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

Shijitake said:
..so a decent one with good color and cut, low to no unwanted traits, and under ~500 should suffice.
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I don’t think this is possible though, at least, not without a window. Or I think we’d all have pretty sapphires.

Maybe a small calibrated from Multicolour?
 
I've found decent sapphires under $500, they're just not for us gem freaks. They just have unnoticeable unwanted traits to newbs. Many from GemsNY (why aren't they in the list of trusted vendors?) and NSC. I like lighter sapphires and those tend to be cheap. Decent cut means slightly off-center culet are ok, but little to no windows, please. As much as I want a perfect sapphire, color is my main concern and willing to compromise on other things (for now).

What does calibrated sapphire mean?
 
Shijitake said:
I've found decent sapphires under $500, they're just not for us gem freaks. They just have unnoticeable unwanted traits to newbs. Many from GemsNY (why aren't they in the list of trusted vendors?) and NSC. I like lighter sapphires and those tend to be cheap. Decent cut means slightly off-center culet are ok, but little to no windows, please. As much as I want a perfect sapphire, color is my main concern and willing to compromise on other things (for now).

What does calibrated sapphire mean?
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Color is really not a whole lot without a decent cut. GemsNY tends to have very purple, gray, and dark blue sapphires that are cut shallow to make them seem lighter. Plus our dealings with them with the return felt super slimy. You do you, but just realize you get what you pay for.
 
Jbows said:
Color is really not a whole lot without a decent cut. GemsNY tends to have very purple, gray, and dark blue sapphires that are cut shallow to make them seem lighter. Plus our dealings with them with the return felt super slimy. You do you, but just realize you get what you pay for.
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That's why I said decent, not good/great/excellent/flawless. I know with the budget I have I won't find a quality sapphire. I'm ok with that for now, I just want something to hold me over until I can get a quality one. Most people can't even tell those flaws (the purple/grey/etc). GF has a nice $500 one that I'm mulling over.
 
You’ve been looking at so many different things that I can’t keep anything straight at all.

What are you looking for?
Colour, budget, size, etc?
How urgently do you need the stone?
 
Medium color with medium tones, budget is 500 (but I'll go higher for a nicer one). I don't care about the size. I've got my eye on 2 from GF and 1 from NSC. Not urgent, but I really want one.
 
It's waay over my budget but you want to take a look at GF 11-1285 and tell me what you think, I'm willing to put a few things a side and get it if it's worth it.
 
Shijitake said:
It's waay over my budget but you want to take a look at GF 11-1285 and tell me what you think, I'm willing to put a few things a side and get it if it's worth it.
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It's pretty, but I take silvery in the description to mean gray and think it will be a soft color.
Here are some options that Multicolour has marked as Moderately Strong Saturation. You will see that they have zoning or inclusions, which is expected at this price, but the colors should be nice.
https://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/sapphire/vsa200aa/
https://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/sapphire/vsa219aa/
https://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/sapphire/sa12878aa/
https://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/sapphire/ybs145ae/
and this one is over your budget, but is marked as Strong Saturation, you would just have to decided how you feel about the inclusion, I think it's kind of neat.
https://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/sapphire/bsnt10092aa/
 
2Neezers said:
I like this one the best of your options so far =)2
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I'd have to think about it. It's very nice but seeing the word heated always makes me go :???:
 
Why does heating bother you?
 
If this is going to be a starter type stone for you, and you are willing to accept imperfections, I really like the color of this stone. It is included and smallish, but it's $200 for a unheated sapphire with a really nice color. https://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/sapphire/sa12878aa/
I would set it in a halo like this one and then you would have a nice starter sapphire ring for under $500.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pear-5x7mm...9b:m:mkYjWtcmHpq47WhQnZ97CVg&autorefresh=true

The problem with a lot of starter pieces is that you might not end up liking them further down the road and you could have put the money toward something else that you would love long term, if patient. I speak from experience and have approx. 50 stones I will never set and now have to figure out what to do with them. I did have fun along the way, but have no doubt thrown a lot of money down the drain on starter stones, and that money could have gone toward a few amazing stones that I would love for a lifetime! Just something to think about ;)2
 
chrono, I guess I want something natural in every sense of the word. I want one that came out of the earth in the same color it is now. I'm not opposed to get a heated one someday.

2Neezers, maybe you could show me some of yours and I could take them off your hands. If you have some within my budget.

upload_2018-9-26_15-36-44.png
Outside my budget, but what do you think of this color change one? I think it has nice color. I'd stretch my budget for it. 2 carats, 8.5x6.5, $1,350
 
Shijitake said:
2Neezers, maybe you could show me some of yours and I could take them off your hands. If you have some within my budget.
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Awe, that's sweet of you, but I'm not sure I would have what you are looking for. It does bring up a good point though, some of my best and favorite stones have been purchased pre-loved from other PS'ers. It might not be a bad idea to start a post over in the pre-loved section to see if any PS'ers have what you are looking for and haven't gotten around to listing it for sale. Here's the link to the pre-loved section in case you haven't come across it before: https://www.pricescope.com/community/forums/preloved-ps-jewels.92/
 
Shijitake said:
chrono, I guess I want something natural in every sense of the word. I want one that came out of the earth in the same color it is now. I'm not opposed to get a heated one someday.

2Neezers, maybe you could show me some of yours and I could take them off your hands. If you have some within my budget.

upload_2018-9-26_15-36-44.png
Outside my budget, but what do you think of this color change one? I think it has nice color. I'd stretch my budget for it. 2 carats, 8.5x6.5, $1,350
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You keep asking for our opinions on sapphires, without giving enough pictures/videos for any of us to form a sound opinion. Like, this color change sapphire, just showing one picture? Even a normal color that does not shift color, we would require multiple hand shots or a video where the gem is in someone's hand to really form a proper opinion. Without actually SEEING the alleged color change, anyone forming an opinion just based on what you've shown would just be pulling stuff from their rear end. Excuse my crudeness, but I do see it that way.

With a budget under $500, it's doubtful that you'd find a sapphire that all of us will clap you on the back and tell you it was a great deal. Under $1000 most vendors don't provide lab reports, and you'd just be relying on their reputation whether you believe the stone is as they claim or not. As such, without recognizing the vendor or seeing lab reports of the sapphires you post pictures of, I feel really indifferent towards them, because it's not like *I* know or trust that the sapphire is unheated/untreated, and assuming the sapphire is as great in person and exactly as the vendor claims and shows in their best studio shot picture would be doing you a disservice. I feel like most of us want to help you, but you're not making it easy for us to do so, because 1) you have not articulated what specifically you're looking for in terms of cut/shape/size/color, and 2) you seem unwilling to patiently wait and save your money, in order to be able to afford the right stone instead of the stone for just right now.

Learning to delay gratification and to improve self-discipline is really important. I admit that I also need to do better in this respect, but just think of how much money Americans waste on trendy luxury goods that they get into debt for. Yes, the start of those debts are usually college loans, but compound interest can work for you (being debt-free and investing in stock market) or against you. Too many people just can't say no to the "right now" fads, and end up being in debt for way too long and paying too much interest to their banks and their credit card companies. Forgive me for getting philosophical. I know this and that are not exactly the same situation, but I think what IS similar is that if you can manage a little self-discipline, you'll be happier in the long run, psychologically and financially. Not spending money on the mediocre stuff right now will get you more top quality stuff in the future.
 
2Neezers, I looked through it for a bit before, nothing caught my interest. I'll be looking through it when I have some free time later.

voce, sorry. But those pictures are literally the only ones the vendors have (and therefore what I have). The ones I've been posting are from the trusted list of vendors. So whether we can trust them or not at least it's not some site I found randomly.

As I said before, I'm can't really pinpoint what I'm looking for because I don't have a lot of specifics other than unheated and "decent". Meaning not too bad on the unwanted traits. I have no preference on size, cut, shape, and I'm flexible on color (light-medium to medium, even up to strong, but preferably no dark tones).

I know I can save money and get a better one on the long run but I'm looking for one that I can wear until I get that better one (and that won't be for a while). I'm also willing to spend just a little bit more. Atm I can afford it, so no worries on putting myself into debt. I want to have a sapphire I can wear often for the next few months/years/however long before I can afford a good one. Like I said, even those GF ones may have gray, it really doesn't bother me. Whatever money I might lose if I try to sell it or give it away later on is just "rent" for the time I got to have the sapphire.

No worries if you don't feel like continuing to give feedback though :)
 
I'll respond to various parts inside the quote, in bold.
Shijitake said:
But those pictures are literally the only ones the vendors have (and therefore what I have). The ones I've been posting are from the trusted list of vendors. So whether we can trust them or not at least it's not some site I found randomly.

Some of us think some of the vendors on that listed should no longer be on there, as the list is not really updated frequently. Plus, if they're trusted vendors they should be able to give you more pics upon request. Wait for more info/pics before you post on PS, or you can't expect any worthwhile feedback here.

As I said before, I'm can't really pinpoint what I'm looking for because I don't have a lot of specifics other than unheated and "decent". Meaning not too bad on the unwanted traits. I have no preference on size, cut, shape, and I'm flexible on color (light-medium to medium, even up to strong, but preferably no dark tones).

I know I can save money and get a better one on the long run but I'm looking for one that I can wear until I get that better one (and that won't be for a while). I'm also willing to spend just a little bit more. Atm I can afford it, so no worries on putting myself into debt. I want to have a sapphire I can wear often for the next few months/years/however long before I can afford a good one. Like I said, even those GF ones may have gray, it really doesn't bother me. Whatever money I might lose if I try to sell it or give it away later on is just "rent" for the time I got to have the sapphire.

If you're so flexible, then I guess I don't understand why you haven't just picked one and gone with it, like the GemFix one for $495, or the $200 one. Gemfix provides a video as well as easy returns. If you like it, buy it and at least try it out first instead of "waffling" back and forth trying to base your decision on one or two inadequate pictures. If I were in your situation I would have gone for the $200 sapphire and have it mounted to wear already.
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When you ask us for opinions, of course everyone has different preferences, so it's not like that many people will try to claim that one particular sapphire you list is the one to get, because we are aware that across such a wide range of colors there is no one ideal that we can all agree on. You should just get what makes you the happiest, since that's something the rest of us have no clue about. Not narrowing down what you are looking at in terms of a specific color and cut is like walking into a clothing store on a shopping spree, and asking other people what you should get.

Yeah, there *is* that much variation when it comes to sapphire. Only you would know what makes you the happiest. I don't know why you keep asking for our feedback when, if you are so flexible, you should be able to get anything and then be happy and done with shopping. I don't know if you enjoy window shopping, nitpicking or being able to find the best bargain or what, but I wonder if part of the reason you can't make up your mind about which gem to buy is because you secretly want everything. You obviously haven't come across the stone that ends your search, not even the pad, so you want to keep looking. You do you, and you should keep looking to learn more about your own preferences and to find the one, but we can't help you much the way you don't post adequate info to properly evaluate the stones in question. Good luck on your search!
 
One thing that is true of gems. There is no such thing as a sale. You will get exactly what you pay for. If you don't purchase a gem now then another one will come along that you will love just as much. I am a slow learner. It has taken me four years to learn this lesson. Just take some time and learn about sapphires and compare prices on vendor sites, read sapphire help threads on PS. You will develop an eye for a decent sapphire and know what a good price is.
 
"if they're trusted vendors they should be able to give you more pics upon request"

Just curious, why won't GF give out extra pics?

"If you're so flexible, then I guess I don't understand why you haven't just picked one and gone with it"

Because I'm picky and just wondering if there's something I might be missing. Like say, the pad has a cut that is difficult to mount. If no one told me I wouldn't have even guessed. Plus I'm taking my time because there might be more out there that I might like.

"I wonder if part of the reason you can't make up your mind about which gem to buy is because you secretly want everything"

It's no secret, I do want everything :D But unfortunately I don't have the funds for it all. Most of the time window shopping is the only shopping I do (and yes I enjoy it). It's even better when I see something I like, can afford it and buy it.
 
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I've read it before, but it's not really much of an explanation to me. Even if the lighting and environment there is different, cell phone pics help a lot and other vendors were happy to send me some.
 
Do you own any gems that you've taken pic's of and posted on this forum? (Not vendor pic's) A common refrain: "the color is not what I see in real life"...........cell phones are great for everyday pic's........not necessarily for gems! At some point you need to see gems first hand and hopefully they will be gems you can buy, not those you are curious about but not really going to buy...........no picture will give you all the details that seeing in real life will. And good or bad, vendors will know if they can trust you, your emails, and your purchase power.
 
In this particular case, I think Gemfix's videos are worth a hundred pics, and you can just capture frames since the videos are hand shots. In the case of cell phone pics and day shots, I think this is to protect the buyer, as imho there are fewer places where gemstones look better than consistently sunny San Diego. Pictures taken there would probably look better than when you get the stone in hand, so they may not want the pictures to look too good and then have the buyer be disappointed and return the goods?
 
digdeep, what I meant by cell phone pics (and also non-studio) is that they're useful for a "real life look" at the stones. Not for accuracy of the quality and color. As you know, their studio pics show the best of their gems. Phones might show their worst of it or at least just how it might look if I had it in hand and a better gauge of their size. The video helps a lot but still limited. I'd like to see it zoomed out on the back of his hand.

Possibly voce. Maybe they had more people return them after getting a good look from non studio or cell phone pictures?
 
I wouldn't post any bad 'real life pictures of myself' online, so I'm not sure why you'd expect gemstone vendors to do that. Skin tones are different for people too...........so hand pic's may or may not be helpful. If it's size you are wondering about then buy a caliper and you can measure anything anywhere for a visual reference on size. Each of us see's colors differently in person, and monitors/screens present color's differently too...... Lighting in every case impact's colors........indoors, outdoors, at gem/jewelry shows, fluorescent lighting, etc. Veteran PSr's remember the color test that was on here years ago and how diverse people's scores were? Pictures of gems are difficult thus the reason everyone says you need to see gems in person. Go to a gem show to see gems in person and get an idea about colors, etc. OTOH, just trust what you are seeing on the screen if you are window shopping and not sure what you want, can afford, or are willing to buy.
 
I didn't mean they should post up ugly pics of their stones online. I just meant non-studio pictures give a real life view of what you'll get, which helps. They don't have to post it online either, just send it to who asks. Other vendors do it so I'm not sure why GF doesn't. I asked Brilliant Earth to do it and they did and the sapphire still looked gorgeous. But I got a good idea of its size. But it was overpriced so I skipped.

I'm really not just window shopping this time around though lol. I want a blue sapphire. But I'm starting to think about putting it off and focus on what to do about the pad.
 
Shijitake said:
"If you're so flexible, then I guess I don't understand why you haven't just picked one and gone with it"

Because I'm picky and just wondering if there's something I might be missing. Like say, the pad has a cut that is difficult to mount. If no one told me I wouldn't have even guessed. Plus I'm taking my time because there might be more out there that I might like.
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Well are you flexible or picky? I feel the two are total opposites, and a picky person will want specifics, whereas a flexible person will settle for most things.

Also, I got the feeling you were in a rush to get both, something about a princess owning a pad now? So are you taking your time or do you need one now?

From my very limited time reading your posts since I recently came back to the forum, I feel you contradict yourself in nearly every post, certainly in every thread.
My advice would be to buy nothing or ask “what do you think of this?” accompanied by a vendor shot, for a few months. Just look and research and get a feeling for stones so you can hone in on the right one better.

I don’t think you’re currently asking any questions that anyone here can answer.
 
I'm picky and I was with the pad but at the moment I'm trying to be flexible with the blue sapphire. But even then I'm being picky.

I'm not so much in a rush but I have very little time to look around and when I do and I find one I like I ask about it so it may seem like I am.
 
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