Should I buy this chipped sapphire?

[woohoo2000]

Hi All,

I'm fairly new to jewellery/gems and would love to get the advise of this helpful community

I'm currently contemplating to purchase a 2.14 carats Royal Blue untreated natural sapphire from Sri Lanka. Costs around 1.5k USD

I really like the colour and shape but unfortunately it has a chip on the girdle.

I'd like to know if the chip has been factored into the price of the sapphire. Can this chip be polished or recut without losing much weight? Alternatively, can the chip be hideden with a setting?



Many thanks!

 

[qubitasaurus]

If these photos are accurate then no. Colour is extremely dark, crown is flat (no sparkle). Pavilion looks bloated to retain weight. Cut reminds me of a pregnant goldfish

https://www.bespoke-gems.com/SacredGeometrics_Page_WhatToLookFor.php
https://www.bespoke-gems.com/SacredGeometrics_Page_WhatToLookFor.php
No mention of a lab report? So no. I definitely wouldn't buy it for 1.5 k.

 

[Bron357]

From the photos, the Sapphire seems quite dark. When you set the gem, the setting always closes off some light which makes it darker still. Does it have proper certificate from a reliable source ? A chip on the girdle can be hidden usually but going by those photos, but it’s not a well cut gem. It’s so thick around the girdle, that’s adding “weight” ie increasing the price but not giving any visual benefit ie face up size I think it’s way too expensive.

 

[woohoo2000]

Thanks qubitasaurus for the response and for the link. Loled at your pregnant goldfish comment. Yea I noticed the pavilion was bigger than other sapphires i viewed.

The dealer will show me the lab reports on the stones I'm interested in. I haven't requested for them yet.

The previous photos don't do justice to the colour and sparkle. So I'll try posting a photo and a gif. The stone I'm querying is on the left.

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

Dark but not badly so. If you can get your brain to 'forget' the chip and not obsess about it as a flaw, I think it is a good stone. Perhaps a re-cut/polish can minimize the chip?

 

[chrono]

Even in your best picture / video, the sapphire looks far too dark. If you are interested in it, I would only consider it under a hefty discount.

 

[ExoticGems]

this stone is extremely over priced and from the pictures it seems that they are not royal blue, just a dark blue that will get darker with setting. the chip isn't so much of a problem if it is set properly. i would ask for a severe discount and certificate if possible.

 

[Burmesedaze]

It faces up below 2ct.

In Yangon, I can find an unheated similar dark blue Mogok sapphire, native cut, for well under us$1000. So yes, like what the rest have said, proceed only with a steep discount and if you are sure about the dark blue that would look black without a good light source.

 

[T L]

Poor quality material based on the photos. Way too dark, no lab report,and not all labs can detect diffusion.

 

[VapidLapid]

I think the chip is its best feature.

 

[whitewave]

I'd pass. Keep looking,

 

[woohoo2000]

Thanks everybody for your input. Most of you say to pass and I did. Sent the stone back. Glad that I decided to get this community's opinion. Most probably made the right decision.

I also realise most say the sapphire is too dark. I always thought this was the "perfect" royal blue.
Would the sapphire on the right (reference above picture) be a good colour instead?

 

[Arcadian]

I think color is more or less a preference. My preference is medium / medium-light sapphires.

Look at what GRS considers Royal Blue. Depending on cut, it also can be too dark for my personal tastes.

https://www.leibish.com/royal_blue-gemstones/royal-blue-sri-lanka-sapphire-cushion-763


Back to ideal color, you can certainly get it, though more often than not you pay dearly for it, and IMO with the right cut it certainly makes a stone sing.

 

[minousbijoux]

This is one example of trade ideal color

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

In Yangon, I can find an unheated similar dark blue Mogok sapphire, native cut, for well under us$1000.

Would it be fair to compare prices of an US-seller with local markets in mining countries? Unless you add the travel cost to your local buy, the US (or EU) seller has expenses to get the gems to the western market.

 

[Burmesedaze]

Would it be fair to compare prices of an US-seller with local markets in mining countries? Unless you add the travel cost to your local buy, the US (or EU) seller has expenses to get the gems to the western market.

Only if I get wholesale price, which I certainly don't since I don't buy in bulk. What makes you think foreigners don't get fleeced here?

Markup factors the most in the cost differential over your logistical considerations.

 

[T L]

Thanks everybody for your input. Most of you say to pass and I did. Sent the stone back. Glad that I decided to get this community's opinion. Most probably made the right decision.

I also realise most say the sapphire is too dark. I always thought this was the "perfect" royal blue.
Would the sapphire on the right (reference above picture) be a good colour instead?

Don't confuse dark tone with fine saturation. I think Princess Diana did that when she picked out her overly dark sapphire ring. I also think that's where the term "royal blue" came from, her ring, in order to sell overpriced very dark sapphires. The most beautiful sapphires are not very dark in tone, but a medium to medium dark tone with high saturation of blue or slightly violetish blue. See above emerald cut ring.