What does CMT Type 1 mean?

[Miki Moto]

Great decision. It’s a gorgeous stone. And even heated stones have flaws. It is the nature of a gemstone.

I’m glad you decided to buy it.
Congratulations to you!

 

[lmyracle]

Welp, escrow.com has horrible reviews....

 

[Miki Moto]

Idea... if your jeweler wants a $1K fee, ask him to work with the dealer and the dealer will send the stone to the jeweler on memo as if the jeweler were the buyer. The jeweler then charges you the $1k uplift when you buy it from the jeweler.

I do think your jeweler is not ethical to ask for a $1K fee. I have brought in loose stones to my local jeweler and they are happy to help because they know I will buy the mounting from them. The jeweler wins anyway.

Thinking more... why are you paying him and what do you expect him to do? If you want him to certify it is the actual stone, you could send it yourself to AGL to have it truly certified. You can ask for AGL to expedite (current wait time now is 3 weeks). Expedite is 72 Hours turnaround.

You know your dynamics best so these are just some ideas for you.. I am sure you have thought about options and everything will work out.

It’s great you are getting the stone. It really a gorgeous stone!

 

[lmyracle]

Great points.

When I began my search, the local jeweler said he’d work hard to find me what I wanted and if it’s a $10k stone on memo, he’d negotiate for me....maybe get it to 8 and then 1K for ya work so I’d end up paying 9. That’s just a hypothetical example.

I didn’t know AGL does such a fast turnaround. I’m hat would do better for me and I’d feel better about that anyway. I have no loyalty to this jeweler locally and he still hasn’t found me what I want which is why I’m searching so hard for myself.

I think PNC make act as an escrow for me. I’ll be visiting them tomorrow.

 

[rockysalamander]

I have never paid $1k for a jeweler to view a stone. Seriously, no way. Paying nearly 10% of the cost....

My advice would be to use a PS recommended appraiser as your escrow agent. Find one that is local to you. You send the money to them. The seller sends the stone. You have the appraiser review the stone and verify it matches the seller's description. Then, you view the stone and make your decision based on the color and your preferences. You cover any fees so they are ONLY working for you. They have no 'skin in the game.' Then, you can have a setting custom made by any credible, known maker you like. I've had David Klass make several rings and never been unhappy.

Not every appraiser offers this service, but many do.
https://www.pricescope.com/appraisers

edited to add. You are either willing to pay the price the seller states or not. If not, don't waste their time and yours on this whole transaction provided the stone matches the claims. Bargaining over price occurs before you get the stone, not after. Otherwise, you could unfairly cost the seller a sale from another party with no good faith to buy.

 

[digdeep]

There was another thread where the vendor was going to charge 1K to show the gem..... this is not a good idea and feels like a hustle. You could ask/pay for the gem to be evaluated by AGL and if agreeable, then fly out to see it......that's an option. I'd rather spend 1K doing that and maybe an appraiser in the area that could meet you at the vendor's location? Just brainstorming..............Heck, you could even visit David Klass possibly?

 

[Miki Moto]

Last idea and then I will quit bugging you.

If all you want is verification this is a Unheated Ceylon, you can ask the dealer to send it to AGL. If it comes back ok, then you can buy the stone. If you are cynical and want to be sure it’s the exact stone, AGL will ship to any address specified. This means the dealer can send the stone to AGL, AGL says it’s good, you buy it from the dealer, then the dealer tells AGL to ship the stone to you address. I have asked a dealer to get a stone certified for me but I had to pay the cost. It sounds complicated but it is not.

I’m not sure of your exact concern hence the random ideas.

 

[minousbijoux]

I don't understand. You have an unheated stone with a sizable eye visible inclusion. The color is pretty and it is a large size, but with that level of inclusion, the stone should have a significant discount. Depending upon how visible the inclusion is, $13k may not be a deal at all - I doubt I'd be considering it.

 

[MollyMalone]

Is McLean, VA too much of a drive for you? Martin Fuller is the independent appraiser in the Delmarva area I would recommend:
http://martinfullerappraisals.com

I don't know if they could accommodate you in the timeframe Lazar might be willing to extend, but there's no reason not to call.

Especially since the gem already has a GIA report, I'd be surprised if Lazar would be willing for you to withhold payment until after the stone makes a trip to AGL and you see it in person.

ETA: honestly, I think it's most important to see the stone for yourself -- and get objective feedback from a good appraiser who has, as rockysalamander said, no skin in the game. AGL doesn't do appraisals & I don't think any of us has good reason to think that GIA's conclusion the sapphire has not been heated is erroneous. I've not heard of GIA making that fundamental mistake.

 

[Bron357]

I think you’re doing the right thing.
See the sapphire, twirl it around, look at it at arms length which is normal viewing distance (no one -normally - runs around with a Loupe to whip out and take a x20 look at your gem) and see if the silk cloud worries you.
Some people are very flaw conscious and seeing imperfections troubles them, and that’s fine, others like me prefer the natural imperfections, they are the life story of that gems creation and are unique and special to that gem. On the plus side, no one will ever be able to “switch it out” on you!

 

[lmyracle]

To clear th8ngs up, my local jeweler isn’t charging me 1k to see this ring. He was doing legwork to help find me the ring and bargain down with the wholesaler on price. So I pay my local jeweler 1k on top f a negotiated wholesaler price. BUT this is different because it’s a stone I found on my own. So he won’t charge me the 1k since he didn’t find it. I was thinking of using him as an intermediary so I can see the stone.

I see the inclusion but I don’t THINK it would be that bad....but I want to see it for my own eyes in person before I buy it. The Wholesaler even wants me to see it because computer screens can vary and he wants me to be happy too.

I hope that makes sense.

Perhaps using an appraiser would be a good route too. Thank you. (And so many positive comments about David Klass! Note made.)

 

[rockysalamander]

A PS recommended appraise...not any random person from the phone book. If you are comfortable giving the nearest big cities to you, folks may have personal knowledge of a appraiser.

 

[lmyracle]

CA jeweler will have a friend in the area in a few weeks. He will bring the sapphire for me to see. Ironically, it’s 10 miles from my local jeweler. Hopefully it’s as pretty as a the picture.

Minousbijoux, did you see the video? Do you really think the inclusion is that bad??

 

[lmyracle]

I’m near Hunt Valley, MD.

 

[digdeep]

Despite some of the chao's and confusion in this process, I wish you the very best in seeing this gem in person. And of course.......keep us in the loop as this unfolds!

 

[lmyracle]

After sleeping on this, I’ve decided against the sapphire from Lazar. Just going with my gut.

The hunt continues.

 

[Miki Moto]

Does it have to be unheated?
I have gone through four sapphires, heated and not. My current is a 6.05 heated Ceylon which I love. The papers say it’s very good. There is some extinction, and it is great color but it is not perfect. I put it in a blingy mounting and love it.

My unheated sapphire I thought I loved until I saw a better one. Then I saw a bigger one with a color I liked better. I stopped getting too fixated in search for perfection and these are natural stones. I love my big blingy ring now and this is my final sapphire.

I wear my sapphire all the time and know every inch of it, including the nicks I put on it and I still love it.

Can you live with a heated sapphire? It will be prettier, they are easier to find, and with your price point you can even get a bigger stone.

Just a thought.

 

[lmyracle]

Does it have to be unheated?
I have gone through four sapphires, heated and not. My current is a 6.05 heated Ceylon which I love. The papers say it’s very good. There is some extinction, and it is great color but it is not perfect. I put it in a blingy mounting and love it.

My unheated sapphire I thought I loved until I saw a better one. Then I saw a bigger one with a color I liked better. I stopped getting too fixated in search for perfection and these are natural stones. I love my big blingy ring now and this is my final sapphire.

I wear my sapphire all the time and know every inch of it, including the nicks I put on it and I still love it.

Can you live with a heated sapphire? It will be prettier, they are easier to find, and with your price point you can even get a bigger stone.

Just a thought.

I’d love to see your bling! I have no problem with heated. Wearing something pretty, that I love, is most important. The original sapphire I’d been looking at was heated. It had a bad diamond and that’s another story. Where did you get yours and any recommendations? I’ve looked at some of the vendors hat have been referenced on here and there’s not much of a supply.

 

[Stone Hunter]

After sleeping on this, I’ve decided against the sapphire from Lazar. Just going with my gut.

The hunt continues.

Always go with your gut! Good luck and try to enjoy the hunt!!

 

[Miki Moto]

Here is my sapphire. It’s heated and even though it’s not perfect, I love it as it was chosen by me.

I bought the stone loose at a jewelry event, picked out a JB Star semi-mount, and they created a custom head for it. Sadly, the local jeweler no longer does these events.

If you want a loose stone, I like gem shows. I went for the first time to the Tucson gem show and loved. The biggest thing I love about it was that I could see all different qualities of stones. I went looking for a Colombian emerald and spent 3 days buzzing around looking at every darn emerald. It was quite exhausting really but I saw a lot. After 3 days, I knew so much more about emeralds and most important what I liked and did not like. I also knew the one I wanted... it was that clear to me. I concluded the best stone is what your eyes love, not what is supposed to be the best color or best cut. And forget about perfection unless you are a collector or investor which I am not. I buy purely to enjoy. So my mantra now is to always buy what puts and ear to ear smile on my face, regardless of papers.

I hope this helps. Hope these photos are ok. I am not the best at taking good photos but you can get an idea of a loose stone then set in a semi-mount. It was really easy, and as I mentioned before, I had a really bad experience with a “custom-made” hence I will probably never do a true custom-made again and prefer semi-mounts.

Good luck to you! I know you will find your stone.

 

[Bron357]

Found this delight on eBay (I’m the eBay addict!). Similar shade to the other one you liked.
4.75 carats - nice even colour in my book.
No certification so I’d assume heat treated if you don’t mind that.
Price is $9,800 or offer, I’d assume they’d take around $9,500 (I’d offer $9,300 first off).
I actually think the setting is classic but you could always sell the mount with the diamonds for around $1,000 (or make a nice little pair of earrings even).
Item number is 321600439236, established seller based in Canada. Seller is selling a lot of top line and top dollar items so they are obviously pros.

 

[MollyMalone]

Found this delight on eBay (I’m the eBay addict!). Similar shade to the other one you liked.
4.75 carats - nice even colour in my book.
No certification so I’d assume heat treated if you don’t mind that.
Price is $9,800 or offer, I’d assume they’d take around $9,500 (I’d offer $9,300 first off).
I actually think the setting is classic but you could always sell the mount with the diamonds for around $1,000 (or make a nice little pair of earrings even).
Item number is 321600439236, established seller based in Canada. Seller is selling a lot of top line and top dollar items so they are obviously pros.

Unfortunately, that seller has a "no returns" policy, which would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[lmyracle]

Here is my sapphire. It’s heated and even though it’s not perfect, I love it as it was chosen by me.

I bought the stone loose at a jewelry event, picked out a JB Star semi-mount, and they created a custom head for it. Sadly, the local jeweler no longer does these events.

If you want a loose stone, I like gem shows. I went for the first time to the Tucson gem show and loved. The biggest thing I love about it was that I could see all different qualities of stones. I went looking for a Colombian emerald and spent 3 days buzzing around looking at every darn emerald. It was quite exhausting really but I saw a lot. After 3 days, I knew so much more about emeralds and most important what I liked and did not like. I also knew the one I wanted... it was that clear to me. I concluded the best stone is what your eyes love, not what is supposed to be the best color or best cut. And forget about perfection unless you are a collector or investor which I am not. I buy purely to enjoy. So my mantra now is to always buy what puts and ear to ear smile on my face, regardless of papers.

I hope this helps. Hope these photos are ok. I am not the best at taking good photos but you can get an idea of a loose stone then set in a semi-mount. It was really easy, and as I mentioned before, I had a really bad experience with a “custom-made” hence I will probably never do a true custom-made again and prefer semi-mounts.

Good luck to you! I know you will find your stone.

Your ring is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing and sharing your experience. There’s a jewelry show here in August. At this rate, it might be worth waiting a bit longer. Thanks so much for all of the ideas and the advice. I truly appreciate it!


Bron357 - thank you. That stone is pretty too and I don’t mind heated but how would I know if it’s a heated sapphire or just a piece of glass?

 

[MollyMalone]

After sleeping on this, I’ve decided against the sapphire from Lazar. Just going with my gut.

The hunt continues.

I hope you'll sleep well tonight : - )
May I suggest that you start a fresh thread with your target budget; photos of ring styles that you're contemplating (that will have a bearing on how much you can spend on the sapphire itself); photos of some of the sapphires that have appealed to you on the basis of their pics; and what else you'd like in the sapphire, e.g., shape(s), face-up dimensions, approx ct weight, that heated is OK. Also, if you would consider a pre-owned ring, it would be helpful to know your ring size, so the collective we can keep our eyes peeled for a ring you might like that wouldn't require much, if any, re-sizing.

With this information packaged in a new OP, I'm hopeful we can help move you forward to making your vision a reality!

 

[lmyracle]

I’ll do that! Thank you!