What is the little line on this sapphire?

[ohehmeyer]

Stats:

Product type Blue Sapphire
Shape Cushion
Dimention mm. 7.1 x Depth 4.2
Carat weight 1.87
Color Medium Royal Blue
Clarity VVS1-Eye Clean
Luster Full Sparkle
Treatment Unheated

What is the odd little vertical line on the upper portion of this sapphire. The slick Bangkok dealer says:

"It''s just nature line, not crack or fracture inside the stone. Also it''s very hard to notice with naked eye. Remember we use macro 25 X to shot."

A "nature line"? What the heck?

I''m trying to aquire some sapphires to make some earrings for my fiance. I so fell in love with her sapphrie e-ring I got last month that I can''t stop looking at sapphires, bought Richard Hughes book, etc..

Any help on what this little is would be nice. I''m afraid it is a fracture waiting to crack.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/25/2006 7:01:30 PM
Author:ohehmeyer


What is the odd little vertical line on the upper portion of this sapphire. The slick Bangkok dealer says:

'It's just nature line, not crack or fracture inside the stone. Also it's very hard to notice with naked eye. Remember we use macro 25 X to shot.'

A 'nature line'? What the heck?

... some sort of inclusion... names by someone with shaky English (btw. this isn't my language either - so I may sympathise more

with their grammar problem)

I should probably know what type of inclusion it is exactly, but do not.

Would guess it could be a line needle-like included crystal or a particularly small feather arranged perpendicular the the table. But judging from the way it reflects from the pavilion facet onto the crown, this may just be a fault in the polish on the outside of the pavilion facet there - it wouldn't be inconceivable. And this sounds closer to the exotic 'nature line' description too. In any case, no way this could run through the entire stone, and not give way during cutting.

Taking magnification into account, I would tend to agree with the seller that it must be discreet in person.


Another thing though: the color in the picture is quite a bit lighter than I'd expect 'Royal blue' to be. Sure enough, that is a commercial term with no substance (i.e. every seller can call 'royal blue' whatever they want), but the picture could be too flattering for a light grayish-blue sapphire. The price may reflect this too. If there is a return policy, it can't hurt to try it out though - light blue sapphires have a big fan club and you may just get hooked

 

[Edward Bristol]

It is surely not a fractur waiting to crack and it will surely not be visible with the unaided eye. Furthermore the way it is positioned will not effect the luster. I bet on needle.

The stone looks good. He might be rather steel blue. Yet a nice color, I think, depending on the price.

Remark: If the seller is Thai you shouldn''t be to hard on his grammar, because it is extremly difficult for them to learn English. A foreign language in a completely different letter, tone and grammar system is quite a challenge. Learning french is kindergarten first year against that.

Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com

 

[ohehmeyer]

I have been thinking of making earrings. My first post dealt with rock 1 of 2. Here is a link to the 2nd rock

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-25-CT-VVS-TOP-NATURAL-UNHEATED-KANCHANABURI-SAPPHIRE_W0QQitemZ5080338078QQcategoryZ110884QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

If that doesn''t work, it is Ebay Item No. 5080338078

Do you guys think the color is close enough to rock #1, the one with the small line? I''m not convinced it is.

The price on the first stone is $399.99 and this 2nd one is a no-reserve auction.

My apologies if my initial post seemed insensitive to the difficulties of learning English. I have been taking classes in Mandarin Chinese. Tones, no alphabet . . . it is so hard. I''m amazed anyone can learn English after internalizing a tonal language. Any Thai gem dealer knows English way better than I know Chinese. That’s for sure.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/25/2006 9:01:36 PM
Author: ohehmeyer

I have been thinking of making earrings. My first post dealt with rock 1 of 2. Here is a link to the 2nd rock

Can they find a match for you? It may be a safer bet than relying on pictures.

My 2c

 

[DiamondExpert]

I agree - you''re really sticking your neck out trying to buy a matching pair of colored stones via pics...way risky. Someone (and preferably an experienced someone) needs to have both stones in hand...unless you really don''t care about the expense and the very real probability of being disappointed.