What''s wrong with this sapphire?

[MommaChristine]

Edited because nothing showed up.

 

[MommaChristine]

Oh that''s irritating! Let me try this again ..

Registry Number 5801
Variety Sapphire
Species Corundum
Weight 1.22ct
Shape Cushion
Cut Concave Brilliant
Length 6.4mm
Width 6.0mm
Hue
Tone
Saturation
Clarity Class
Clarity Grade
Enhancement H - Heating
Price $630.00
Comments: Deep blue with teal secondaries; Big look for very little cash; clean & bright!

Ok. What''s wrong with that sapphire? I realize it''s a bit dark but that seems to be what catches my eye. I love Brown Eyed Girls sapphire and prefer the darker stones to the cornflower hues. I do want the stone to appear bright without the actual color being bright and I''d like it to sparkle .. from what I''ve read the conclave stones do that so why is this stone so cheap? Bad cut? Color?

 

[ma re]

There''s nothing actually "wrong" with it, but I can clarify you why it''s price isn''t higher. First of all it''s heated - treated stones always come with a discount (at least when talking sapphires). It has a teal secondary hue, which further reduces the price, as stones with a purple secondary (or with no secondary at all) are generally more expensive. It could also be darker than the photo suggests, and if I see what I think I see it''s color coverage could also be better (color should be evenly distributed throughout the stone). BTW, many sites that sell concave cut stones mention that they''re "sparkly". However, be sure to learn the diference between brilliance (what those sites refer to) and scintillation, or play of light within a stone. If this last thing is what you''re after i.e. a stone with a lot of life that seems to have light dancing inside, I''d go with stones of traditional cuts instead of concaves.

 

[Sagebrush]

Momma,

Teal is a nice way of saying green and a green secondary hue shoves the gem off the dizzying heights and into the realm of commercial quality. The other characteristic that is blatantly visible is what I call in my book Secrets, "multi-color affect." Some prefer "dichroic affect" This is fairly common in sapphire and it is quite pronounced in this gemstone. What you are seeing are tonal variations (light-dark) of the blue color. Some areas are powdery, others medium and a few quite dark and rich. This lack of uniformity is considered a fault.

That said, all of this is reflected or should I say refracted in the modest asking price.

Best,

 

[MommaChristine]

Is it safe to say that while it''s not the most beautiful stone .. it''s still pretty and "unique"? Is it a good price considering it''s flaws or could I do better for a temporary stone?

 

[geckodani]

Date: 1/15/2009 8:06:11 AM
Author: MommaChristine
Is it safe to say that while it''s not the most beautiful stone .. it''s still pretty and ''unique''? Is it a good price considering it''s flaws or could I do better for a temporary stone?

Well - do YOU like it? Will the color variances bother you? They wouldn''t me, especially if I was looking to stay in a budget - but I''m not a purist, LOL.

It''s a nice size, and I definitely think it''s unique.

 

[Upgradable]

Date: 1/15/2009 8:30:40 AM
Author: geckodani

Date: 1/15/2009 8:06:11 AM
Author: MommaChristine
Is it safe to say that while it''s not the most beautiful stone .. it''s still pretty and ''unique''? Is it a good price considering it''s flaws or could I do better for a temporary stone?

Well - do YOU like it? Will the color variances bother you? They wouldn''t me, especially if I was looking to stay in a budget - but I''m not a purist, LOL.

It''s a nice size, and I definitely think it''s unique.

And very pretty!! Does the vendor have a return policy? I really believe you HAVE to see colored stones in person..... see how they react in various lighting conditions, to form a good opinion for yourself.

 

[chrono]

This appears to be a Richard Homer stone. All the experts have given good reasons for the pricing. All that matters now is whether YOU love it. I''m sure he has a very good return policy.

 

[laurel25]

Date: 1/15/2009 7:04:06 AM
Author: ma re
There''s nothing actually ''wrong'' with it, but I can clarify you why it''s price isn''t higher. First of all it''s heated - treated stones always come with a discount (at least when talking sapphires). It has a teal secondary hue, which further reduces the price, as stones with a purple secondary (or with no secondary at all) are generally more expensive. It could also be darker than the photo suggests, and if I see what I think I see it''s color coverage could also be better (color should be evenly distributed throughout the stone). BTW, many sites that sell concave cut stones mention that they''re ''sparkly''. However, be sure to learn the diference between brilliance (what those sites refer to) and scintillation, or play of light within a stone. If this last thing is what you''re after i.e. a stone with a lot of life that seems to have light dancing inside, I''d go with stones of traditional cuts instead of concaves.

Ditto this - concaves (what I have) tend to glow or glitter more than sparkle if that makes sense. I personally love them, but the are not for everyone. They blow you away in diffused daylight/incandescent light, but can be underwhelming under flourescent lighting.

 

[LD]

How do you feel when you look at it? Does it make you rush for your credit card? Forget the technical bits - if it makes you want it, buy it!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Ditto LD - if it speaks to you, buy it

 

[movie zombie]

can your budget stand several thousand per carat? if so wait for the perfect stone. if not i''d grab this puppy and not look back.

one thing i''ve read about concave cuts is that it is used to reduce the effects of inclusions. however, i think that richard homer has his own reasons besides that for doing concave cutting!

you really could do much worse than this stone....and pay more $ for it.

movie zombie

 

[poshpepper]

Date: 1/15/2009 11:57:37 AM
Author: laurel25

Date: 1/15/2009 7:04:06 AM
Author: ma re
There's nothing actually 'wrong' with it, but I can clarify you why it's price isn't higher. First of all it's heated - treated stones always come with a discount (at least when talking sapphires). It has a teal secondary hue, which further reduces the price, as stones with a purple secondary (or with no secondary at all) are generally more expensive. It could also be darker than the photo suggests, and if I see what I think I see it's color coverage could also be better (color should be evenly distributed throughout the stone). BTW, many sites that sell concave cut stones mention that they're 'sparkly'. However, be sure to learn the diference between brilliance (what those sites refer to) and scintillation, or play of light within a stone. If this last thing is what you're after i.e. a stone with a lot of life that seems to have light dancing inside, I'd go with stones of traditional cuts instead of concaves.

Ditto this - concaves (what I have) tend to glow or glitter more than sparkle if that makes sense. I personally love them, but the are not for everyone. They blow you away in diffused daylight/incandescent light, but can be underwhelming under flourescent lighting.

Sorry for the slight threadjack... but Laurel, does your stone exhibit fire (colored light return other than the body color of the sapphire) in daylight/incandescent light?
I have always wanted a concave cut... just wondering about the particulars...
BTW my sapphire is pretty underwhelming in fluorescent lighting as well... I just think that is the nature of the stone properties more than the cut (mine is native).
[/end threadjack]

 

[laurel25]

Date: 1/15/2009 7:19:44 PM
Author: poshpepper
Sorry for the slight threadjack... but Laurel, does your stone exhibit fire (colored light return other than the body color of the sapphire) in daylight/incandescent light?
I have always wanted a concave cut... just wondering about the particulars...
BTW my sapphire is pretty underwhelming in fluorescent lighting as well... I just think that is the nature of the stone properties more than the cut (mine is native).
[/end threadjack]

No, there really isn''t much fire to speak of - at least not in the same way that a diamond has fire, but there are flashes of and almost ultraviolet color throughout the stone. Due to the concave facets, the flashes appear more to glitter than flash if that makes sense and under bright diffused daylight the stone just glows bright blue. I don''t know how else to describe it. I attached a picture where you can see the flashes, but it''s pretty blurry. I got the stone in October and only had it for about a week and a half before it got sent out to be set, so I didn''t get it back until the end of November. I''m up in MN, so we don''t have a whole lot of daylight around here this time of year and I haven''t gotten to really play with it in good light to photograph it since it was set.

 

[poshpepper]

Thanks for the reply laurel, and your sapphire is just gorgeous!!!