Thoughts on this sapphire?

[idola]

Lately I've been searching for the stone to make my dream ring with.

Sapphires have always been my favorite and I love peachy colors, but quickly learned that this makes a very expensive rock!

I really want either a round, oval, or a pear, and my budget is $1.5k max. Smaller is generally preferred as my finger is a 3.5. I'm looking to do a rose gold filigree ring, which I know isn't especially popular and kind of out of fashion, but I've wanted for a few years now. So I've been looking at stones that fit these specs, and today this one caught my eye:





0.86 cts peachy sapphire for $1.4k. No treatment, "light pink" sapphire according to AIGS. Lightly included. I loove the effect of a stone with both lightly colored and strongly colored parts, so I'm finding that I really like the odd effect that a pear can sometimes give a gem.

I'm wondering a couple things:

1. Is this price absolutely obscene, or would you say that it's fair, given that the dealer is reputable and there's a return policy?
2. Do you think this gem would disappear under rose gold?
3. Anyone happen to know any better options out there? I do like this gem a lot, but I've not seen it irl and haven't scoured the entire internet, so I'm open to input from the experts here who certainly are more familiar with these things than I am. :>

 

[dk168]

Lately I've been searching for the stone to make my dream ring with.

Sapphires have always been my favorite and I love peachy colors, but quickly learned that this makes a very expensive rock!

I really want either a round, oval, or a pear, and my budget is $1.5k max. Smaller is generally preferred as my finger is a 3.5. I'm looking to do a rose gold filigree ring, which I know isn't especially popular and kind of out of fashion, but I've wanted for a few years now. So I've been looking at stones that fit these specs, and today this one caught my eye:





0.86 cts peachy sapphire for $1.4k. No treatment, "light pink" sapphire according to AIGS. Lightly included. I loove the effect of a stone with both lightly colored and strongly colored parts, so I'm finding that I really like the odd effect that a pear can sometimes give a gem.

I'm wondering a couple things:

1. Is this price absolutely obscene, or would you say that it's fair, given that the dealer is reputable and there's a return policy?
2. Do you think this gem would disappear under rose gold?
3. Anyone happen to know any better options out there? I do like this gem a lot, but I've not seen it irl and haven't scoured the entire internet, so I'm open to input from the experts here who certainly are more familiar with these things than I am. :>

I thought I recognised the vendor from the photos.

I would contact the vendor to check the size of the stone first, as the listing is not consistent - is it 1.06ct as stated in the title, or 0.86ct under the detailed description?

Not an expert with regard to pricing, sorry!

However, I used to subscribe to this vendor's newsletter, and stopped as I found his pricing on the high side.

Personal opinion, preferences and all that.

DK

 

[LD]

This is an interesting one because it's a very specific look. There is quite a lot of concentration of pink at the tip rather than it being spread throughout the stone - how do you feel about that? It will either annoy you or you'll love the uniqueness! I think it may be slightly overpriced if I'm honest by around $400-500 - that's based on looking at sapphires elsewhere recently. However, if there's a good returns policy it may be worth getting for a look.

In terms of rose gold - this is again a different one. Morganite and Kunzite both look lovely in rose gold so my initial reaction is yes BUT you don't want to overwhelm the softer peach tones.

Sorry I'm not much help at all am I?

 

[Rfisher]

As to regarding price - you can always mention his monthly (30%?) discounts he offers out and see if any are still available, or he’ll maybe make one available?

Edited to add
I had no hassles at all with his return policy. Smooth transaction. I’m in USA.

 

[Ceilimom]

Lately I've been searching for the stone to make my dream ring with.

Sapphires have always been my favorite and I love peachy colors, but quickly learned that this makes a very expensive rock!

I really want either a round, oval, or a pear, and my budget is $1.5k max. Smaller is generally preferred as my finger is a 3.5. I'm looking to do a rose gold filigree ring, which I know isn't especially popular and kind of out of fashion, but I've wanted for a few years now. So I've been looking at stones that fit these specs, and today this one caught my eye:





0.86 cts peachy sapphire for $1.4k. No treatment, "light pink" sapphire according to AIGS. Lightly included. I loove the effect of a stone with both lightly colored and strongly colored parts, so I'm finding that I really like the odd effect that a pear can sometimes give a gem.

I'm wondering a couple things:

1. Is this price absolutely obscene, or would you say that it's fair, given that the dealer is reputable and there's a return policy?
2. Do you think this gem would disappear under rose gold?
3. Anyone happen to know any better options out there? I do like this gem a lot, but I've not seen it irl and haven't scoured the entire internet, so I'm open to input from the experts here who certainly are more familiar with these things than I am. :>

Idola I am looking for a sapphire too, could you direct me to the vendor you are busy. I'd like a pretty cornflower colored stone, a bit larger than your choice. Thanks
Ceilimom

 

[Ceilimom]

Idola I am looking for a sapphire too, could you direct me to the vendor you are busy. I'd like a pretty cornflower colored stone, a bit larger than your choice. Thanks
Ceilimom

The vendor you are working with- Auto correct is a real pain

 

[idola]

Idola I am looking for a sapphire too, could you direct me to the vendor you are busy. I'd like a pretty cornflower colored stone, a bit larger than your choice. Thanks
Ceilimom

I've been looking at wildfishgems. They have a number of blue sapphires. I've never bought from them, but they're on the reputable sellers list on the front page and accept returns. Mastercutgems is also reputable and is having a sale right now. Maybe check there too.

 

[idola]

I thought I recognised the vendor from the photos.

I would contact the vendor to check the size of the stone first, as the listing is not consistent - is it 1.06ct as stated in the title, or 0.86ct under the detailed description?

Not an expert with regard to pricing, sorry!

However, I used to subscribe to this vendor's newsletter, and stopped as I found his pricing on the high side.

Personal opinion, preferences and all that.

DK

Sounds like the consensus is that the price is a little high. I assumed that the weight was 0.86 as stated on the report, but messaged for clarification anyway. Thank you!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I love the idea of your ring
i say yes to the rose gold
rose gold does come in a lot of different shades (alloys ?)- maybe its a matter of choosing the right shade to complement and not overwelm what ever stone you end up getting

sorry i have no idea about pricing
good luck and keep us posted

 

[chrono]

Check rose gold against your skin too. I love rose gold but it disappears on my skin.

 

[Ceilimom]

I've been looking at wildfishgems. They have a number of blue sapphires. I've never bought from them, but they're on the reputable sellers list on the front page and accept returns. Mastercutgems is also reputable and is having a sale right now. Maybe check there too.

Check out GEMFIX they have some Padparadscha pear sapphires

 

[MillieLou]

Ask him if there is scope for a discount - there almost certainly will be. He offered me 30% off a nice blue sapphire straight up, ending up at almost 50% off the list price when I told him it was still over budget (it was - I wasn't trying to negotiate!) I guess it will depend on the stone and how readily he could sell it to someone else, but it definitely seems that his model is "list high and then negotiate".

 

[Nick_G]

Have you considered spinel? The peach/padparadscha-type colours seem to be more abundant in this mineral than corundum, and it should be cheaper. A cut spinel should also have more sparkle than a sapphire.

 

[idola]

Check out GEMFIX they have some Padparadscha pear sapphires

I did and wow! This sapphire is stunning. It's out of my budget by a pretty significant amount but maybe what I really need to be doing here is saving a little more first for the stone of my dreams. I don't want to settle when it's so much money either way. Do you happen to know if gemfix ever has sales/promotions?

 

[idola]

Have you considered spinel? The peach/padparadscha-type colours seem to be more abundant in this mineral than corundum, and it should be cheaper. A cut spinel should also have more sparkle than a sapphire.

I've thought of spinel if all else fails but sapphires hold a special place in my heart - they're not my birthstone, but they were my grandma's favorite so all the gems I ever owned as a kid were sapphires and I've grown very fond of them. Plus every time I look at spinels I become captivated by the pretty lavender ones, so maybe a nice lavender one will be my spinel quest.

 

[idola]

I think I'm going to pass on this sapphire for now. It's very pretty, but I did clarify the size and it's definitely 0.86 ct. Although it's very beatiful, I started to think I might regret going small to that extent, especially for the price. Since I want this to be THE ring for me, maybe budgeting a little more and buying when I have enough to be certain that I can nab my ultimate ideal gem is better?

 

[Ceilimom]

I did and wow! This sapphire is stunning. It's out of my budget by a pretty significant amount but maybe what I really need to be doing here is saving a little more first for the stone of my dreams. I don't want to settle when it's so much money either way. Do you happen to know if gemfix ever has sales/promotions?

It is gorgeous. Possibly it has a bit smaller version.

 

[Ceilimom]

I did and wow! This sapphire is stunning. It's out of my budget by a pretty significant amount but maybe what I really need to be doing here is saving a little more first for the stone of my dreams. I don't want to settle when it's so much money either way. Do you happen to know if gemfix ever has sales/promotions?

You know I don't know, can't hurt to ask. There were a few pears that were a bit smaller, less in cost.

 

[LD]

I've been thinking about the original pear you linked to. In the seller's description he mentions that he thought it might be classified as a Pad. I wonder if that's how he priced it and hasn't changed it now it's come back without that designation? Just a thought!

 

[kimberlyqkim]

Have you considered spinel? The peach/padparadscha-type colours seem to be more abundant in this mineral than corundum, and it should be cheaper. A cut spinel should also have more sparkle than a sapphire.

Whats a good vendor website for a peachy/pad colored spinel? Thanks!

 

[Nick_G]

Whats a good vendor website for a peachy/pad colored spinel? Thanks!

Sorry. I'll leave that to someone here with more knowledge than me. I buy rough crystals and mineral specimens rather than cut stones.

 

[idola]

You know I don't know, can't hurt to ask. There were a few pears that were a bit smaller, less in cost.

Yes I saw! But color-wise, none of the other pears popped quite like this one for me. I love the saturated pink tips and peachy body. The 1.13 ct pink is also very nice. I love the cut but color wise I like the first one I posted much better. Decisions decisions!

 

[LilAlex]

Hard to gauge price -- a tiny difference in tone or saturation or windowing or inclusions would have a huge impact on price/ct.

 

[idola]

Not to bring my thread back from the dead, but I have some sapphires in hand now and was curious on everyone's opinions on the details of what exactly I should do now.

Basically, I bought one for this project because it was so lovely and affordable, but then one that I was so, so in love with came along and I bought that one too and ended up with two lovely pink sapphires.

Here the two of them are:


I know, I know, they are more saturated than what I was originally looking for. However, I had a look at some other gems and did end up deciding that the very pastel, peachy rocks clashed with my skin tone horribly, so I've been gravitating pinker. Size wise, the light one is 1.01 cts and the dark one is 1.06. Imo, they are the ideal size on my small fingers.

It's hard to see in my pictures, but the sparkle on the lighter one is very, very strong, while the darker one is silkier. Another picture for color comparison, feat the rest of my pear party:



Anyway, onto my questions.

1. I do have my heart set on using the darker one for my dream ring. Everyone (my friends, jeweler, even my mom lol) all like the lighter pink one more for its unreal sparkle though, and I agree that it's a very lovely stone. I just don't know what to do with it now! The lavender spinels are spoken for project-wise, but the aquamarines are not and I still haven't decided if I should do a pendant or a ring or what.

2. I really love rose gold, but when I took it to the jeweler, she seemed to think that white gold was the best option for it. The plan is a diamond halo, for reference. Does anyone have a pink gem and rose gold ring? If so, how do you like it?

3. They both have CGL certificates only. I trust CGL to tell me if they are heated or unheated, and both came back as unheated. Do you think it's worthwhile to get them certified elsewhere prior to setting?

Thanks for all the input so far!

 

[peacechick]

Wow, the darker one is beautifully cut and the color is amazing! I love it. Great choice! The lighter one seems to be windowed, or is it only a tilt window? Do you see through it when you put it between your fingers?

I think any gold would go with the stone you chose. Although I see what the jeweller is thinking as white makes the color pop more while rose gold could make it more monotone? Alternatively, mix metals and have a white gold halo with a rose gold band?

I vote to make the lighter one a pendant! If it sparkles, it will catch the light well, especially if it has movement.

 

[idola]

Wow, the darker one is beautifully cut and the color is amazing! I love it. Great choice! The lighter one seems to be windowed, or is it only a tilt window? Do you see through it when you put it between your fingers?

I think any gold would go with the stone you chose. Although I see what the jeweller is thinking as white makes the color pop more while rose gold could make it more monotone? Alternatively, mix metals and have a white gold halo with a rose gold band?

I vote to make the lighter one a pendant! If it sparkles, it will catch the light well, especially if it has movement.

The lighter one is indeed very windowed. The darker one has a tilt window too, but nowhere near as significant as the all-angles window on the light one. Still, it's very beautiful.

Light one's windows and sparkle:



I never even thought about white gold for the halo, that's a great idea! Best of both worlds.

 

[lovedogs]

I adore the darker one. Its wonderful. Totally agree that mixed metal would work best here. White gold for the halo and prongs (for the contrast) and rose gold for the shank of the ring.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

Yay, congrats on finding not one, but 2 beautiful stones you love! Never feel bad for updating an old thread with gorgeousness like this! P.S. the darker one is my favorite shade of Pad. I so wish I didn't feel the need to have at least 3 cts so will have to mortgage the kids to get one, lol

 

[LilAlex]

This sort of thing happens .

I like the tone and color of the darker one much more. I obviously can not see movement and light return, etc., in a static image so take this with a grain of salt.

I don't think it matters what your friends and family think -- this is not a Honda vs. Toyota question that could (maybe) be answered objectively. Color is king in colored stones. Which one would you rather look at a hundred times a day?

For me, sparkle gets old (not a huge fan of colorless diamonds) but color changes in every light...

 

[T L]

I adore the darker one. Its wonderful. Totally agree that mixed metal would work best here. White gold for the halo and prongs (for the contrast) and rose gold for the shank of the ring.

Don’t discount yellow gold either. I am not a yellow gold person, but I just set a pale pink spinel in yellow gold, and oh my!! It popped!