .60 carats. I love the color of it. I have purchased my share of sapphires this year so I am now living through other peoples purchases.
emteeth.gif



http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/nscnet/expandedstones.aspx?stoneid=B2355


imgnotfound.jpg
Click to expand...
I think the color of that stone is beautiful too and I have looked at it many times before when I visit the NSD website. But the cut I am interested in is the same as that diamond above and velourial''s tourmaline, a modified pricess in an octagonal shape. Here is a photo of her tourmaline:

Insperation.jpg
 
WOW that sapphire looks very nice and is so reasonably priced!

I do like the stone cut you''re interested in though. I think your best bet would be to contact the seller and try and get one cut by the cutter. It would def. be worth it to get the stone and cut you want.
 
Thanks everyone for your help! I did look on acstones.com (its quickly becoming a favorite website of mine!) and found the cutter of VelouriaLs green tourmaline, he still does that cut! Im excited! And now I have another question- Is it possible to contact the cutter or Barbra (who is incharge of the site, I think...) and see if they can find a pale sapphire like I am looking for and then cut it or do I ( or rather my boyfriend, soon to be fiance) have to get a stone and then get it recut? Also, I dont know if there is a general kind of answer to this one but if the stone was to be recut how much ct weight would be lost? I am thinking I would like a sapphire with in 1.25-1.60 cts. What would the original size of the stone (in a somewhat similar shape) need to be stay in this range once cut into the shape I want? Maybe to make it easier 1.40-1.60cts in the end. Or would it be easier to get a rough cut stone and then get it cut? Is the color of the rough stone the same when its cut?

Sorry for so many question... and thanks in advance for you time and input! I know close to nothing about so many things here and it nice to know that there are people willing to help out.
1.gif
 
Date: 6/23/2007 7:11:35 PM
Author: _Sarah_
Thanks everyone for your help! I did look on acstones.com (its quickly becoming a favorite website of mine!) and found the cutter of VelouriaLs green tourmaline, he still does that cut! Im excited! And now I have another question- Is it possible to contact the cutter or Barbra (who is incharge of the site, I think...) and see if they can find a pale sapphire like I am looking for and then cut it or do I ( or rather my boyfriend, soon to be fiance) have to get a stone and then get it recut? Also, I dont know if there is a general kind of answer to this one but if the stone was to be recut how much ct weight would be lost? I am thinking I would like a sapphire with in 1.25-1.60 cts. What would the original size of the stone (in a somewhat similar shape) need to be stay in this range once cut into the shape I want? Maybe to make it easier 1.40-1.60cts in the end. Or would it be easier to get a rough cut stone and then get it cut? Is the color of the rough stone the same when its cut?


Sorry for so many question... and thanks in advance for you time and input! I know close to nothing about so many things here and it nice to know that there are people willing to help out.
1.gif
Click to expand...

All those questions are for either the source of the stone or the cutter. I would contact the cutter if possible and ask him if he does custom work and if so, how to go about it. The proprietor of the website would also be a good contact.
 
You can either contact Barbara or the cutter himself. Most cutters would prefer to source the rough or stone themselves as they have a better eye for choosing the colour, shape and material. The cutter is also far more experienced in knowing how much the weight loss will be, the final colour, etc and so knows exactly which stone/rough is the best candidate for what you want.
 
Dont forget that when you find what your looking for we will want to see many pictures to share in your excitment. That cut is beautiful and I wish you luck
26.gif
 
Ok thanks guys! I would feel more at ease that the cutter would be looking for the stone. And thanks StonesRock! Its probably going to be a while before I get any kind of picuters BF doesnt come home until October but he did say that he would propose really soon after! But I will be sure to post plenty of pics when it comes!
1.gif
 
I made my first ebay purchase from IJ few years back. If you do a search under my old posting, you may find a picture of a sapphire I bought from them.

I know that many in the forum are anti-ebay. But still think I should put a word of fairness for the ebay sellers.

If one is looking for connoisseur quality stones, I would say, forget it. ebay will never give you the top quality stones.
It doesnt make sense to compare apples to oranges. ie dont ever buy an ebay concave cut stone and hope for a Richard Homer cousin, or buy a sapphire from ebay and expect a pedigree kashmir.

But being lower in prices than the usual jewellers does not mean poorer quality stones. Many of these ebay sellers are from Thailand. It could simply mean that these people decide to bypass the various middleman and earn a higher margin for themselves?

Having said that, one must take it with a pinch of salt on the information provided by many of these ebay stores.
haha... unheated does not mean untreated. natural does not mean unheated and untreated.

Even if they post pictures, discount the pictures since the photos are suppose to showcase the stone at their best.

I've made some good purchases and some not so good purchases from ebay. It really depends on what you want :)
 
I just bought a stone from a seller on eBay that has very nice sapphires, rubies, and some other things. They actually have a gemologist on staff. You can find them on eBay as "tiptopgem" and I think they are the only ones who give a 31-day money back guarantee. I was skeptical until I received the stone. I will never give it back!!! It is beautiful. I have bought a lot of stones from eBay but usually the cut is really poor, the color is not very good, and they are not certified at all, or they are certified by some weird lab that nobody has ever heard about. These people use AIGS in Bangkok for their certificates.

Just my 2 cents!
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP

Featured Topics

Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top