small sapphire?

[glitterata]

What should I expect to pay for a ~ 4.5 mm blue sapphire of nice quality?

What should I look for?

Is there a vendor you''d particularly recommend?

This would be the center stone for a 3-stone ring. I have two .29 ct diamonds for the sides, and I have the setting, a vintage filigree setting.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/31/2006 3:13:08 PM
Author:glitterata


What should I expect to pay for a ~ 4.5 mm blue sapphire of nice quality?

A couple hundred? give or take...
If you trully insist, 5mm sapphires (between half and one carat) may get around 1k/ct. I can't imagine what to ask above that.



What should I look for?

Bright blue color ... and for the small size great cut and clarity shouldn't be tall order either. Treatment? as you like it. I would take the seller's word for that part.



Is there a vendor you'd particularly recommend?

In that size Australian sapphire may look terrific - the stones are not big enough to get dark, and fine saturation w/o treatment is available. Thinking of a seller who routinely does small precision cut rounds - how about this shop. Anyway, I'd bet that any jewelry shop can provide such a stone - who will set it? Asking the same jeweler for the sapphire should make thins easier.


This would be the center stone for a 3-stone ring. I have two .29 ct diamonds for the sides, and I have the setting, a vintage filigree setting.

My 2c

 

[movie zombie]

i can vouch for the shop ana linked you to re australian sapphire. you are buying from the miner when you buy from them. i have not bought their sapphire but they did include a ''sapphire tooth'' in a shipment of other things i ordered from them and i was impressed enough with said ''tooth'' to say i''d buy a small sapphire from them.

ana, thanks for the following, "In that size Australian sapphire may look terrific - the stones are not big enough to get dark, and fine saturation w/o treatment is available." this is indeed good information to have as i have read that aussie sapphire in larger sizes is not as desireable as from other places.

movie zombie

 

[stermag]

Glitterata,

I just bought a sapphire from the Natural Sapphire Company and they were great to work with. I'm looking forward to receiving it. I've taken a quick look through their inventory and I think these three are probably my favorite (in the size you're looking for).

These are items B812, B829, and B725 respectively. All between 4.5mm and 5mm in diameter, all untreated, I believe. None of them have quite the perfect color which I've come to adore, but at the moment I can't seem to find anything better (at least from that vendor). They're all ~500USD.

As far as color, and because I'm so terrible at describing shades and hues, I'll just post an example. I really love the richness of this stone, although I realize it is largely a matter of taste.

ETA: I should add, I'm far from an expert on the subject, but I love looking at these darn things and thought I'd poke around for you.

 

[stermag]

I, too, looked at AJS Gems in search of a sapphire. I''m not sure if it''s the method by which they photograph their stones but all of their rounds seem overly dark to me.

 

[valeria101]

AJS... well, the prices seem to confirm that there's no fine blue sapphire there in this size range.

At NSC, the hoard of little fine blue rounds seems to have migrated to the list of stud earrings.


I am not sure how much optimization is meaningful for 4.5mm although the meaning can outweigh the actual object and what not. Pictures are pretty good at making a mountain out of anything.

However... so what if I'd need a loupe to admire this bit as the glam photos show it! Cute portrait, no?

Stock # B805

Almost wanting to forget that this is no larger than a seed, probably darker than this and twice the cost I'd want to hear about for such a thing.

 

[stermag]

Ana, that one did catch my eye, as well... although I assumed Glitterata was searching for a round. Bad assumption, I suppose... a nice cushion would make a fine center, no doubt.

 

[glitterata]

Thank you, ladies! (Movie zombie, you''re a lady, right? If not, thank you, ladies & gent.)

Indeed, I''m looking for a round. I''ll post a picture of the setting soon--it''s nighttime here now.

I''m in no hurry with this, I can wait until I see the right color.

 

[colorchange]

I would look for something quitye lighter than those shown, such do not look very well so small, I feel.