Would love to hear your thoughts on my sapphire

[Dove12]

It's a 6.5mm ceylon sapphire.

 

[Enerchi]

That colour is TDF!!! WOW!!! I it!!!

 

[Dove12]

Thank you! I love it too I originally had a lighter colored stone, but didn't fall in love with it when I finally got it My fiance and I picked it out online and we were able to exchange it for a color I wanted. It is def the blue that I prefer! I don't know the specifics other than it's a blue colored stone and the size I've seen other people on here mention hue, saturation, and tone.. would love to hear what you all think.

 

[ChrisA222]

Dove, its too hard (at least for me) to tell from those pics. Is there a way you can take some clearer or more close-up pictures? Try using the macro feature on your camera. If you're using a smartphone, I just drag that zoom all the way up. My phone has a line that goes from the left to right for the macro setting.

For example, I cannot read the first pic at all...it looks dark around the edges and light in the middle. I cant tell if thats reflections off the facets or what is going on. Better pics please

 

[txgreeneyes]

I know zilch about hue, saturation, and tone. But, I know when I like a beautiful ring, and I really like this one!

I love the color, size of sapphire, and the diamond halo.

I love the fact that it's not all squished together and on one flat plane. Love that the sapphire sits a little bit above the halo. I love halo rings, and this ring combines the features that I really like.

It's beautiful!!

 

[Dove12]

Thanks txgreeneyes!

Chrisa
Here are 2 I digged up in natural light and one that's the closest under fluorescent light (a little blurry, but was as clear as I could get it...)

 

[Jereni]

I'm not as knowledgeable as many other PSers, but I think it's a lovely tone! Size looks perfect with the halo too. Love!

 

[ChrisA222]

Looks like it has a really nice glow, I like the color. I cant decide if I like the cut but I cant really tell what I am looking at. It looks like a pretty ring though. I love that Sapphire blue...you just can't get a better color than that, ya know? And, I like that round shape and size. Nice! Im not a jewelry expert by any stretch of the imagination (Please see my thread trying to figure out how to set my own stone, lol) but as far as stones go, thats a great color. But is the middle lighter than the outside? Or just my imagination?

 

[minousbijoux]

I think you have done well. It looks like its a fairly saturated, very pretty blue which holds its color in almost all lighting. Being as bright as it is, I bet people notice it often.

Good for you for not settling on the first stone but getting one you truly love. It is very lovely!

 

[chrono]

It looks good under various types of lighting conditions which to me, is the true test for coloured gemstones. From what I see, it looks like you picked out a good one. The setting is also perfect for it.

Just out of curiousity, did anyone verify the stone? I have no idea who you purchased it from so I don't know how trustworthy the vendor is. Not trying to insinuate anything - if anything else, just keeping an eye out in your interest, that's all.

 

[Dove12]

Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it!!

I purchased it from Brilliant Earth! I did receive an appraisal from them, but it doesn't list anything specific about color other than it being premium blue. I have seen on other sites where they have more detailed reports on the sapphires... that's why I got curious and asked on here what you all thought

I think all their stones are around the same quality and they pick and choose which stones works best for the ring/setting. I happened to not like their first choice and wanted a richer blue instead.

 

[minousbijoux]

Well it certainly is a rich blue!

 

[chrono]

BE also provided your setting? Did BE mention anything about treatment? Sorry for being nosy and you can ignore my questions if I am being too inquisitve.

 

[Dove12]

I think so too, Minousbijoux!

Not nosy at all, Chrono! Yes, BE also set my ring. They did everything and were very accommodating when I wanted to exchange it too.

 

[Dove12]

It doesn't say anything on the appraisal, but I checked on their site and it says that all their stones are heat treated. Should I have that on the appraisal?

 

[T L]

It doesn't say anything on the appraisal, but I checked on their site and it says that all their stones are heat treated. Should I have that on the appraisal?

I found this page on their website, which is reassuring, but if it was an expensive stone ('expensive' is subjective to the individual), then perhaps you want to sent it to AGL in NYC for a gem brief which is around $55 plus S&H back and forth. You may want to avoid a beryllium treated stone, which Brilliant Earth touts to not sell (see link below). I don't know the vendor, but this is just an FYI. All beryllium stones are heat treated, but not all heat treated stones are beryllium-treated. Just because they say it isn't be-treated, doesn't mean it isn't. I like to verify those things myself, but I know some people rather just trust the vendor and leave it at that. I prefer independent gem briefs and lab reports to in-house appraisals. The gem brief or report will not provide the value of the stone, but it is a neutral and independent body that will judge and verify if your stone is truly what the vendor states it to be, a standard heated natural sapphire with no other treatment.

http://www.brilliantearth.com/sapphire-treatments/

I think it's a lovely ring, and it looks wonderful on your hand.

 

[Dove12]

TL - That is the same page I came across on BE. The stone was pricey, but I am not sure what a stone like mine usually goes for.. for us it was not cheap. I have thought about having someone else appraise it to make sure that it is a good sapphire, but I hate to let it out of my sight now. It was gone for a week when I sent it back to BE and I missed it!! lol, and it 's just a ring, but still. I am going to the NYC in a few weeks so I will check out AGL. Thanks for your feedback!

 

[RedSpinel]

I agree with most everyone else. Its got great color, and doesnt appear to be too dark, or too light, which means its just right! I love that color tone. Like someone else said, it looks good in all the different pictures with different light, and thats always good. Some stones look good in 1 light source, but not so good in another, but apparently not that sapphire. Its hard to say how clean it is internally, but it certainly look clean from what you can see. The setting is nice too.

You got a good one there. Thats doesnt always happen either, so be happy with it! You should get lots of compliments on it for as long as you own it. Especially from knowledgeable people who know how rare a great sapphire is....

 

[mastercutgems]

Dove12

I think it is a very lovely sapphire; it also looks to have a brilliant crown and a step cut pavilion which i do like as in many gems and colors it helps to make the gem glow and hold light in the gem which i think works wonderfully in that gem...

As redspinel said; colors of natural sapphires like that are truly rare and such an asset to your collection...

Bravo ... enjoy it and wear it in good health for many, many years to come...

Most respectfully;

Dana Reynolds
ASG Certified Supreme Master Gem Cutter #96cge42

 

[T L]

TL - That is the same page I came across on BE. The stone was pricey, but I am not sure what a stone like mine usually goes for.. for us it was not cheap. I have thought about having someone else appraise it to make sure that it is a good sapphire, but I hate to let it out of my sight now. It was gone for a week when I sent it back to BE and I missed it!! lol, and it 's just a ring, but still. I am going to the NYC in a few weeks so I will check out AGL. Thanks for your feedback!

I would just go to AGL if you can and skip an appraisal. AGL has the best tools and one of the best gemologists available to judge your stone, and since it's a sapphire, which has some difficult to detect treatments, you need the best you can get. If you do go to AGL, tell them you want to know if its BE-treated. Sometimes that type of treatment detection requires a very expensive machine called a LA-ICP-MS that appraisers do not have access too.

Appraisals are really only for insurance purposes, and are typically inflated, unless you go to a conservative appraiser, but the most important thing is to verify the treatment, if there is any other than standard heat, IF that matters to you. Good luck.

 

[Dove12]

RedSpinel - Thank you for the kind words!

And thank you, Mastercutgems! I honestly did not know what kind of cut it was either. They don't give you that information, unfortunately, so it's really nice to know now.

TL - Thanks so much for all the info. I'll probably skip the independent appraisal and go to AGL then. I will make sure to ask it's BE-heat treated. Have you heard of any incidents of them damaging or losing stones/rings they test?

 

[T L]

RedSpinel - Thank you for the kind words!

And thank you, Mastercutgems! I honestly did not know what kind of cut it was either. They don't give you that information, unfortunately, so it's really nice to know now.

TL - Thanks so much for all the info. I'll probably skip the independent appraisal and go to AGL then. I will make sure to ask it's BE-heat treated. Have you heard of any incidents of them damaging or losing stones/rings they test?

To your last sentence, "no." If mailing the ring, make sure it's in a very secure ring box and I personally would use a gem jar with cotton and seal it shut, and then use a very secure and padded mailing box with bubble wrap. There might be incidents of damage if mailing back and forth. It should be sent registered mail with insurance.

Are you going there in person, and picking it up in person? It takes around ten business days to get a report. They tested two of my sapphires. For one sapphire, they could diagnostically check for beryllium and so the gem brief was $55. However, for the other, they had to send it to an LA-ICP-MS, and that was an extra $100, but I think it's a small price to pay for peace of mind, especially on what you consider an expensive stone.

Chris Smith of AGL wrote up many lab reports for some of the most famous gems, including much of the gems for the recent Liz Taylor auction.

 

[ChrisA222]

I just have to ask one question....if you really love the stone as is...why get it checked for BE? What will that accomplish if the test results confirm its treated with BE? That will do what...quite possibly ruin the stone for you? Do you have the option at this time to return the gem, if it is treated in a way that its not supposed to be? If so, then yes..go ahead..but if you are "stuck with it" so to speak, and absolutely love it as it is right now, then why bother putting yourself through what could possibly happen? Sure, its probably A-OK, untreated or heated-only, but if not...what can you do about it other than be very upset about the stone that you love so much.

Id have the stone tested for two reasons...one, if I have the option to return it, if it tests a certain way...and two, if I am intending on selling it, as you would need proof that it isn't BE-treated to get any money for it. I don't know if you fully understand what will happen to the value of the stone if it has been diffused....it is worth much MUCH less money. If I had to guess, its probably worth 10% of what a non-diffused stone is worth. Others with more knowlege about values can correct me, but I don't know what you paid to begin with. I assume its significant going by what you have said.

My vote is, if you aren't going to sell it, and can't return it, to NOT have it tested. If you want it appraised, go for it, as most jewelers cannot tell the difference between a BE treated stone or not. At least not the guy I go to, LOL.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Just keep in mind, everyone on this forum is a serious gem-enthusiast, and we care obsessively at times about treatment. Not normal everyday people would even care...so, decide what you are willing to accept and what the possible outcomes will be if you hear what you do not want to hear. In my opinion, its a beautiful stone, and ring, and if I were you I'd leave it untested.

My 2 cents, most will disagree with me. It is your decision alone.

 

[SapphireSun]

I love your ring! When I insured my ring I had to send them the appraisal and GIA certificate, so not sure if you will need the certificate as well to insure?

I hesitated between going all natural (unheated and untreated) to just heated before deciding that all natural would be better, but not so sure I would go the same route again as there are many beautiful blues that are heated.

 

[T L]

I just have to ask one question....if you really love the stone as is...why get it checked for BE? What will that accomplish if the test results confirm its treated with BE? That will do what...quite possibly ruin the stone for you? Do you have the option at this time to return the gem, if it is treated in a way that its not supposed to be? If so, then yes..go ahead..but if you are "stuck with it" so to speak, and absolutely love it as it is right now, then why bother putting yourself through what could possibly happen? Sure, its probably A-OK, untreated or heated-only, but if not...what can you do about it other than be very upset about the stone that you love so much.

Id have the stone tested for two reasons...one, if I have the option to return it, if it tests a certain way...and two, if I am intending on selling it, as you would need proof that it isn't BE-treated to get any money for it. I don't know if you fully understand what will happen to the value of the stone if it has been diffused....it is worth much MUCH less money. If I had to guess, its probably worth 10% of what a non-diffused stone is worth. Others with more knowlege about values can correct me, but I don't know what you paid to begin with. I assume its significant going by what you have said.

My vote is, if you aren't going to sell it, and can't return it, to NOT have it tested. If you want it appraised, go for it, as most jewelers cannot tell the difference between a BE treated stone or not. At least not the guy I go to, LOL.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Just keep in mind, everyone on this forum is a serious gem-enthusiast, and we care obsessively at times about treatment. Not normal everyday people would even care...so, decide what you are willing to accept and what the possible outcomes will be if you hear what you do not want to hear. In my opinion, its a beautiful stone, and ring, and if I were you I'd leave it untested.

My 2 cents, most will disagree with me. It is your decision alone.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but if it turns out to be be-treated, she has consumer rights that would allow her to return the stone since it was not as advertised on their site (see their link). She can also take that up with her credit card company too. Also, she said it was quite expensive, and it would be a shame to spend a great deal of money on something that even you said is worth 'much much less.' I did say that some people choose to leave it alone and trust the vendor, but there's always the risk you take if you don't get it tested. It's ultimately up to the OP of course, but at least she's armed with the information if she needs it.

 

[Arkteia]

[quote="Chrisa222|1339628719|3215702"]I just have to ask one question....if you really love the stone as is...why get it checked for BE? What will that accomplish if the test results confirm its treated with BE? That will do what...quite possibly ruin the stone for you? Do you have the option at this time to return the gem, if it is treated in a way that its not supposed to be? If so, then yes..go ahead..but if you are "stuck with it" so to speak, and absolutely love it as it is right now, then why bother putting yourself through what could possibly happen? Sure, its probably A-OK, untreated or heated-only, but if not...what can you do about it other than be very upset about the stone that you love so much.

Id have the stone tested for two reasons...one, if I have the option to return it, if it tests a certain way...and two, if I am intending on selling it, as you would need proof that it isn't BE-treated to get any money for it. I don't know if you fully understand what will happen to the value of the stone if it has been diffused....it is worth much MUCH less money. If I had to guess, its probably worth 10% of what a non-diffused stone is worth. Others with more knowlege about values can correct me, but I don't know what you paid to begin with. I assume its significant going by what you have said.

My vote is, if you aren't going to sell it, and can't return it, to NOT have it tested. If you want it appraised, go for it, as most jewelers cannot tell the difference between a BE treated stone or not. At least not the guy I go to, LOL.

. Just keep in mind, everyone on this forum is a serious gem-enthusiast, and we care obsessively at times about treatment. Not normal everyday people would even care...so, decide what you are willing to accept and what the possible outcomes will ber. In my opinion, its a beautiful stone, and ring, and if I were you I'd leave it untested. [/quote]

Quite an advise, given the fact that you are a seller, as you have recently mentioned. Rings tend to get upgraded, collections grow, and from time to time any of us may decide to sell his/her stone/ring to raise money for a new project. A heat-only stone costs way more than Be-treated one. You mentioned it yourself. Even in a few years, even assuming that the exponential raise of corundum prices stays at the same level, the OP will not be able to sell a Be-treated stone without a big loss. This will be the "possible outcome", and that is why people here "care obsessively at times about treatment". Everyone needs to be fully aware of what he or she is buying. Any reputable company should be able to take the stone back because there was no full disclosure at the moment of purchase.

Also, if you suspect that your stone is Be-treated but "the guy you go to does not know it", you are supposed to give full disclosure, which in this case will be your opinion. The jewelers need to know, too.

Dove 12 - the sapphire is amazing, and the ring is beautiful. The stone is so bright, so saturated, so lovely! I'd definitely certify it with AGL.

 

[Dove12]

Thank you, everyone, for all your comments and suggestions! I really do appreciate it.

I talked it over with my husband and he probably thinks I'm a little coo coo now but he wants me to be happy and that's all that matters It's more peace of mind than anything (like someone mentioned earlier). BE has been around for a little while I think, and from their reviews they have very happy customers. So, I have no reason not trust their word. But being a little paranoid from buying online and not having a document with the specifics of the sapphire, makes me want to get it checked. I feel the sapphire is what they say it is, but there is still a part of me that isn't 100% sure. If it turns out that it's not what they claim it to be, it is definitely fraud and they will be reported to the BBB. I really hope that that is not the end result though.

I contacted AGL and it does take 10 days plus another 2 weeks to check for BE-heat treatment. It's also an extra $100. I will drop off the stone when I'm in NYC and have them ship it back.... I hate having to part with my ring, but I will probably drive myself and my husband crazy if I don't

 

[chrono]

Even with trusted vendors, if it is an expensive item and is of the type that is commonly heavily treated, I believe in the old adage of "trust but verify". Actually, all you need is the AGL fast track brief to check if it is heat only. If they are able to determine that without further testing, then all you are out is $55. If they suspect diffusion and cannot rule it out via microscopic study, then they will advice you to have it undergo LA-ICP-MS an the additional $100.

 

[Dove12]

Chrono - That is a good idea and I would rather get the fast track brief (to save some $$) and go from there. I contacted AGL though just to make sure and am waiting to hear back.

I'll let you all know how it turns out!

Here's a couple more pictures.. one from the side and one on angle which shows how clear the stone is. It's overcast today, so it's a bit dark.

 

[gsellis]

That colour is TDF!!! WOW!!! I it!!!

I really like the stone, so don't take this the wrong way...

But, my twisted sense of humor with that color blue put TDF in a different context.

Tidybowl Disinfectant Fluid.

I will go hide back under my rock now