Who wants to help me find the Bluest Sapphire E-Ring?

[Jesusfreak]

Hey all,

Some might have seen my original post and I am making one because I am simply having a hard time finding stones at reasonable prices. I have contacted just about every avenue I can get my hands on and everything is just impossible.

As the title states, I am looking for something above 2 carats. Really I would like something to face up around 7.5mm round at the least. The bigger the better without the sacrifice of quality of course. I am not crazy about violet or purple influence in the stone as I am sure she wont appreciate a "Blue Sapphire" to have purple in it for good reason that I agree with.

Let me keep this simple:

Criteria:

Kashmir Blue to Royal Blue Cornflower
Highly Saturated
No Windows
No Extinctions
No Black outs
Unheated or untreated in any way
Budget = 2K-2.5K/Carat @ Most

Picture 1 & 2 are example I pulled up through a google search.

Picture 3 is going to be the engagement ring with Picture 4 being the wedding band/Enhancer.

I have attached some pictures of what I have in mind. I have spent The first half of 2013 looking for a stone and it has been eye opening to what is out there and just how rare and scarce some of these high quality stones can be.

Any advice, direction, opinions, comments, and recommendations are more than welcome!

Thank You all!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

God Bless

Ulysses

 

[corundum_conundrum]

Your first picture shows a stone with a hint of purple, so are you absolutely certain you don't want a stone modified by ANY purple whatsoever? Maybe you are okay with a little touch of purple.

The more you are willing to compromise on certain criteria (size, shape, treatment etc.) the quicker you will be able to find a top notch stone.

This one is 2.5 k/ct. I think its gorgeous. Again, a bit of purple. If I recall you didn't like a lighter one from gemfix, but I'll suggest it anyway:



Have you contacted Jeff White or Gary Braun or other precision cutters?

 

[peacechick]

Ulysses, where are you located?

I wonder if it would help you to make a trip to where one of the vendors is located (e.g. Gemfix in San Diego), or alternatively go to a gem show. There you would be able to compare a number of stones to one another and to make the assessment about how you feel about the color and cut in person. As you've been searching for quite a while, I wonder if you've gotten a bit stuck staring at so many stones on the monitor and wondering if they match up in real life and then not making progress.

In your case, you seem to know what you want to pay for what you want, so it feels like maybe you need to see more stones in person and fall in love with one...

 

[SB621]

Your first photo has a purple coloring in it- I would actually say it is a very strong purple modifier but I'm not an expert.

What about switching shapes. I think if you went for an oval (face up larger for ctw) or cushion (face up smaller then ctw) you will find more options.

 

[Jesusfreak]

Your first picture shows a stone with a hint of purple, so are you absolutely certain you don't want a stone modified by ANY purple whatsoever? Maybe you are okay with a little touch of purple.

The more you are willing to compromise on certain criteria (size, shape, treatment etc.) the quicker you will be able to find a top notch stone.

This one is 2.5 k/ct. I think its gorgeous. Again, a bit of purple. If I recall you didn't like a lighter one from gemfix, but I'll suggest it anyway:



Have you contacted Jeff White or Gary Braun or other precision cutters?

Honestly,

The more I look at stones, the more I feel that purple needs to exist to illuminate any black out.

I didn't realize the purple but now I kinda see what yall are seeing.

I like that one from Gemfix. I asked about it and they haven't responded to me about the stone.

I am willing to compromise but I would like to stick with an oval or cushion stone. I would like a stone bigger than 2 carats but I think being untreated is really what has held my search tight.

Thanks for the quick responses.

Any other finds please send them my way!!

Ulysses

 

[Jesusfreak]

I am in Florida and don't feel that I would be able to make it far at all without someone knowing that I am going to look at stones of some sort. Its hard enough to check out local retail stores on the weekends. The only stones that I was able to look at were in retail stores and they were of really low quality. All they knew was the diameter and what was written on a little scratch paper that came with it.

They sold 99% diamonds so they knew nothing about Gemstones so it was pretty much a waste of our time. This was a few months back when I didn't think it would hurt to ask them to look for one.

Anyways,

What other thoughts do you have?

Thanks

Ulysses

 

[minousbijoux]

I think you will have more luck if you relax some of your standards, or expect to pay more per carat.

 

[peacechick]

What about this stone? It comes with an AGl cert saying its untreated and its over 2 cts. Minousbijoux, I think you have commented on this stone before right?

http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/2-dot-56ct-agl-unheated-ceylon-sapphire

 

[minousbijoux]

What about this stone? It comes with an AGl cert saying its untreated and its over 2 cts. Minousbijoux, I think you have commented on this stone before right?

http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/2-dot-56ct-agl-unheated-ceylon-sapphire

Nice find, Peachchick. The stone definitely is not vivid, but its pretty, its unheated, and its the right price.

 

[slksapphire]

jesusfreak,

i'm with MB on this one. i really hate to disappoint, but i believe that the market pricing for what you say you want is quite a bit higher than your price range. in fact, my understanding is that you would be lucky to find the parameters you seek for a HEATED stone that is much less than $2,500 per carat.

there is a very informative posting by justincutter about sapphire pricing from the tucson fair entitled: tucson 2013, a consumer's perspective.

also, here is a link to an article that mentions violet-coloring in gem-quality sapphires ... enjoy and good luck.

http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/sapphire_connoisseurship.htm

 

[FrekeChild]

Your expectations exceed your budget.

Question: Could you ix-nay on such an elaborate wedding ring, and use the savings there towards the center stone? Or did your girlfriend pick it out and no other will do?

Also, you gave a per carat price, and said that you want over 2cts, but you haven't given us a ceiling. I could find a 6ct round that hits the $2,500/ct price, but it totals out to being $15,000. So what is your maximum budget for the stone?

This is as close as I could find. Did you know that in all of NSC's inventory there are a total of TEN round blue sapphires above the price of $2,500? TEN. Over $2,500, blue and all shapes? 230 stones. That's a ridiculously small 4% of their blue sapphire inventory over $2,500! Do you see the needle in the haystack yet? Blue sapphire prices are going up.

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Blue/B5201/Round/stoneid=B5201

And I hate bringing traffic to NSC's site because I think they suck as a company.

 

[royalstarrynight]

To address your title. If you want the BLUEST Sapphire. You gotta give us some major cash leeway to find something amazing.

Going to reiterate what has been said above more clearly and say,"something's gotta give" Size or color.

This is a tad smaller than what you want and already in a setting but the color is spectacular! Plus the setting is lovely too
http://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-colored-stone-center/platinum-sapphire-ring

Just as a side question, have you asked whether she likes the wrap? it looks like it might take up a lot of vertical space, which she potentially doesn't have. I bring this up, because I often run into this issue.

 

[Jesusfreak]

I am flexible on the size but don't want to sacrifice the color. I didnt put a budget because a stone a 6 carats with perfeft color would be substantial. No i don't have 15k for a stone nor do I think I would find something with good color above 3 carats at 2.5k/carat. I like the oval that was posted at 3600 but I dont know if it would be too light. The last stone posted is simply too small. I want the ring and enhancer and it will be the final touches that will make it the way I believe she will love and adore. That money is set apart and the ring wouldn't be the same without it.

Thank you for all the response!!

Ulysses

 

[minousbijoux]

I wish you luck in your search! I'm still not sure you will be able to find what you seek without some sacrifice. If I were you, I would at least let heated stones into the mix. And it sounds like you are maxed out somewhere between 2-3 carats, assuming $2500/ct?

 

[FrekeChild]

Good luck and happy searching!!

 

[peacechick]

I believe the oval I linked to is $2600, not $3600. I don't know if that makes a difference if the color is not dark enough. It does meet most of your criteria though. You could ask for more photos to check the color. Remember that the stone will be darker once you set it.

Good luck!

 

[Jesusfreak]

That's right Peachchick. Thank you

Mino,

I will continue but in would rather stick with a smaller stone than a heated one. If it was heated it would have been that 4.88 monster from gene. Didn't really have the funds or I might have considered it.

Thanks guys!

Yall are great help.

Ulysses

 

[slksapphire]

hi ulysses,

just want to make sure i understand your desire. if you are willing to consider the stone peachchick posted (which is clearly in your budget but certainly NOT well saturated NOR vivid), it sounds to me that unheated is more important to you then saturation/color. is that true? because i think you can get a more saturated, vivid stone in your budget if it is heated.

i am NOT telling you that you shouldn't pursue an unheated stone (it was also a high priority for me). but what i AM saying is that something's gotta give, and it sounds like you are telling us it's saturation.

fwiw, something had to give for me, too, and that was clarity. if you turn my stone a certain way, there is a clearly visible feather. the good news is that you can't really see it since it is set and you need to look at the stone tilted on its side to see the inclusion. the rest of the stone is almost perfectly clear, hence the "transitional" grading of clarity.)

 

[slksapphire]

i know this stone is heated, but what do you think of the saturation and color?

http://www.rwwise.com/products/id|1877

at 20% off, it is slightly more than $2500/ct but may still be in the zone.

 

[Jesusfreak]

i know this stone is heated, but what do you think of the saturation and color?

http://www.rwwise.com/products/id|1877

at 20% off, it is slightly more than $2500/ct but may still be in the zone.

I saw this stone in another post and it seems as though its sold.

I could be wrong but it would also be something that I am not interested in because of it being heated.

If its going to be heated, its going to be over 4 carats and will be an oval stone.

I originally like rounds but I learned to appreciate ovals more now and think they will fit better in the setting.

Thanks for the input.

Ulysses

 

[Jesusfreak]

http://www.rwwise.com/products/id%7C2011

this is ultimately the stone I would love to get my hands on but its just a tad small for the size that it is. That would be the one thing in this case that would be holding me back just to give you guys a better understanding of what I am looking for.

Thanks

Ulysses

 

[michellechan2211]

I am flexible on the size but don't want to sacrifice the color. I didnt put a budget because a stone a 6 carats with perfeft color would be substantial. No i don't have 15k for a stone nor do I think I would find something with good color above 3 carats at 2.5k/carat. I like the oval that was posted at 3600 but I dont know if it would be too light. The last stone posted is simply too small. I want the ring and enhancer and it will be the final touches that will make it the way I believe she will love and adore. That money is set apart and the ring wouldn't be the same without it.

Thank you for all the response!!

Ulysses

Just coming out of lurkdom to say that you should be consulting your fiance on this issue- after all, its not just about what you want. And instead of guessing at what she wants, wouldn't it be far easier to just consult her?

My two cents worth, anywho.

 

[slksapphire]

hi ulysses,

thanks for your responses. 2 follow-ups:

1. for the heated stone, if it were UNHEATED, would it meet the rest of your requirements, including price?

2. for the unheated oval, that is considerably above your stated budget. would you still consider it if it were slightly larger (and hence even more expensive?)

 

[Jesusfreak]

hi ulysses,

thanks for your responses. 2 follow-ups:

1. for the heated stone, if it were UNHEATED, would it meet the rest of your requirements, including price?

2. for the unheated oval, that is considerably above your stated budget. would you still consider it if it were slightly larger (and hence even more expensive?)

If it were unheated the stone wouldn't be the right stone because its not quite the right shape. I only say that because that's a substantial amount of money to pay and it not be the right one if you know what I mean. I don't plan on settling for something unless its a good deal.

With that being said, I understand what she wants and we aren't engaged yet so it will be a complete surprise therefore I can't consult her on anything other than the very few times that I have ran some ideas by her with a totally "uneducated look on my face and in my speech".

Thanks for all the responses guys, please keep them coming and don't hesitate to post away when you find something!! )

Ulysses

 

[Rosebloom]

Ulysses, I've been following your search. It sounds like you are going to end up with an incredible stone once you find "the one"! You mentioned that you are surprising your intended with this ring. Your taste in sapphires is exquisite. I love what you're looking for in a center stone but for my taste personally I would not want the setting you've picked out. Obviously you know your girlfriend's taste best. But perhaps you could have the stone set in a temporary setting and let her pick the final setting? Many women love this approach. They get the big exciting surprise reveal but also get a chance to put their own personal stamp on it (especially since she'll probably wear the ring every day for the rest of her life!). Just a thought. Sending you good sapphire karma!

 

[Jesusfreak]

Rosebloom,

Thank you for your comments.

I have thought about what you have spoken of. My idea was at least to surprise her with the channel set ring with sapphire and then approach her with the enhancer to see how she thought of it. She is pretty opened minded for a girl and doesn't really have any particular taste. She is pretty open minded and I know she will be happy with it but I will leave the wedding band open to what she feels is nicest to her so she can have a piece of Joy of creating the ring. I have personally seen the enhancer in person with just a plain solitaire and it gets me every time I see it. I think that when it is all said and done, it will be a nice piece and I think it will be different from the typical hairloom that seems to be popular. I like to be different and creating something that way will mean a lot.

Thanks again for the comments.

Ulysses

 

[carmen1]

I am hesitant to post because to say that am still learning when it comes to blue sapphires is such an understatement! I read every post about them but I have to admit that most times I cannot see what experts point out from vendor photos - I'm still in the "oooo pretty" phase with everything I see . This stone caught my eye recently and I figured I'd share it with you, but basically I have to completely defer to others on the assessing color and quality of this stone. The price per carat is over your budget, but it does meet your other criteria of unheated, round, and >7.5mm.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GRS-Certifi...7992?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item1c300ee9b8

I also like the Gemfix oval that was posted earlier. Like others, the enhancer isn't to my taste so I am glad you won't be purchasing that until she weighs in. Good luck in your search!

 

[Jesusfreak]

I am hesitant to post because to say that am still learning when it comes to blue sapphires is such an understatement! I read every post about them but I have to admit that most times I cannot see what experts point out from vendor photos - I'm still in the "oooo pretty" phase with everything I see . This stone caught my eye recently and I figured I'd share it with you, but basically I have to completely defer to others on the assessing color and quality of this stone. The price per carat is over your budget, but it does meet your other criteria of unheated, round, and >7.5mm.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GRS-Certifi...7992?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item1c300ee9b8

I also like the Gemfix oval that was posted earlier. Like others, the enhancer isn't to my taste so I am glad you won't be purchasing that until she weighs in. Good luck in your search!

Thanks for your input. I am still learning myself but have come a long way IMO. It takes time looking at these gems to see what is highly desired. My taste has demanded a higher and higher quality stone and that unfortunately yields a higher price.

The only thing about that stone that I worry about is the location.

Sending stuff back out of the country and getting a credit is what worries me the most.

Ulysses

 

[chrono]

The most highly desired blue sapphire (Kashmir blue) is slightly violetish blue. You are aiming for perfection but unfortunately, your budget falls much too low for it. To open up your options, I would relax the shape to include ovals. I agree that the first sapphire has a slight purple modifier. Secondly, most sapphires shift and you must take this into consideration as well.

 

[carmen1]

Thanks for your input. I am still learning myself but have come a long way IMO. It takes time looking at these gems to see what is highly desired. My taste has demanded a higher and higher quality stone and that unfortunately yields a higher price.

The only thing about that stone that I worry about is the location.

Sending stuff back out of the country and getting a credit is what worries me the most.

Ulysses

I know shipping a stone back to Thailand isn't ideal, but I have purchased a gemstone from this seller and was very satisfied with both the stone and the customer service. Don't know if that helps you or not, but based on my experience I wouldn't hesitate to purchase from this seller again. If this sapphire is a possible match maybe contact Seenu there and see if he can provide more information to you about the stone and handshots in different lighting? The color in the photo on the GRS report looks great to my uneducated eye.