What's most important-- color, cut, or clarity?

[thekid98]

I'm considering two blue sapphires for an e-ring. One has incredible color, but is pretty silky. It has some sparkle coming through, but it definitely glows more than it shimmers. The second stone has nice color, but not knockout color; but it sparkles like a diamond. The second stone is twice the price, mainly due to the fact that "the market" prefers clearer, more sparkly stones. I was intending on creating a nice custom diamond pave halo setting for my stone, but if I go with the more expensive stone, I would have to scrap the custom setting for a basic Tiffany style mount (the cheapest available), with no upgrading anytime soon. What do you all think? Knockout color with less sparkle (but not a dead stone), or nice color, but with great, scintillating sparkle (at twice $$)? If you could have only one- color or sparkle, which would be your priority?

Here's a few shots...

Stone 1-- sleepy, beautiful color... [2.07ct, 8.0 x 7.1mm, cushion/oval, ceylon, heated, $1900]



Stone 2-- respectable color, awesome performer... [2.10ct, 7.6 x 6mm, oval, ceylon, heated, $4000]


FWIW, there's no green in stone 2, has a nice blue hue- just bad camera.

Thanks!

 

[chrono]

Although colour is always the most important C in coloured gemstones, it is by no means the only C under consideration. It has to be balanced by cut, clarity, treatment and size.

Stone 1 has very good colour but is too included. It is more translucent than transparent, so that is a heavy ding on its valuation.
Stone 2 looks to have cut issues (a lot of dark areas).

If I had the choice, I would pick neither.

 

[movie zombie]

imo, the center stone is more important than the setting. i'd be sacrificing $ spent on a setting to get the best possible color stone i could afford. no matter how nice a setting may be, it is not going to make up for an unsatisfactory color stone....in fact, it may make it look worse.

if i only had to choose between those two? the first one because color reigns and i like the sleepy characteristic.

however, the truth is that perhaps you should keep searching.

 

[OTL]

I would choose the first stone 100 times

Half the price and that's the only color I want for a sapphire.

 

[kenny]

"What's most important?" is a loaded question, actually it is a question that does not have an answer.
It implies that there is one answer that applies to everyone.
There isn't.

There IS, "What is most valued?"
What is most expensive is what is most valued.

But individuals are free to prefer something that the marketplace has not established to be most valuable.

 

[stargurl78]

I agree with Kenny's post - it really is a matter of personal preference.

If it were me, hands down, I would pick number one. Unless a colored stone has an absolutely terrible cut or a huge window, color will always trump the other Cs for me when it comes to colored stones. I don't mind the silkiness. And the lower price makes it even more appealing.

 

[FrekeChild]

One. If I had to choose between those two anyway. I have a sapphire that is less than ideal. Dark in most lighting and silky like whoa. In the sunlight, it glows cobalt blue.

So, which do you like more?

 

[minousbijoux]

What are the dimensions on the first one? Is it my imagination, or does it have a shallow cut?

 

[JewelFreak]

If you (or your fiancee) don't mind a very silky stone, the color of the first one is nice. I wondered about a shallow cut too -- hard to tell from the photo. If it were me, I'd keep looking -- neither of these is one to wear for a lifetime. Definitely save your money on the last one!

--- Laurie

 

[thekid98]

Would it be at all helpful for me to bring an appraiser in on this? I mean, is making judgements like this something an appraiser would do, or would they mainly focus on measuring the stone and arriving at a monetary value (so I'd at least know I wasn't overpaying?)? I feel like I'm wholly unqualified to determine the better value here. I already paid for the silky stone, so I can take that one to an appraiser (found a good one here on PS). Is an appraiser equipped to to make determinations like this? Are they able to tell me "this stone is a great pick", or "you could do better at this price", etc.? Or is an appraiser's role more to determine a monetary value only-- based on measurable parameters only?

Stone 1 is a bit shallower cut (about 4.65mm if I remember right).
Stone 2 has a deeper pavilion (about 5.6mm, I think).

Here are the appraisers I could see:
https://www.pricescope.com/appraisers/harry_cannon
https://www.pricescope.com/appraisers/david_buchkosky

 

[minousbijoux]

Except for ascertaining replacement value for insurance purposes, an appraisor is largely irrelevant at this point in time, unless you want to have them weigh in on what the attributes and deficits are in each stone and which, from a market perspective, would be likely to be more attractive. But in a way, by the prices, you've already ascertained that. At this point, it seems to be which can you live with for a long time? I hate to pile on, but I too think you can do better for the price with a little looking - sorry

As to the shallowness, the depth is about 65%, which is not unreasonable [caution: the precision cutters here do not recommend drawing conclusions about its quality level by depth calculations, but instead have kindly made it clear that more important than the number are the facet angles and how they meet up. That said, I still find the depth number to be helpful]. The reason I thought it might be shallow is that the center is slightly lighter, almost like it has a window. I was wondering if due to its opacity, they had cut it a bit thinner, like a slice (you see that with a lot of cheaper stones), which they would not do in a stone of higher clarity because it would cause a window.

 

[chrono]

Minou,
I'm with you on the cut. I think they cut shallower angles on the last few tiers to allow more light into the stone in an attempt to increase its tranparency.

 

[LD]

Which is more important to you?

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what we think. You have to wear it and love it!

Colour (for me) is king but if the cut is wonky that it will annoy me or the clarity affects the performance of the gemstone then it's a no go area!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I love the color of the first stone but do not like sleepy stones. So I would pick number 2.

 

[chrono]

Would it be at all helpful for me to bring an appraiser in on this? I mean, is making judgements like this something an appraiser would do, or would they mainly focus on measuring the stone and arriving at a monetary value (so I'd at least know I wasn't overpaying?)? I feel like I'm wholly unqualified to determine the better value here. I already paid for the silky stone, so I can take that one to an appraiser (found a good one here on PS). Is an appraiser equipped to to make determinations like this? Are they able to tell me "this stone is a great pick", or "you could do better at this price", etc.? Or is an appraiser's role more to determine a monetary value only-- based on measurable parameters only?

Stone 1 is a bit shallower cut (about 4.65mm if I remember right).
Stone 2 has a deeper pavilion (about 5.6mm, I think).

Here are the appraisers I could see:
https://www.pricescope.com/appraisers/harry_cannon
https://www.pricescope.com/appraisers/david_buchkosky

Most appraisers verify the stone and assign a replacement value for insurance or replacement purposes. A few might be able to advise you on the quality. Best to contact both appraisers and ask.

 

[Upgradable]

Kid,

You are asking great questions! That's what colored stone buying is about. Get all the information you can, ask other's what they think and WHY, then decide what you is most important to you. And then, the most important, go with your heart/gut!

You've heard that different people have different thoughts and preferences. It is completely your choice!

 

[thekid98]

Update and additional questions...

First off, thanks to all for the feedback. I ended up taking stone 1 to an appraiser just for fun, and he found it to be: "fine" quality, slightly violetish-Blue, medium to medium dark tone, with strong saturation. He acknowledged it is a sleepy stone, but not the sleepiest he's seen.

Chrono- Your comment "neither" really got me thinking. At my price-point can I choose "neither", and actually find a stone with great color and brilliance, or do I need to accept that a stone that combines top-color with good clarity/brilliance will be out of my budget?

My goal: get the "best" stone I can afford (best = quality from a market perspective, $ value , overall beauty). My budget says I need to keep it around $3000-$3500. Hoping for a rectangular cushion, (but an oval would work too), about 2ct (~8.0x6.0mm), Blue or slightly violetish-Blue (no green), strong or better brilliance, good cut, and all the other usual wants (no/minimal tilt window, little extinction, etc.).

Do stones like this even exist at my price point? I realize having a finite budget/time means compromise. I also realize no natural gem is perfect. Maybe when I started this thread, my question should have been: Given constraints of budget and time, in what order should I prioritize what to look for in a stone (assuming I can't afford to "have it all"? Given my ~2ct desire, do stones like I've described above exist within my budget, or should I just accept that any stone with good color, etc will have other issues, thus making my goal: "Find a stone with flaws you can live with..."

Or... are there stones like I'm hoping for out there and I just need to broaden my search?

Thanks again all- you've been an immense resource! I could see this becoming a new hobby for me, even after I finish this e-ring!

 

[thekid98]

I suppose it's obvious- that $3-3.5k figure is a ceiling. Of course I would be interested in a stone with all that, and a lower price tag!

 

[chrono]

The "problem". which really isn't a problem in the truest sense, is that you have a time constraint and you are buying at a local store, so you have a limited number of stones available and a deadline. If I had to absolutely pick one, then sapphire 1 is my choice. If I had more time, I would keep looking. Don't get me wrong though - sapphire 1 has fabulous saturation. If I cannot have it all, colour wins for me every time hands down. The only downside to the sapphire is the sleepiness which is too much for my personal taste.