Seeking Advice on ~6x8 Oval Unheated Blue Sapphire

[kresh]

I've been lurking on these forums for months now, and have really come to appreciate how well this PS community has responded to these kinds of threads. Here's hoping you can help steer me a bit as well. I've probably spent over 100 hours looking at this point, including from many of the links in the stickied CS Vendors thread. I've been to a handful of shops in midtown Manhattan (The Natural Sapphire Company, ACS Gems, AC Gemstones, and a couple of others on 47th st). I'm really having a tough time finding what I'm looking for. I've already got a setting picked that's platinum from the art deco period. Small and delicate and a little flowery. Like this but modified for an oval: http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=2360

Here's the list of hopeful specs:
~6x8, a little fatter and a little shorter is ok, I'd like it to tend toward 6.5x8 or 6x7.5 kind of thing.
Cornflower or Medium blue, intense and well saturated, even tone, no significant "bowtie".
Unheated - 90% sure of this one
I'd like it not to turn too black/dark in incandescent light.

This one is almost perfect, except for the window in the middle. Not sure if I'm overreacting, though: http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Blue/B4529/Oval/stoneid=B4529

I've already spoken to Jeff White, who doesn't have anything available in time for when I'd like to have it (a month from now). If anyone knows where I'm going to find the right stone, it's the PS community. If I can provide further info, just ask.

 

[chrono]

The window on the NSC sapphire seems smallish and could close up in the setting. It does not appear intense in saturation on my monitor though. Given that your time frame is tight (1 month), your options are quite limited.

 

[kresh]

I guess I'm looking for something that's already been cut. I know that in itself is limiting, but I guess I was hoping that a random PSer might have spotted something that I didn't see or don't know where to find. Thanks for the feedback on the window.

 

[chrono]

Not at all; in fact, it is best to purchase faceted stones because you'll get what you see most of the time. I take it you've checked out Gemfix but didn't see anything promising?

 

[lin_ny]

These are all on gemfix:


2.14 ct
7.6x6.4mm
no enhancements
$3200


3.04 ct
8.6x6.9mm, depth 6.2mm
no enhancements
$3600

This one might be a bit small.

1.23 ct
7x5mm, depth 4.4mm
no enhancements
$980

 

[kresh]

I was considering that first one, though it's a little out of my price range. I like the Portuguese cut, but I'm not sure it would work in a platinum art nouveau / art deco setting. Combination of old and new or would it look out of place in a ring from the 1920s? I can't really decide.

 

[chrono]

Lin,
Great call on the first GF stone - very strong saturation and not too dark at all. With that cut design, it's going to be a dazzler.

 

[lin_ny]

I was considering that first one, though it's a little out of my price range. I like the Portuguese cut, but I'm not sure it would work in a platinum art nouveau / art deco setting. Combination of old and new or would it look out of place in a ring from the 1920s? I can't really decide.

Wish I could help you with the cut stuff. I haven't seen enough, unfortunately. Personally I try and go against the grain myself... I like to choose things that most wouldn't even think of doing... so maybe it would be fantastic?

 

[stargurl78]

Another vote for that first sapphire, that is gorgeous. I think the Portuguese cut will still look fantastic with any setting that you choose.

 

[kresh]

I've read a lot about the Portuguese Cut on these forums, and many people seem to think it really only works on larger stones. I'm not sure that something 6x8 or slightly smaller qualifies as larger, though. Anyone want to weigh in on that? I worry that it will just look cloudy once we're not looking at it so highly magnified.

There was another stone on gemfix that was a mixed oval. Thoughts?


Untreated Blue Sapphire Oval Mixed Cut
Weight: 2.04 cts
Measurements: 7.5 x 6.5 mm
Clarity: VVS
Origin: Sri Lanka
Enhancements: None
Price: $ 1950.00
Description: WOW...Unbelievable natural Ceylon sapphire .Exquisite royal blue, sparkly and clean. Stunning.
Certified untreated.

 

[chrono]

My vote is still for the first Gemfix sapphire hands down by a huge margin. 8x6 mm is a decent size so you'll get to appreciate the faceting. It's the sub-carat stones that do not benefit from the Portuguese style faceting. Cloudiness is a function of clarity so you will NOT get a cloudy looking stone with that cut unless it is inherent to the material.

The latest stone posted does not do a thing for me. The cut is just average with a small window. It is unlikely to perform better than the previous stone (not as lively). Colour wise, it is also less saturated than the first stone.

 

[kresh]

After speaking with Andrew over the phone, I ordered a different stone from his site. It's a heated stone, but I've decided that right now staying closer to my original budget was more important to me that knowing it was unheated. Andrew said this one was close enough to the unheated that he could sell them as a matched pair to most clients. Here's hoping I like it as much in person as I do on the site. Thanks so much for your guidance thus far. I'd love to hear what you think of the stone, and I'll take more pictures once it arrives in a few days or so.




Sapphire "Portuguese" Style Oval
Weight: 2.08 cts
Measurements: 8.1x6.5mm, depth 5mm
Clarity: VVS
Origin: Sri Lanka
Enhancements: Heat only
Price: $ 1975.00
Order/Stock No.: sapphire_blue_1016
Description: Wow. Absolutely stunning! AGL lab report included. Perfectly gorgeous medium blue, well saturated, no zoning or dead spots. You will love this one! (American cutting) Pantone 2718

 

[chrono]

Looks super! Personally, I don't mind heated only sapphires as long as it can be verified, which yours is already by AGL. I hope it'll blow you away.

 

[maebelle]

Can't wait to see your pics, hope it is what you are waiting for.

 

[lin_ny]

Can't wait to see your pics, hope it is what you are waiting for.

Ditto!

I also have ordered a sapphire from Andrew & Laura this week so I'm very excited to see yours too! Post lottttsss of pics when it arrives!

 

[kresh]

I don't think I'll wind up keeping this stone. It's more violet than it is blue, to my eye in most light. Culet is fairly off-center. There are also two dark stripes that you can easily see in some of the photos and are also plainly visible with the naked eye from many angles. I'm looking for something that shows more consistent color as you look at it from various face-up angles. I hope it was just a fluke and that maybe Andrew at Gemfix can find something more suitable. For $2000 as a heated stone, perhaps my expectations were too high? Let me know what you guys think. I'm not sure that buying online is the best way to go for me, given that I have to pay ~$60 per gem to see them with my own eyes.

 

[chrono]

I am sorry the stone did not work out for you. In your pictures, the stone's saturation appears less intense than Andrew's picture?

Good sapphires tend to show violet indoors rather than a mucky gray. It should be bluer outdoors though. Is this particular sapphire not blue in the sun?

A slightly off centered culet is not a deal breaker for me if it has other positives. The black stripes you see across the stone from the front is a cut issue called a bowtie. The (two?) blue lines you see from the side is zoning or banding. Colour zoning is only called so if it can be seen face up (straight down the table). They are not taken into consideration from the side view or at an angle.

The disadvantage of buying from a B&M is a very limited yet expensive selection that is likely to also have cut issues among others. I doubt you can get anything this nice for 2 carat sapphire for $2K from a local store.

 

[lin_ny]

In that 2nd picture it looks interesting... that dark band down the centre with different blues on either side? I'm actually really surprised to compare that with the vendor picture. Doesn't appear as similar as you would hope!

Is the 'bow-tie' even visible in the vendor picture? I can see maybe some colour-zoning...

Now I'm a wee bit paranoid about seeing my gemfix stone (if it ever arrives!!).

 

[kresh]

I decided to go with the NSC sapphire I put in my first post. The sparkle in the gemfix stone just wasn't appealing enough to me to outweigh its lack of color consistency with slight variations in viewing angle and that banding was simply unlivable for me. I saw the NSC one in person and fell in love with it a few weeks ago, I should have just bought it then I guess, but I'm glad to have explored more options that make me surer of my choice. I'll post pictures of the finished ring when I have it in hand in a week and a half or so. Thanks for all your advice!

 

[chrono]

Please check out your new NSC sapphire with equal care to be sure there are no cut issues like a big window, lopsided outline, half and half extinction, too off centered culet, nor colour issues like banding, too much extinction and any unattractive colour shifts.