What do you think of this sapphire? Also what's the highest you'd go without a certification?

[Shijitake]

Along with a pad I'm looking for a blue sapphire. I think this one's nice but has no certification. And what are those lines going across it?

 

[Bron357]

It’s colour zoning, a typical blue sapphire trait.
No one can give you an estimation of a fair value without its carat weight. With no certification you should presume that it is heat treated.

 

[2Neesers]

It’s really hard to judge the sapphire with that one picture. Do you have any others? I would want a certificate for any sapphire over $1,000. I wouldn’t necessarily expect the seller to provide one in the $1,000-$1,500 range, but would want the sale to be contingent on me sending the stone in for verification.

 

[lovedogs]

It’s really hard to judge the sapphire with that one picture. Do you have any others? I would want a certificate for any sapphire over $1,000. I wouldn’t necessarily expect the seller to provide one in the $1,000-$1,500 range, but would want the sale to be contingent on me sending the stone in for verification.

This. Also, you need a video or more pics, since just that one isn't enough to go on. Always assume heat unless there's a cert saying otherwise, and make sure you aren't paying more than you should be given heat. Assume that if it were unheated, the seller (unless it's 2nd hand, pre-owned, etc) would have sent it for certification bcusae they can get more $ selling a "proven" untreated stone.

 

[Shijitake]

Unfortunately, that's the only picture on the site. I will ask them to send some pictures. Just wondering if it's worth getting because it appears to have the velvety look of kashmir sapphires (or so I think), but I wasn't sure of the striations. Here are the stats:
7x6x4, 1.40 carats, no enhancements (I'm guessing that includes heat?), some inclusion, $200.

 

[tkyasx78]

That sapphire doesn't seem to be a good quality one to me.
I wouldn't spend 200 on it.

My opinion though on future stones you may be looking at.

I would not spend anything I am not willing to consider basically WORTHLESS without certification.
When it comes to gems, having an accurate provenance showing the source and any possible treatment is essential.

If you want to buy a 50$ topaz and have it set, by all means skip the certification.

If you are not willing to assume the stone is dirt cheap and you want to know what you are getting, you need the proper papers.
When it comes to gems there are many people who will sell you anything they think they can get away with. If a seller has a nice quality stone that is worth what they are asking, they get it certified.

 

[Shijitake]

If it's worth anything, I looked up reviews of the seller on this forum and it is very good.

 

[qubitasaurus]

If the seller happens to be multicolour then yes they are quite reliable, and will probably take it back if a reputable lab tests it to be otherwise. Having said this you will probably still be out all the expenses for the lab report, etc (at least I feel this would be a fair arrangement. The report will be a decent chunk of the cost of the gem. So it is questionable whether it is worthwhile to send it to a lab.). I always feel with multicolour you get exactly what you pay for. There are some spectacular gems there.

This particular stone is probably windowed. Colour looks nice though.

 

[NexivRed]

1.4 carat blue sapphire for £$200? Surely there’s going to be loads wrong with it. Price seems crazy.

I’d put any extra funds towards trying to find a good a pad for sure. Not an easy task.

 

[Shijitake]

Here's a photo he sent


But by the replies I'm guessing it's not worth the purchase.

Also I already bought a pad, created waay too many posts and probably annoyed a few PSers. It's not the best pad, but the best I could find with my budget.

How much "should" a good quality sapphire this size cost?

 

[voce]

I think this depends on what you define by good quality. From your prior posts it seems you have a thing for unheated sapphire. Personally, I would define a sapphire where all the boxes are checked as exceptional quality, everything checked except for ideal color as excellent quality, and compromises on the color/cut as good.

Needless to say, the prices would be lower for heated sapphire, but for unheated the lowest price I have seen for a 1.4ct blue sapphire is $900. https://skyjems.ca/collections/cert...tified-sri-lankan-ceylonese-unheated-sapphire

That stone has a large tilt window but is a good royal blue. I believe Skyjems sells at wholesale prices, so twice that, $1800, is reasonable for jewelers' retail prices. Anything over $1800 must be excellent or exceptional, of a different cut, or else a rip off.

As far as cut, round brilliant cut is most expensive in sapphire, but the way the rough crystal is, you'd have to sacrifice considerable weight to get a round cut. The cheapest cuts are ovals and cushions, as they're close in shape to what the rough comes in. When I was picking out a sapphire for myself, I wanted a pear cut and unheated. With a 15% off sale, my 1.38ct sapphire (pictured in avatar) still came out to be $2205 from NSC. Now I think that it was still overpriced, but at the time I was obsessed with wanting a sapphire, impatient, a newbie, etc.

 

[Shijitake]

That last sentence, that's me right now lol.

I think my priorities are different from everyone else's here. I say I "prefer" unheated, but I think I just really want unheated. Also, I don't care about size but I am very picky about the stone type. I primarily want sapphires, emeralds and to some extent rubies and diamonds. So even if there's a prettier, larger, and cheaper blue stone like aquamarine, if it's not a sapphire I don't care as much. That's why I refused garnets instead of an actual sapphire pad.

I do like light colored (blue) sapphires though. I'm thinking about a light one from Gemfix. But so far their customer service is awful.

Do you think just for the color that sapphire's worth the cost even if it had a window and whatever else is wrong?

 

[voce]

@Shijitake I can't tell if you're asking about your original $200 sapphire or the Skyjems sapphire I linked. I think Skyjems does price everything fairly, it's just a lot of their stuff isn't ideally cut and can look overcolor. Your $200 sapphire might be worth it to you if you'll wear it often. The main concern there is whether it's synthetic or has enhancements you don't know about--that affects the value of the gem, and you probably wouldn't be able to sell it at cost without getting a certification, but I think as long as you are fine with not being certain with what the vendor claims, it might be worth it.

I say might, because I'm honestly not sure how much you'll be nitpicking or regretting this sapphire, if, like the pad, you already plan to buy a better one down the road. At the end of the day, you can only wear so much jewelry without looking too rich, so if you end up having a lot of different stones you'll have to rotate them around. If that sounds fun to you, then go ahead and buy more, but there are some folks who just like to wear a few items all the time, in which case they derive more pleasure from wearing fewer, higher quality pieces.

 

[Shijitake]

I was asking about my original one. If the price is right even if it's synthetic or is treated, then I don't mind.

I have a measly budget for a blue one because I threw everything at the pad. I am planning for a much better sapphire down the road, but that's waaay down the line and at $200, it's negligible. Not that I'm rich. It'd be a different story if I was looking for a high-quality, expensive sapphire.

But I forgot to mention setting is another thing I pay more attention to. So a moderately pretty stone in a nice setting is as pretty as a high quality solitaire gemstone on a plain ring (Audry Rose anyone?). I was picky about the pad because it costs so much.

 

[MollyMalone]

I was asking about my original one. If the price is right even if it's synthetic or is treated, then I don't mind.

For $200, I imagine that you could get a lovely, synthetic/lab-grown sapphire with a better cut -- and in a standard size, so you don't have to go full custom for a setting (that 7mm x 6mm roval won't fit into a stock setting). But since we're not supposed to talk about synthetics on the Colored Stone forum, head to the Fabulous Fashion Jewelry forum, where there is an ongoing thread about lab-made colored gems:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/colored-gem-beauties-lab-created.242317/

 

[peacechick]

If you want a quality deal, there’s this set on LT right now and it’s stunning. @katharath has amazing taste in jewelry from what I’ve seen.

https://loupetroop.com/listings/nec...h-agl-and-1-dot-15-tcw-earrings-metalicious-1

 

[tkyasx78]

If you want a quality deal, there’s this set on LT right now and it’s stunning. @katharath has amazing taste in jewelry from what I’ve seen.

https://loupetroop.com/listings/nec...h-agl-and-1-dot-15-tcw-earrings-metalicious-1

those are beautiful!

 

[Shijitake]

MollyMalone, you're right! Hah, $200 could get me a decent cut and color on synthetic stones. Then I can pretend I have a velvety blue Kashmir sapphire. Those are too damn expensive!

Peacechick those are gorgeous :O~ too high above my price point

 

[Shijitake]

Sapphires aside, any comments on the first two pink sapphires/rubies?
The first one is about 6 x 5, under 90ct. ~$300
2nd is 4 x 5mm, under .5ct ~$300

 

[Shijitake]

Also this ring. Says it's set in palladium and totally my size! under .5c, ~$700

 

[MollyMalone]

Since you're now asking about blue sapphires, etc. (not just Pads), I'm wondering what goals you've set for yourself.

 

[Shijitake]

Since you're now asking about blue sapphires, etc. (not just Pads), I'm wondering what goals you've set for yourself.

I came here knowing I wanted a very good pad and maybe a decent blue, but primarily a pad. Looking through inventories, it's hard not to want a blue. Why do you ask?

 

[MollyMalone]

I came here knowing I wanted a very good pad and maybe a decent blue, but primarily a pad. Looking through inventories, it's hard not to want a blue. Why do you ask?

I asked 'cause I think more specific information could help us help you. At least, I myself am feeling at a loss as to how best to respond to the recent posts asking about blue sapphires, pink sapphires, rubies.

A personal anecdote: I always see -- here on PS, on the 'net, and in real life -- a lot of colored gems & gemstone jewelry that I'd love to have, but my financial reality (even tho' I'm no longer paying my son's college tuition) is that I can't "scratch every itch." So it's been useful for me to develop-refine priorities and preferences. That's not to say those goals of mine have been engraved in stone for eternity & were never revised, but keeping them in mind keeps me from getting too distracted by the myriad of possibilities.

(And occasionally, I've stepped away from PS when I'm discomfited by feeling too "acquisitive" )

 

[digdeep]

Another perspective............there is a ton of knowledge to learn about colored gems and it seems you are learning at the same time as buying / looking. I'd suggest that you pursue general gem knowledge for a while...........it will be to your benefit and will form a solid foundation for decisions about gems!

Also, some of gem buying is not about the gems, but the variety of sales tactics, lighting/photo's, descriptions and 'selling styles' that goes with purchasing online. Just some things for you to consider.

 

[Shijitake]

Ah, I see. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I want since I want everything (I'm sure you can empathize.) I want one "perfect" sapphire, but I know that's out of my budget, so a decent one with good color and cut, low to no unwanted traits, and under ~500 should suffice. I'm not sure if that's specific enough. I couldn't help myself with those rubies and ring. I was wondering if they were a good value. I can't help a sale.

digdeep, everytime I see something I like, it sells before I decide to buy it. So I don't want to miss out on a good sapphire I can afford. And as I said, I don't have time, I'm not talking about I need a sapphire asap, I just really haven't had time to sit and read through much. I have a few minutes here and there but that's it. Been out and about.

 

[Shijitake]

Can I get some feedback on these two sapphires?

 

[voce]

When you ask these questions, you should get more than the top view. I can tell the bottom sapphire has quite a thick girdle, which I don't like, because it doesn't add anything and will make it harder for the jeweler to set. The top one may be just as bad, but there's no way to tell for sure since you've only given us top view. Gems should really be seen in 3D, and in 2D the perspective view is best.

 

[Shijitake]

That's the best I can give you, sorry

I'm more concerned about color, greyness, etc. Since I like bezel settings I'll probably have them set that way (that makes it less hard to work with I assume?)

 

[voce]

The resolution of the top one is so bad I can't tell anything about it from the second picture. From the first picture the top one returns more light, while the bottom one is a more traditional blue color. Because of what you said in the thread with extinction, liking the glow of translucent gems, I think you should go for a sapphire cabochon.

 

[Shijitake]

Sorry about the confusion, I don't mean to be a pain. I like transparent ones too. Just the translucence of that low quality one wasn't a deal breaker for me.