The Sapphire headache

[stracci2000]

Today I wasn't feeling too good.
My husband asked me what was wrong. I said "I have a sapphire headache!"
I'm sure many of you have had
one, too! Brought on by eyestrain from spending too much time looking at sapphires through the loupe.
Yesterday, I stopped at my local gem and mineral shop to check out the sapphires. I found this awesome 1.22 ct. beauty. Unheated!! The cut and color swept me off my feet, and I took her home.

Under the 20 power loupe I could see veils of gorgeous, uninterrupted silk lines, intersecting at 60 degrees, and subtle fingerprint inclusions.


But what was that whitish spot near the girdle that I didn't notice in the store? You can see it on the right edge at the girdle.
I hoped it was an inclusion. But, no, it was a fracture! It was catching the light, and appeared silvery white. After a long time scrutinizing this stone, and willing the shiny fracture to miraculously vanish, I admitted defeat. It was indeed at fracture that breaks the surface. I could see super tiny crack lines on the top facets, and also on the pavilion. I was so disappointed. I should have gotten a better photo of that fracture. It was concave and curved, like chipped glass.
So I took her back.
And I came home with this, my second choice. It is 1.33 ct. and is heated.





I have to inspect my gems till I'm satisfied that I have seen every tiny detail. Until my eyes are sore and dry. OCD tendencies, I know!
My head still hurts a little!

 

[ShinyPink]

So sorry about the first one! Very disappointing, but the "winner" is beautiful!

 

[stracci2000]

So sorry about the first one! Very disappointing, but the "winner" is beautiful!

I was so thrilled with it at first! So much that I somehow overlooked that silvery spot. But when I am louping a stone, with the salesperson watching, I tend to get nervous. And somehow I missed that glaring fracture.
They have so many stones at this shop. And they are all in those little gem jars, mashed up against that foam backing. So it is hard to see the true color, unless you put the stone in your hand. And I want to look at them all! I think they all inwardly groan when they see me coming in the door!
Cause then I monopolize the SA's time, while they pull out gem jar after gem jar for me to inspect.

 

[LilAlex]

Would help if it wasn't a "buyer beware" environment.

"If you can't find it, there is no crack!"

 

[stracci2000]

Would help if it wasn't a "buyer beware" environment.

"If you can't find it, there is no crack!"

Right! Buying sapphires is like navigating a minefield.

 

[LilAlex]

^ I just mean that some vendors are more up front than others about structural defects. I don't need someone to tell me if a stone is paler than ideal -- but if there's a feather on the girdle and that's secretly why the stone seems affordable...

 

[stracci2000]

^ I just mean that some vendors are more up front than others about structural defects. I don't need someone to tell me if a stone is paler than ideal -- but if there's a feather on the girdle and that's secretly why the stone seems affordable...

I think jewelers are like this in general. They won't point out a problem or concern and risk losing a sale.

 

[Mreader]

@stracci2000 the 2nd one you bought is beautiful and what a marvelous color!! Do you think the SA knew about the fracture in the first?

 

[Catmom]

I'm so sorry about the first one but the second one is beautiful too!

 

[nutellakitty]

Can you show me where the fracture is? I tought the first piece is very nicely cut and beautiful!

 

[stracci2000]

@stracci2000 the 2nd one you bought is beautiful and what a marvelous color!! Do you think the SA knew about the fracture in the first?

No, she didn't know.
This shop must have over 3000 sapphires of every color and price point. It is run by a local family, and has been in the same location since the 1960's.
The family goes to Tucson every year and some of the inventory has got to be over 20 years old. And the prices are old, too!

 

[stracci2000]

Can you show me where the fracture is? I tought the first piece is very nicely cut and beautiful!

Yes, it was awesome. Till I looked closer.
I didn't take a close up photo of the fracture. Just because I was distraught over it!
The fracture can be seen on the right near the girdle in the first photo. It looks like a whitish spot, but was a silvery reflective curve, like the chip on the rim of a drinking glass.
I don't have a better photo, since I returned it.

The fracture was disturbing, because I was afraid that if I mounted it into a ring (I make my own jewelry) and I were to press a prong near it, the chunk would fall out. Or even if I set it successfully, the chunk might cleave off if the ring were struck just right. I just didn't want to chance it.
I even considered putting it into a pendant, but I was still afraid of pressure from a prong.

I guess if I reconsider, I can still go back to get it. I'm sure it will be there. It's probably been there for 10 years already anyway!

 

[ShinyPink]

Is this the store you shared photos with us earlier showing gems all over the place?! I need to have a road trip there, too!

 

[lovedogs]

Is this store in SoCal??? Lol I want to go there!

 

[stracci2000]

Is this the store you shared photos with us earlier showing gems all over the place?! I need to have a road trip there, too!

Is this store in SoCal??? Lol I want to go there!

Yes, that's the place! It is in New Mexico.
All those revolving cases are full of gems.


This is just a small sampling, with varying prices.
Not all is PS worthy, of course.

 

[lovedogs]

I see a road trip to NM in my future!

 

[bright&shiny]

Maybe that’s what heaven looks like…. Lol JK

 

[stracci2000]

Maybe that’s what heaven looks like…. Lol JK

 

[Arcadian]

I don't normally have a reason to go to NM but you just gave me one.