Should I buy this Padparadscha sapphire?

[yaygems]

So this unheated pad is 1.70ct from Ceylon and unheated with a CGL certificate for $1650. I asked about getting a better lab cert and they offered GRS which I think is easier from Sri Lanka but that it costs $220+ to send to the big labs. Regardless it's probably worth at least the GRS lab. What do you think? I was sent videos and tried to take a screen shot so its not the best photos.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

It looks beautifully cut for a Pad! Almost too good, to my suspicious self... I personally would invest in the more known lab report, just because of that.

 

[yaygems]

It looks beautifully cut for a Pad! Almost too good, to my suspicious self... I personally would invest in the more known lab report, just because of that.

Yes the cut really stood out to me as well, not wonky with no large windows. Its 8x6.5x4.2mm so a large spread which seems hard to find as well without looking too shallow. The colours look pretty to me but I prefer the lighter more orange based pads.

 

[JackTrick]

Do you happen to have any pictures of it on the hand or in poorer lighting? I tend to like seeing stones like this at their best and at their worst, just so I can fully understand what they'd look like!

 

[lovedogs]

Agreed that you need to see more pics. I think the color is nice but would be curious how it looks on someone's hand when inside vs in sunlight.

 

[lovedogs]

Ps. My guess is that this wouldnt be considered a pad by most reputable labs bc it's much more pink than orange. But that doesnt mean it's bad, just something to recognize

 

[yaygems]

Ps. My guess is that this wouldnt be considered a pad by most reputable labs bc it's much more pink than orange. But that doesnt mean it's bad, just something to recognize

Do you think the price is ok if it's not considered a pad? I'm not 100% set on a pad, it's more when I find a color I like, but of course don't want to pay pad prices.

 

[yaygems]

Agreed that you need to see more pics. I think the color is nice but would be curious how it looks on someone's hand when inside vs in sunlight.

I only have the videos at the moment, maybe I can figure out how to upload them with a link... the more orange pic is indoor lighting apparently.

 

[lovedogs]

Do you think the price is ok if it's not considered a pad? I'm not 100% set on a pad, it's more when I find a color I like, but of course don't want to pay pad prices.

You definitely aren't paying pad prices. A certified Pad from GIA/AGS would cost much more per ct. As long as you like the color, it has a report that's reputable, and you don't *need* the pad label then that's not a problem.

I only have the videos at the moment, maybe I can figure out how to upload them with a link... the more orange pic is indoor lighting apparently.

If you upload the video to youtube (just don't use your full name for the youtube acount and set the video to "unlisted") then you can post the link here.

 

[yaygems]

Ive uploaded the videos on YouTube, hopefully these work

 

[chrono]

That's strong outdoor lighting but on the positive side, it doesn't black out! The indoor is kinda orange brown. Your're ok with that? Price is reasonable if it is an unheated pad. I would opt for the GRS.

 

[Ionysis]

CGL is a perfectly acceptable lab for Ceylon sapphires. You won’t get a GRS or GIA cert buying from a Sri Lankan seller. And that’s fine.

The colour looks nigh on pad to me. Mix of orange and pink (it doesn’t have to be 50/50 of each it can be either pinkish orange or orangish pink - it just has to be without any other modifier such as brown or purple). It’s got a smidge of purple in it IMO in some lights but the saturation is the nice medium pastel. Actually a vibrant colour and strong saturation is not classic pad, although many US buyers seem to want it.

I’d try and haggle it down to under $1500 if you can.

 

[Ionysis]

Btw I know the seller. He is reliable. But his pads move fast. If you want it I’d snap it up now it’ll be gone by tomorrow.

 

[Rfisher]

If you don’t mind it might have that half on/half off ovals are known for
-Don’t mind it’s a color shifter and readily takes on environmental colors (blue sky)
-how different is vendors latitude /light from yours
-Desaturates in some/bright lights
-Not a !pink! stone

I think if you are ok if any of these happen
And if it doesn’t that’s a huge plus
(Assuming returns are not possible/not easy)

Then I think it’s a ‘go’ from me.
I don’t know enough about the lab to comment on that.

 

[lovedogs]

If you like the color I would go for it.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

Not a deal breaker for me, but do you see the feather under the table?

 

[yaygems]

Btw I know the seller. He is reliable. But his pads move fast. If you want it I’d snap it up now it’ll be gone by tomorrow.

That's good to know, so you have purchased from him and the stones have been what they are stated? I am always paranoid of course that it will be a fake stone or heavily treated etc. Someone else has suggested I get an EGL certificate rather than a CGL? But then everyone says a larger gem lab like GRS is the preferred one to trust. If his pads move fast, would I be able to haggle down the price? I haven't haggled before so I feel awkward and not sure how to do it. Should I request the GRS cert?

 

[yaygems]

Not a deal breaker for me, but do you see the feather under the table?

I did not notice that, you have good eyes! In the bright light video I can sort of see it, in the darker video I can't really see it. Should I ask for more videos? I'm just not sure what lighting to ask as he has done outdoors and indoors already.

 

[yaygems]

So do you guys think the bow tie will be really obvious in person? I live in Australia so not sure if that will affect it with the light

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

I did not notice that, you have good eyes! In the bright light video I can sort of see it, in the darker video I can't really see it. Should I ask for more videos? I'm just not sure what lighting to ask as he has done outdoors and indoors already.

I am far from an expert so I have no suggestion about what more to ask for. Like I said, it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me as I like to be able to identify my stones like my children, lol and understandthey are from nature. I just didn't know if it would bother you.

 

[yaygems]

Damn looks like he sold it while I was at work today!! So annoying ☹ I don't feel like I'm brave enough to instantly buy something without asking lots of questions first

 

[peacechick]

Sorry it sold! I think it’s a gorgeous stone. But since it’s sold, I guess it gives you time to think whether a pad’s really for you? No harm also asking the vendor if there’s more rough where this one came from. If there’s rough, you could request for a round or a cushion cut if you like those more.

 

[OreoRosies86]

Sorry you missed out, from what I can see that’s a nicely cut stone and a gorgeous color. Maybe the seller can source something similar?

 

[idola]

This vendor does have very beautiful pads, I've bought from them too (my icon is from them). Something I'd like to note though is that both stones I have from them look a little pinker in person in the vast majority of lighting.

Vender picture:


My indoor lighting picture:


That's not to say that it never looks the color they have it as because it does, it's just that it's usually pretty far on the pink side for me. Just as beautiful, though

I do think that their prices are amazing, and seeing some of the stuff that GRS certifies as pads, I'm fairly certain that they'd agree with CGL in most cases. In any case, they post pads like that all the time so if you stay tuned I'm sure you'll find The One!

 

[yaygems]

Sorry it sold! I think it’s a gorgeous stone. But since it’s sold, I guess it gives you time to think whether a pad’s really for you? No harm also asking the vendor if there’s more rough where this one came from. If there’s rough, you could request for a round or a cushion cut if you like those more.

Thanks, I've been looking for a pad for my future engagement ring for at least 6 months I'd say, maybe even a year. It's not that I want the pad label as such, but I want a sapphire that has a nice blend of orange and pink which basically is a pad. Originally I was looking at getting a peach sapphire but decided I don't suit that kind of tone, and I'm not a fan of straight pink sapphires. Also want an oval as I have a specific design in mind. But yes, I have asked if he has any more. I'm a bit annoyed that he didn't warn me someone else was going to buy it, the only reason I know it sold is because he listed it as sold on the public post. He hasn't since replied to my messages which I'm also disappointed about. At least I have learned a little bit more from each experience and gaining a bit more confidence!

 

[Ionysis]

That’s always how IG sellers sell. They have multiple parties messaging them and the person who says “deal” gets the stone. Maybe IG isn’t the right buying platform for you if you’re risk averse, need a return policy or customer service. You won’t get that with a local IG vendor. What you will get is a great price.

If you need multiple additional pictures and videos in multiple lights and are going to deliberate for days - which is totally fine by the way - then you need a corporate seller. But expect to pay twice the price.

 

[yaygems]

This vendor does have very beautiful pads, I've bought from them too (my icon is from them). Something I'd like to note though is that both stones I have from them look a little pinker in person in the vast majority of lighting.

Vender picture:


My indoor lighting picture:


That's not to say that it never looks the color they have it as because it does, it's just that it's usually pretty far on the pink side for me. Just as beautiful, though

I do think that their prices are amazing, and seeing some of the stuff that GRS certifies as pads, I'm fairly certain that they'd agree with CGL in most cases. In any case, they post pads like that all the time so if you stay tuned I'm sure you'll find The One!

That's interesting to know because I'm not really a fan of very pink sapphires, I'm probably more into orange/salmon tones so hopefully if I do buy one it's not too pink! Have you ever had to return something? Just wondering what he's like with returns.

Also I'm assuming you just got the CGL certificate? Have you ever had a stone checked to see if the cert was correct?

Thanks I'm feeling pretty disappointed just because I have been looking for so long and rarely do I come across one that is a good price, well cut, good size, shape as well as a colour that I like. I think since covid, they're harder than ever to find! such terrible timing to look for a pad! But eventually one will come along that maybe will be nicer, who knows. Just have to take the risk and buy it quickly

 

[yaygems]

That’s always how IG sellers sell. They have multiple parties messaging them and the person who says “deal” gets the stone. Maybe IG isn’t the right buying platform for you if you’re risk averse, need a return policy or customer service. You won’t get that with a local IG vendor. What you will get is a great price.

If you need multiple additional pictures and videos in multiple lights and are going to deliberate for days - which is totally fine by the way - then you need a corporate seller. But expect to pay twice the price.

I get where you're coming from but this isn't the first IG seller I have talked to, a few have been quite helpful and the last one I talked to warned me he had another interested buyer, sent me plenty of pics and also said he would let me know when he had another stone that was what I was looking for. I do understand they have multiple people messaging them but I don't see why they can't still provide good customer service if they want return customers.

Also, I don't know many people who have thousands of dollars to just throw at stones and hope it's nice? If it was $100 sure, but this is much more than that. I would always want pics in different light and some kind of return policy. I don't expect the same level of benefits as a corporate seller, but I don't think it's fair to not expect any kind of reassurance about a stone I'm purchasing. In saying that, every time I post about stones, people always advise me to get multiple pics and proper certs etc so it's conflicting information at times I guess.

Anyway, know I need to make quicker decisions which will probably come with time and confidence when I learn what to look out for in a good stone and good pricing so that when I see a stone that has potential, I won't need to ask for advice. Thanks for the tips so far!

Totally off topic as well, but how do you haggle the price lower?

 

[idola]

That's interesting to know because I'm not really a fan of very pink sapphires, I'm probably more into orange/salmon tones so hopefully if I do buy one it's not too pink! Have you ever had to return something? Just wondering what he's like with returns.

Also I'm assuming you just got the CGL certificate? Have you ever had a stone checked to see if the cert was correct?

Thanks I'm feeling pretty disappointed just because I have been looking for so long and rarely do I come across one that is a good price, well cut, good size, shape as well as a colour that I like. I think since covid, they're harder than ever to find! such terrible timing to look for a pad! But eventually one will come along that maybe will be nicer, who knows. Just have to take the risk and buy it quickly

I have not asked about returns and haven't personally doublechecked the certs, but if you search the seller name on here you'll find a thread where a few people say they have doublechecked on CGL and found that they matched what GIA says. I do think that CGL is easy to get the pad label with, but so is GRS; I mean, have you seen the certified pad sections on vendor sites with lots of pads?



I'm pretty sure mine would qualify as a pad to GRS even with its slight orange on lots of pink. So imo worrying about the pad label is more a matter of which lab to send it to than what color the stone is.

Anyway, if you're extremely set on a certain shade of pad, then I think you might have to sacrifice some cash for a good return policy tbh. It's an important ring. Best love really love your stone, no matter what that may mean for you. It sounds like you know the things you can sacrifice and the things you don't want to give up, so I'm sure that you'll be able to find the perfect stone if you keep at it.

 

[ShinyPink]

I have a gorgeous certified pad that's with CvB right now. It's on the lighter side, and Caysie said it was the perfect pad color. I prefer the subtle colors. I had DesertRose_Gems on Insta source it for me last year. Her prices are excellent and she's super easy to work with! I have about 20 stones from her, most recently an emerald/diamond combo. She's going to her vendor this weekend, if you want to ask her to look for you. Can't hurt.