What do you think of this sapphire? (Diamonds by Lauren)

[MillieLou]

I am looking for a sapphire to make a 3-stone ring (with two small RB diamonds I already have) for my 10th wedding anniversary. I've come across this one:

1.26ct Blue Oval Sapphire Ring

This is a sweet 1.26ct Blue Oval Shape Sapphire Ring. We do not have a report on this stone but we guarantee it unheated.

www.diamondsbylauren.com

I do prefer slightly lighter colors though I know they are less sought after. I love this one, which is already set in a ring - maybe they would sell it to me separately? Though I actually quite like the setting!!

1.62ct Blue Oval Sapphire Ring

This is a sweet 1.62ct Blue Oval Shape Sapphire Ring. The color is on the lighter blue side and the stone is full of sparkle.

www.diamondsbylauren.com

Thoughts are welcome - I am very much a beginner!

 

[lovedogs]

I like the second one (in the ring) more than the first. The first one seems almost "muddy" to me in terms of color. The second one is lighter than trade 'ideal', but lovely. And If you like lighter colors then I think it's a great choice. I wouldn't separate it from the setting though, and doubt David would agree to remove it from the setting. DBL has great settings so if you like it then it just makes life easier to have a one stop shop!

 

[whitewave]

Call him on Monday or his wife Sandra. They are super people. As long as you don’t mind what looks like an inclusion on #1, I think it’s pretty (David can tell you about it)

 

[elizat]

It's really preference. I like more violet toned bright blueberry sapphires, rather than a trade ideal.

Those are different tones in both stones. Do you have a color preference?

Of the two, I prefer the lighter. Do you have a budget and size you'd like to have in mm?

DBL is a great vendor, but depending on what you want, there may be more choices elsewhere. David's pieces are excellent quality.

 

[MillieLou]

Thank you for comments everyone, they're very helpful. To answer the questions, I am basically looking for a well-cut sapphire in a lighter shade, approx 8x6mm minimum, probably oval but open to cushions and emerald cut too. I like clear, "sparkly" sapphires rather than intensely coloured darker ones. Wouldn't want to go much over 1000 USD for the stone alone. I am in the UK so need someone who will ship there (or if by some miracle there are UK sellers, that would be amazing!) Very happy to consider second-hand too. Heat treatment is fine but not anything else.

 

[MillieLou]

Oh I should say too - my best friend is about to go to Colombo in Sri Lanka. She knows nothing about gems and won't have time to traipse around looking for me, but if by chance there is a trusted dealer there who I can communicate with, she could buy it and bring it back!

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you for comments everyone, they're very helpful. To answer the questions, I am basically looking for a well-cut sapphire in a lighter shade, approx 8x6mm minimum, probably oval but open to cushions and emerald cut too. I like clear, "sparkly" sapphires rather than intensely coloured darker ones. Wouldn't want to go much over 1000 USD for the stone alone. I am in the UK so need someone who will ship there (or if by some miracle there are UK sellers, that would be amazing!) Very happy to consider second-hand too. Heat treatment is fine but not anything else.

If you like the lighter ones and want a loose stone, how about these?

Unheated Natural Ceylon Blue Sapphire Oval "Portuguese" Cut | 1.51 cts | #11-1316 - Gemfix

unheated untreated oval ceylon blue sapphire "Portuguese" Cut

gemfix.com

Unheated Natural Light Medium Blue Ceylon Sapphire Oval | 1.10 cts | #11-1031 - Gemfix

Unheated Untreated Blue Ceylon Sapphire Oval Mixed Cut

gemfix.com

The still pics didn't wow me, but I like the videos.

 

[elizat]

Is this too light? Hits the size you wanted.

Unheated Natural Ceylon Blue Sapphire Oval "Portuguese" Cut | 1.51 cts | #11-1316 - Gemfix

unheated untreated oval ceylon blue sapphire "Portuguese" Cut

gemfix.com

Smaller, but a bit more colorful.

Unheated Natural Light Medium Blue Ceylon Sapphire Oval | 1.10 cts | #11-1031 - Gemfix

Unheated Untreated Blue Ceylon Sapphire Oval Mixed Cut

gemfix.com

Little smaller than goal size:

Sapphire Madagascar, Blue Sapphire, Certified Unheated Sapphire, Certified Sapphire, Sapphire Oval, 6.85 X 5.41mm, Loose Sapphire - Etsy

Providing high-quality gemstones and jewelry on Etsy since 2009! Cecile Raley Designs is a proud member of the American Gem Trade Association. This sapphire is Madagascan material, unheated oval shaped. A strong medium blue color, can easily compete with cornflower blue Ceylon sapphires but with

www.etsy.com

Certified Ceylon Sapphire Oval 1.4 Carat Sri Lanka Sapphire - Etsy

Providing high-quality gemstones on Etsy since 2009! Cecile Raley Designs is a proud member of the American Gem Trade Association. This Ceylon sapphire oval is heat treated but a nice popping color and great size for the price (this gem has been listed before but the photos were very old so we

www.etsy.com

 

[Arcadian]

I also like the 2nd one of the DBL. The first one...maybe its the way the image was taken but looks like its a pretty large window.

 

[lovedogs]

Is this too light? Hits the size you wanted.

Unheated Natural Ceylon Blue Sapphire Oval "Portuguese" Cut | 1.51 cts | #11-1316 - Gemfix

unheated untreated oval ceylon blue sapphire "Portuguese" Cut

gemfix.com

Smaller, but a bit more colorful.

Unheated Natural Light Medium Blue Ceylon Sapphire Oval | 1.10 cts | #11-1031 - Gemfix

Unheated Untreated Blue Ceylon Sapphire Oval Mixed Cut

gemfix.com

Little smaller than goal size:

Sapphire Madagascar, Blue Sapphire, Certified Unheated Sapphire, Certified Sapphire, Sapphire Oval, 6.85 X 5.41mm, Loose Sapphire - Etsy

Providing high-quality gemstones and jewelry on Etsy since 2009! Cecile Raley Designs is a proud member of the American Gem Trade Association. This sapphire is Madagascan material, unheated oval shaped. A strong medium blue color, can easily compete with cornflower blue Ceylon sapphires but with

www.etsy.com

Certified Ceylon Sapphire Oval 1.4 Carat Sri Lanka Sapphire - Etsy

Providing high-quality gemstones on Etsy since 2009! Cecile Raley Designs is a proud member of the American Gem Trade Association. This Ceylon sapphire oval is heat treated but a nice popping color and great size for the price (this gem has been listed before but the photos were very old so we

www.etsy.com

lol jinx!

 

[MillieLou]

Thanks lovedogs and Elizat! You've recommended the same first two, great minds! I LOVE the first one but unfortunately when I looked at their shipping policy, GemFix won't ship anything over 650 USD to the UK I guess because of their insurance.

Thanks Arcadian. I definitely like the second DBL sapphire better, but the setting isn't for me - beautiful, but too many prongs and bits. I like very simple settings that are easy to keep clean... And I'll get the inevitable "is that a Diana/Kate replica" comments over here...

 

[MillieLou]

If anyone can find me one like the 1.51 GemFix sapphire, that will ship to the UK, I'll be very grateful!

 

[ksinger]

I don't have anything in particular to suggest, but Finewater typically has gorgeous sapphires. The sapphire in my avatar is from there and is a 2.58 unheated violetish-blue, approx 8x10. Gary's pics are always spot-on for color. He takes great and justifiable pride in his pictures. Anyway, it's another source for you.

Sapphire

Fine and unique gemstones personally sourced from around the world

www.finewatergems.com

 

[MillieLou]

Thank you everyone. I've emailed GemFix just to check if they would make an exception and ship the 1.51ct to me. If not, I'll wait and stalk the websites of the ones that do ship to the UK, and see what turns up - I have until October for the anniversary so no big rush!

Edit: what do people think of the Natural Sapphire Company? They do ship to the UK and seem to have a wide range. Are they trustworthy?

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you everyone. I've emailed GemFix just to check if they would make an exception and ship the 1.51ct to me. If not, I'll wait and stalk the websites of the ones that do ship to the UK, and see what turns up - I have until October for the anniversary so no big rush!

Edit: what do people think of the Natural Sapphire Company? They do ship to the UK and seem to have a wide range. Are they trustworthy?

I would not buy from NSC. They stock poorly cut stones and are overpriced for the quality.

 

[MillieLou]

OK thanks, good to know! I thought their cutting wasn't so good.

 

[T L]

OK thanks, good to know! I thought their cutting wasn't so good.

To be fair, most sapphire are recuts since some of the best stones come from Asia and uncut rough is not allowed out of the countries there. They are often cut to retain size rather than for beauty. You will find better cut stones from deposits in the United States and Africa.

NSC is very expensive though, so I agree with the others to search around.

 

[MsShnooks]

You could have a look in Hatton Garden. Sadly, the guys who sourced my sapphires and made the ring in the avatar have since retired but I think there are some decent traders/jewellers there.

 

[Anne111]

Finewatergem is sweeeeeet!