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Vintage sapphire ring - to buy or not to buy?

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fluffboll

Rough_Rock
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Nov 5, 2016
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Hi!
I have my eyes on a vintage ring with a light blue sapphire (uncerted), 10x7.5 mm with a VERY wonky cut. The setting is one of the most beautiful I have seen, EVER. I have wanted a blue sapphire ring for quite some time and can't get this particular ring out of my head. It is being sold at an auction next week, and I figure that the final price could be in the region of 1500-2000 USD. My question is: would you buy a ring with such an imperfect cut and leave it as is, would you have it recut, or would you simply pass on the ring altogether? I have no prior experience with vintage jewellery and can't figure out how much "imperfection" is acceptable with an older piece. Safirring 1.jpg Safirring 2.jpg Thoughts?
 
Hi! If you love the piece, I would get it.
My opinion on colored gemstones is that it is all about the color and what you love.

It should not be about math and cutting. I know there are precision cuts, but to me, that is more important in diamonds. I happen to love the color and glow you get from native cut stones vs the precision cut stones that try to make a colored gemstone all about facets.

On the color, I prefer my sapphires a bit deeper blue, but again, preference is subjective. I see nothing wrong with the cut, the stone is very pretty.

And for a 10x7.5, that is a good price.
The setting is lovely, and the ring overall to me looks great.

This is an antique piece as you said. Let it shine as an antique and don’t recut it. I would get it if you love it.

Hope this helps. Good luck!
 
If you are in love with the setting and the price is appealing to you for just the setting get it and then find the perfect sapphire at your leisure to fit into the setting. It is a lovely setting I agree.:love:
I mean the sapphire is probably not original to the setting anyway. If it was I might be hesitant to remove it though as I like to keep antique pieces intact. Do you know the age of the ring? Is it vintage or antique?
 
I would leave it as is. The ring is lovely.
 
@Miki Moto: I love love love the setting, but wouldn't mind if the colour was a just a little bit more saturated. It's no deal breaker though - I prefer coloured stones with light to medium saturation.
@missy: I don't know its age, but I would guess it is a vintage ring as it is made of white gold, not platinum. What makes you think that the stone is not original to the setting?
@LisaRN: Yes, it's pretty, isn't it? The ring in your avatar is a beauty as well!
 
If you love it and can't get it out of your mind, go for it!! I've passed on certain things that I felt like I loved due to not knowing if it was a good investment, good cut, etc. And I have regretted it!
 
I rather like it, and if it speaks to you I would get it.

I think the wonkiness is part of the charm really. It might be hard to find another stone to fit in anyways so I’d be inclined to keep it as is and enjoy it.

Have you seen it in person or just the auction pictures?
 
@sapphiremomma: I have looked at sooo many ring in this style, but this is the first one that makes my heart beat faster!
@leukolenos: I haven't seen it in person, but if buy it and don't love it, I can return it within 14 days of purchase. I may lose the commission fee (22% on top of the price), will have to ask the auction house about that.
 
I'm sorry if this was mentioned above, because I did not read all the posts, but the setting might be destroyed if you take the stone out. It has a very fine bezel work, which may be difficult to re-create, and very difficult to find a new stone for, once it's pried out of there.

Personally, I actually like the sapphire in there because it does look old, and I like the chunky facets, which remind me of old mine cut diamonds. I think it has a lot of character, and I also like the tone of the sapphire. It's not the most saturated sapphire, but it does have character, and it will sparkle. Since it probably sits low to the finger, and it is bezeled, the window will not be as pronounced looking on your finger.
 
I think it looks lovely and right out of the exhibition of Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London. The sapphire looks in-keeping with the age of the design. However, most gemstones tend to look more saturated in photos than IRL, so that's also something to reckon with, colour-wise, whether if you're fine with a potentially lighter coloured stone.

All the best, whichever you decide.
 
TL is right- you’d probably lose the setting if you tried to remove the stone.

I would keep it as is. I do really like it- it’s a lovely ring. Let us know if you get it!
 
I think it has a gentle romanticism with the watery sapphire. I think it’s beautiful, and most notably, unique and individual. The cutting and color truly add to the spirit of the stone. It reminds me of so many beautiful things. When you described it in your post, I felt true enthusiasm and love for it, which is important. The most inspiring jewelry pieces are more than the sum of the parts. Just as this ring is so much more beautiful than the sapphire with a native cut.
 
FYI: My eye was drawn to the 12 o'clock stone's milgrain which looks like it was disrupted? Do you have any history whether the setting was adjusted? The other directions all look smoother than that one.....maybe intact? I like the setting, but that area looks disrupted and would cause me to ask a few more questions about it..............perhaps asking for photo's from the inside of the ring would help?
 
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Thanks everyone for your input!
@Bluegemz: I agree that the ring is so much more than the sum of it parts. I was struck by its romanticism, which is a first for me when it comes to jewellery.
@TL & @leukolenos: I don't think I would change anything - it's too risky, and it's a charming ring despite its flaws.
11041637_fullsize.jpg
@digdeep: Yes, I have noticed the damage and will ask for an assessment - to me it doesn't look like it would compromise the security of the setting, but if that is the case I hope that it could be rehabbed as it's just a small part. Here's is a picture of the inside of the ring, but it doesn't really show any disruption.
@Burmesedaze: That's good to know about the stone potentially being even lighter IRL.
If I do get it, I'll post plenty of pictures!
 
I think it's absolutely stunning and unique! It's a little wonky, just like us!
 
@MrsKMB: Yes! The wonkiness matches my physical appearance perfectly-maybe that's the reason I'm so enamoured of it!
 
No surprises~ enjoy!!
 
It is a beautiful setting. If it were me, I would take it to an expert to see about the issues at 12 o’clock and ask about replacing the stone. If I could afford a new stone and if it wouldn’t damage the setting I would get a new stone. Those are two big “ifs”. If not, I would wear it as is because it is lovely.
 
After reading your thoughts my vote has changed to keep the ring intact as is.

fluffboll said:
I agree that the ring is so much more than the sum of it parts. I was struck by its romanticism, which is a first for me when it comes to jewellery.
it's a charming ring despite its flaws.
Click to expand...

Keep it as it and enjoy! It's a beautiful ring. Romantic and charming and just lovely.:love:
 
I would only buy if you like enough as it is, as an entire piece. Too risky to buy only for setting.
 
I think it is beautiful and would go for it as it is and see you you feel with it on your hand. The cut will be way less noticeable on your finger than the backlit photo.
 
I find this to be a gorgeous piece as is with everything. Great workmanship, very unique and statement piece. I love that sapphire, the cut too wonky or not charming with its romantic color, lovely chunkiness. See absolutely nothing wrong with it. Of course go for it and do not disrupt an antique piece. The only thing you may want to do is to cert the sapphire, probably untreated. Sometimes there are great finds at auctions and at great prices to boot. I also love the excitement of an auction.
 
Good luck, I think the milgrain will be fixable. My ring had a section of milgrain missing and it was repaired for me (FOC when I had it sized down)
 
It looks amazing on your finger!!!! Congrats
 
it does look beautiful! I love the fine filigree work, just beautiful, and that is a substantial sapphire. Hope you enjoy it.
 
WOW!!!!:love:
 
It's so much prettier on your hand than in the vendor photos! Yay!!
 
She's gorgeous and looks perfectly stunning on your hand. :dance:
 
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