Thinking about this Sapphire from R. W. Wise

[5starclown]

Hi PSers,

Would love your thoughts on these stones! By and large, I think Wise's stone always look fantastic (though his pricing is always painful). That said, I've resigned myself to the fact that I really want a traditionally beautiful "royal blue" stone and will have to pay appropriately - particularly given the "State of the Marketplace" that Roger Dery posted recently. And honestly, not sure if his pricing is that different than Wildfish (i.e. http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10883/16303) or some of the other

Anyhow, I was hoping you might provide some guidance on these two stones (and any thoughts on R. W. Wise!):

http://rwwise.com/products/id|1877

http://rwwise.com/products/id|1669

My initial thoughts are that both look fairly fantastic, given the limited pictures - good color, no windows, not much in the way of green coloring, windows, or extinctions. The lighting is obviously very controlled in these shots - if I pursue them further, I plan on asking for more photos/getting them sent over to view further. The heated stone isn't certified, but they're happy to test it. Both stones in the $7-9K range (o_0)

I'm leaning towards the square cushion (my ideal shape) despite the lack of on-hand cert., but if I've learned anything in this process, it is to be flexible

I've been looking for the ideal stone for a while now - coming on six months. Between these and a couple other great leads from the sticky list, I'm hoping I can present my girlfriend with something sparkly soon!

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[GliderPoss]

I like the cushion too! Maybe a touch more velvety electric blue... Can't put my finger on it but just prefer it. Both are lovely - look forward too seeing the results!

 

[corundum_conundrum]

I think the round looks killer in R's video, but awfully awfully dark in the GRS memo picture and lacking in brilliance in the stills. Have you checked out the picture in the GRS memo? That would certainly be something to ask R. about--how dark the round goes in low light.

If I had your budget, I would be asking about this stone:




found on gemfix.com

 

[marymm]

To me, both of the R.W. Wise sapphires look more vivid in the photos, and much less so in the videos... maybe he could provide you with additional pics of both stones, including hand shots out in natural light?

And, just have to throw this out there - I adore this sapphire! - it is a pear but it seems to be a gorgeous vivid royal blue both in pic and video - and fyi: I haven't bought from Moriarty yet but I believe a few other PSers have...

http://www.moregems.com/loose_cut_gemstones/sapphire-2-56-carat.html

 

[chrono]

The Wildfish sapphire is quite nice but very expensive for the colour and faces up small due to the depth.
The RW cushion sapphire looks very dark and grayish in the video.
The RW round looks nicer in the video but off-round, almost slightly roval-ish. Oddly, it looks not as nice in the lab memo.

How about these?
http://www.palagems.com/php/db_search.php?action=gemdetail&inventory_number=16680
http://precisiongem.com/Gemstones/rapidcart/sapphire.html Item 1417
If your budget is close to $10k, I would contact Jeff White for a precision cut fine blue sapphire.
http://www.whitesgems.com/gallery/SAP024.htm

 

[movie zombie]

OMG, jump on that precision gem sapphire! if you haven't already!

 

[5starclown]

Thanks All! Really appreciate the advice!

@ corundum_conundrum: That is a lovely stone! Will definitely have to look into it

@ marymm thanks for the tip re: moregems! It looks like they have a lot of fun stuff

@ Chromo - as always, thank you for your insight! The precision gem is beautiful, but 5 carats might be a little big for the GF - she's a pretty small person. I'll definitely reach out to Jeff White.

 

[movie zombie]

color stone carat does not correspond to diamond carat size.
you'd be surprised how small 5 carats in a color stone can be.
personally, I prefer large stones as I like finger coverage. I do not want to see my finger on either side of the stone. but that's my taste and this is not for me.

reach out to as many vendors as you can.
also, call or e-mail RWise: he has lots in his vault that is not on the website. he may actually have something else of interest.

unfortunately, blue sapphire such as you are looking for is extremely popular and going up in price probably as I write this.

 

[5starclown]

Good to know - thanks @movie zombie! I'll definitely take another look at the 5 carat. Agreed re: the limited availability. It has been a long road so far, but it'll definitely be worth it

 

[GregS]

Some great suggestions... That Gemfix Sapphire is stunning for being unheated!

 

[SB621]

Jeff has some sapphire rough now. For me I would pay the $$$ and get a precision cut by him.

 

[chrono]

Gene's sapphire is 10 x 8 mm if you are wondering about the size.

SB, thanks for the update on more sapphires available from Jeff White. He is another precision lapidary who cuts amazing stones and picks up beautiful rough, for the most part.

 

[movie zombie]

if we weren't paying the house off by the end of this year, i'd be tempted to take $10k and get gene's sapphire!

Greg, do know that sometimes a stone will get sold out from under you.....especially sapphires. right now they are so very popular and he who hesitates may lose out. its good to do lots of research and also to contact as many vendors as possible.....but you are not the only one doing this and you may have competition for stones that you aren't aware of.

i'm only mentioning this because its happened here before: the searcher finally makes up his/her mind only to find out that the desired stone has been sold and said searcher is very disappointed.

i'm in the "if its meant to be" camp meaning there will always be another stone and perhaps even a better stone.......

and if you end up having jeff [or gene might have rough also] cut a stone for you, you don't have to worry about any of this!

 

[chrono]

and if you end up having jeff [or gene might have rough also] cut a stone for you, you don't have to worry about any of this!

IF either one still have good rough left to cut. MZ is right though that once you reserve a piece of rough / stone for cutting, it will not be undersold to someone else.

 

[movie zombie]

Chrono is right.......and that is one big IF.........

 

[minousbijoux]

if we weren't paying the house off by the end of this year, i'd be tempted to take $10k and get gene's sapphire!

Greg, do know that sometimes a stone will get sold out from under you.....especially sapphires. right now they are so very popular and he who hesitates may lose out. its good to do lots of research and also to contact as many vendors as possible.....but you are not the only one doing this and you may have competition for stones that you aren't aware of.

i'm only mentioning this because its happened here before: the searcher finally makes up his/her mind only to find out that the desired stone has been sold and said searcher is very disappointed.

i'm in the "if its meant to be" camp meaning there will always be another stone and perhaps even a better stone.......

and if you end up having jeff [or gene might have rough also] cut a stone for you, you don't have to worry about any of this!

MoZo: where to start? Your post is so helpful and so full of good advice. I, too, have evolved into the "if its meant to be" camp, and I believe that there is and ebb and flow involved in finding stones. A lot of times I don't feel completely right about a stone transaction, but can't quite put my finger on it and I let it go, only to have the "perfect" stone pop up unexpectedly.

And the house? So jealous! Good for you! We should all be so wise. Congratulations!

 

[5starclown]

So I picked a stone! It is coming in a few days. What steps should I take? I was thinking of doing a series of photos (sunlight, in door, etc.) for all of you, but anything else? Should I get it appraised?

Thanks!!
Nate

 

[epgs]

So I picked a stone! It is coming in a few days. What steps should I take? I was thinking of doing a series of photos (sunlight, in door, etc.) for all of you, but anything else? Should I get it appraised?

Thanks!!
Nate

Wow! I am excited for you! You were definitely looking at some of the higher quality more expensive sapphires. I cant wait to see which one you chose and the photos when you got em!

I usually get a reputable lab report if you didnt get one with the stone. The reason is so no one can dispute what it is. Getting an appraisal is a icky situation ive taken some of my stones in two different appraisers and have gotten huge differences in price even by 10's of thousands. I would read R.Wise.getting an appraisal article its very informative. Having an appraisal done by an appraiser who handles similar stones such as yours is a must. IMHO

 

[minousbijoux]

Where from? RRWise? I agree with the last poster that you will want a lab report preferably from AGL (if not, then from GIA). With that, and the sapphire in hand, an appraiser specializing in colored gemstones can provide you a value for insurance purposes.

I can't wait to see your stone.

 

[SB621]

Get an AGL report for the sapphire. I know my insurance for colored stones that are over a certain dollar thresh hold require AGL or GIA. But because I'm crazy and don't want my insurance to undercut me in any way (I have lost several pieces in the last few years) I would go with the more informative report which is AGL.

 

[5starclown]

Thanks All! Yes, the stone is from RW Wise. He's selling off all of his inventory and retiring, so got a good deal

I'll get the AGL report and start working on photos. I only have my phone's camera, but I'll try to do it justice.

@EPGS: thanks for giving me the heads up on the blog posts! Those were extremely informative.

 

[epgs]

Thanks All! Yes, the stone is from RW Wise. He's selling off all of his inventory and retiring, so got a good deal

I'll get the AGL report and start working on photos. I only have my phone's camera, but I'll try to do it justice.

@EPGS: thanks for giving me the heads up on the blog posts! Those were extremely informative.

No problemo i am happy to share information with everyone and very happy to be part if this forum and community.

 

[minousbijoux]

Thanks All! Yes, the stone is from RW Wise. He's selling off all of his inventory and retiring, so got a good deal

I'll get the AGL report and start working on photos. I only have my phone's camera, but I'll try to do it justice.

@EPGS: thanks for giving me the heads up on the blog posts! Those were extremely informative.

No problemo i am happy to share information with everyone and very happy to be part if this forum and community.

Fstar: can't wait to see it - I'm sure you did, but here's to hoping that you made the sale contingent upon the AGL report - Wise seems to be an honorable man so I'm sure he'd honor it even in the event that the sale was not contingent.

epgs: we are happy to have you here as well - you have brought us some wonderful eye candy.

 

[5starclown]

@Min - yes, but thanks for mentioning it He didn't have a report. Given that I'm in NY right now, it is easy for me to drop it off for the cert. personally. Wise is aligned.

Some pictures! I tried to read up a little bit on how to best capture these shots, because I do not feel I'm doing the stone justice - it has a hell of a sparkle and a really rich blue. Right now I'm limited to my camera phone and I've smudged the silly thing. I' m going to borrow my brother's fancy camera over the weekend. Hoping to have some better shots for you guys next week!

Based on what I've seen on these wonderful forums, I tried to get a combination of natural and artificial shots in hand and on a white background. Its overcast, so haven't had any in direct light yet. Stay tuned!

The stone's statistics:
- 2.47c, 7.1x7.15x6.8mm
- Eye-clean (he calls it eye-flawless, but I don't know what that really means anything other than eye-clean)
- Heated
- Royal blue
- $6,800 It was originally $8,500 but Wise is retiring and has a 20% sale on his inventory - fyi

 

[minousbijoux]

IMO, the key to good pics is to use a neutral background like a mid gray color. If I put my stones on a white background, the color is skewed, as the camera tries to compensate for two such disparate light sources - the white that reflects a lot of light into the camera, and the stone which is dark and absorbs much more light. Some people are successful at this because they can color correct after the fact, or change the camera settings for how it interprets the white, but I've tried this with little success. I would point out that if that really is a white background, then since it does not appear white in the photos, you know its darkening the white and therefore darkening the stone as well.

I also find that I have a wooden table outside that has been exposed to the elements and has that weathered grey. If I take photos on the table in indirect daylight (with the table's umbrella overhead, for example), I can get what to me seem remarkably accurate photos. I thought this might help, fwiw!

As to your stone, I love the intensity of color and will assume it probably is lighter with less extinction than appears in your photos. It looks like it must be close to vivid in saturation and has that much coveted violet modifier. If it is sparklier and lighter than the photos indicate, then it must be a beautiful stone! Congrats and I look forward to more photos!

 

[5starclown]

@Min - thank you for the advice!! I hadn't made the connection to the white in the photos. These backgrounds were about as white as possible (printer paper, etc.), so that explains a lot. The stone is indeed sparklier and lighter than the photos

Stay tuned!!