Vintage sapphire ring - to buy or not to buy?

[LJsapphire]

ooh pretty

 

[kgizo]

I’m so glad everything worked out for you. The ring looks much prettier in your pics.

 

[Acinom]

Your ring is stunning! Both the stone as well as the setting are delicious!

 

[foxinsox]

Wow! That’s beautiful! I’m glad you went for it cos it looks nicer on you than in the vendor pictures.

 

[Cockatiel]

Awesome ring. I love the antique flair.

 

[fluffboll]

Thanks everyone for your compliments and for encouraging me to buy this ring! It ended up costing 3000 USD, so this will be my last jewellery purchase for quite some time. This is my first vintage piece, but not the last The ring is sprinkled with tiny rose cut and single cut diamonds that twinkle like a starry sky when I move my hand, and I love the light purplish blue colour of the sapphire. It does have a window and some slight facet abrasion, but that's probably common in older pieces. The ring has oodles of charm and the finger coverage is spectacular!

 

[Bluegemz]

Such a beauty! It’s such a romantic piece with endless grace and charm. I am reminded of a secret garden when I look at it. It’s so special, truly. Congratulations! Glad you fought for it and got it!

 

[stracci2000]

It is spectacular!

 

[Sunstorm]

That is one amazing piece you can see the workmanship detail, probably older, also just a stunningly unique beautiful sapphire, well worth it! Enjoy!

 

[ShinyPink]

Thanks everyone for your compliments and for encouraging me to buy this ring! It ended up costing 3000 USD, so this will be my last jewellery purchase for quite some time.

Just curious, does that include the fee? It really is an incredible find!

 

[fluffboll]

@MrsKMB: No, there was an additional fee of 500 USD on top of the 3000 :-/ But I still think/hope it was worth it for such a lovely ring. I'll have it appraised for insurance purposes at some point, but no matter what the appraisal reveals, this is an heirloom ring that will be passed down to my daughter some day

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Wow, such a beautiful and feminine piece!! Wear it in good health!

 

[chatoyancy]

It’s beautiful! I live the setting and the sapphire .

 

[ShinyPink]

@MrsKMB: No, there was an additional fee of 500 USD on top of the 3000 :-/ But I still think/hope it was worth it for such a lovely ring. I'll have it appraised for insurance purposes at some point, but no matter what the appraisal reveals, this is an heirloom ring that will be passed down to my daughter some day

So you have to plan your budget around both amounts. Good to know, should I ever try a "real" auction!

 

[Aino]

Oh wow this is a stunning ring! Love the color of the sapphire, it seems to glow. Any chance you got in in the Nordics? I might have eyed the same ring online but could not attend the auction

 

[fluffboll]

@Aino: It was sold by Bukowskis, a Swedish auction house. Are you Finnish? I couldn't help noticing the Marimekko bag...

 

[Aino]

@fluffboll I knew I had seen this ring! It is beautiful, glad it found a good loving home and congratulations! It must have been quite a heated auction day.

Yes I'm Finnish, are you from Sweden? I have contemplated on flying for an auction there this summer (well I would also visit some friends and not only jewellery .. ). Would be interested to hear more about the experience, did the prices rise by about how much? Was it busy? Were there many items that weren't popular at all? Mostly interested in antique jewellery

 

[fluffboll]

@Aino: Yes, I am Swedish, how nice to meet a neigbour on Pricescope! It was an online auction, so there was no need to show up in person. The reserve price was 15.000 SEK if I remember correctly, but during the intense last minute bidding the price rocketed to 22.000 SEK, and then there was a 22% commission fee on top of it, so the final price was 27.000 SEK! In my experience, one can never tell in advance whether there will be a bidding war, but I was still a bit shocked by the end of the auction. Bukowskis has a 14 day inspection period for online purchases, so at least I knew that I could return the ring if I didn't love it (I never got to see it IRL before the auction!). The moment I saw it however, I fell in love. This ring has sparked a passion for vintage/antique jewellery as well as coloured stones. Are you contemplating a trip to Stockholm for Bukowski's important spring sale in June?

 

[Aino]

@fluffboll how sweet, nice to meet you too neighbor, you're the first fellow Nordic that I bump into here!

I didn't know the commission fee is so high, huh. Good to know, I have been eyeing some items in their auction so I must count that in as well. I saw the spring auction and thought about that. It might coincide with my travel to Finland and I should also make a quick visit to Sweden, too. My Swedish auction fanatic friend told me that there are quite some auctions lined up for June so should time my visit to overlap with many of them

I can understand that you and many other bidders fell in love with that ring. It is very special with that glowy, ethereal sapphire!

 

[elle_71125]

That is such a beautiful ring and it looks fantastic on you!
I can see how easy it is for the price to jump up at the end of an auction. Hence the reason I stay away from places like ebay. It just sucks you in.
I'm so glad you won and hope you enjoy many years with this beauty.

 

[fluffboll]

@Aino: Always check the fees beforehand, otherwise you might be unpleasantly surprised!
@elle_71125: I'm going to have to stay away from auctions for quite some time now...thank goodness I can at least admire other people's beautiful baubles at Pricescope!

 

[KittyKatEve]

She's mine!!! I massively underestimated the hammer price as someone loved her almost as much as I did - I was a nervous wreck during bidding! A couple of handshots...

Congrats! Im glad you got it! Its gorgeous!

 

[stonewell]

Amazing ring... it’s so beautiful! Congratulations on the being the last bidder standing.

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

Congratulations! What a unique find! Such beautiful craftsmanship. Enjoy!

 

[fluffboll]

@KittyKatEve, @stonewell & @MissyBeaucoup: Thank you, my new ring makes me very happy everyday In a sense she outshines all my contemporary jewellery. One last picture, a profile view which shows her beautiful swirls.

 

[the_mother_thing]

What a gorgeous ring! Congrats on winning the auction & making that pretty all yours!