1.01 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
3.87 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
3.29 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
1.40 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
2.07 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich colour saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centrepiece for an engagement ring or luxury jew...
Blue Sapphire
2.26 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich colour saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centrepiece for an engagement ring or luxury jew...
Blue Sapphire
1.96 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
2.92 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
1.68 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
3.43 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sapphires ...
Blue Sapphire
1.06 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
5.91 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
1.52 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
1.53 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
1.88 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sapphires ...
Blue Sapphire
1.75 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sapphires ...
Blue Sapphire
3.95 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
1.36 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.17 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.12 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.25 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
3.73 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sap...
Blue Sapphire
1.69 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.76 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.74 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.48 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.50 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.48 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
1.94 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
This natural Blue sapphire offers elegance and sophistication. With its rich color saturation and precise cutting, it is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring or luxury jewe...
Blue Sapphire
3.34 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sa...
Blue Sapphire
Loose Sapphire, Heart Cut 1.65 Carat Blue Solitaire
Located in Greensboro, NC
Weight: 1.65ct Treatment: Heating Cut: Heart Color: Blue Dimensions (mm): 7.67 x 8.03 x 3.68 Condition: New Please check out the enlarged pictures. Thank you for taking the ...
Sapphire
$700Sale Price|20% Off
Fine 3.08ct Deep Blue Natural Sapphire Heart Cut Loose Rare Gemstone
By Gemsandjewelsuk
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine 3.08ct Deep Blue Natural Sapphire Heart Cut Loose Rare Gemstone 9.2x8mm Natural Deep Blue Sapphire Gemstone. 3.08 Carat with a beautiful deep blue colour and excellent clarity,...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire
$516Sale Price|20% Off
Fine Deep Blue Australian Sapphire 2.31ct Heart Cut Rare Loose Gem
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Natural Deep Blue Australian Sapphire Gemstone. 2.31 Carat with a beautiful deep blue colour and excellent clarity, a very clean stone. Also has an excellent heart cut and ideal pol...
Sapphire
Heart-Shaped Blue Sapphire Cts 2.11
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Capture the hearts and eyes with this gemstone. It weighs 2.11 carats and is expertly shaped into a heart. This gemstone is a representation of wisdom and intuition that embodies...
Blue Sapphire
$18,520Sale Price|20% Off
5.10 Carat Heart Shape Blue Sapphire GIA Certified
Located in San Francisco, CA
This 5.10 carat Heart Shape Natural sapphire GIA certificate number: 1206223794 was hand-selected by our experts for its top luster. We can custom make for this rare gem any Ring/ P...
Blue Sapphire
A Ceylon Heart-Shape Blue Sapphire of 2.19 Carats
Located in Khet Bang Rak, 10
This 2.19-carat heart-shape blue sapphire originates from Ceylon, a source long recognised for producing sapphires with fine colour and clarity. The heart-shape cut is less commonly ...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire
$129Sale Price|20% Off
Fine Australian Green Blue Bi Colour Sapphire 0.91ct Heart Cut Rare Gem
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Natural Green Blue Parti-Colour/bi colour Australian Sapphire Gem. 0.91 Carat with a beautiful and unique green blue bi colour. Very rare and stunning to see. Has good clarity, a c...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire
7.22 Carat Heart-Shaped Unheated Blue, Pink, and Yellow Sapphire Trio
Located in Hong Kong, HK
A scintillating trio, it features three natural unheated yellow, pink, and blue sapphires weighing a total of 7.22 carat. The sapphires are unheated, and have excellent cutting propo...
Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire
CLEARANCE, 23.67 ct Heart Shape Blue Natural Sapphire
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A magnificent 23.67 ct Natural Heart Shape Blue Sapphire, showcasing a vivid and saturated blue hue. This gemstone is of exceptional quality, with excellent brilliance, clarity, and ...
Blue Sapphire
7.57ct Unheated Heart Blue Sapphire, Lotus Cert, Merkaba Jewelry Beverly Hills
By Merkaba
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A rare and romantic 7.57 carat natural blue sapphire, expertly cut in a heart shape and offered as a loose gemstone by Merkaba Jewelry Beverly Hills.
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Heart Shape 2ct Natural Blue Sapphire by Brillante Jewels, USA
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A magnificent 2 ct Natural Heart Shape Blue Sapphire, showcasing a vivid and saturated blue hue. This gemstone is of exceptional quality, with excellent brilliance, clarity, and dept...
Blue Sapphire
$1,112Sale Price|20% Off
1.05 Carat Indigo Blue Sapphire No Heat
Located in Hua Hin, TH
1.05 Carat Indigo Blue Sapphire from Ceylon Sri Lanka Dimensions: 6.00 x 5.55 x 4.28 mm Shape: Heart Faceted Weight: 1.05 carat Color: The dusky blue color of this gem earns it the L...
Blue Sapphire
13.40 Carats Burmese Sapphire Heart No-Heat For Jewelry Top Quality Natural Gem
Located in Jaipur, RJ
13.40 Carats Burmese Sapphire Heart No-Heat For Jewelry Top Quality Natural Gem Gemstone: Blue Sapphire Shape: Heart Carat weight: 13.40 Size - 13x15x7.5 MM Quantity - 1 piece
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire
19.26 Carats Burmese Sapphire Heart No-Heat For Jewelry Top Quality Natural Gem
Located in Jaipur, RJ
19.26 Carats Burmese Sapphire Heart No-Heat For Jewelry Top Quality Natural Gem Gemstone: Blue Sapphire Shape: Heart Carat weight: 19.26 ct. Size - 16x16x8 MM Quantity - 1 piece
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire
Two Heart Engagement Ring Sapphires 18K White Gold
By Emeralds Maravellous
Located in Brunswick, ME
Finger Size: 7 (Available to order in different sizes) Please inspecting loose pink and blue heart-shaped sapphires on video, you are looking at their raw, unmounted beauty.
Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable
W 0.26 in D 0.18 in L 0.29 in
Royal Blue Sapphire 1.58 Ct Heart Natural Heated, Loose Gemstone
Located in South Melbourne, AU
This royal blue sapphire is available to purchase as a loose sapphire or contact us to enquire regarding custom fine jewellery creation.
Sapphire
3.52 Carat Heart Blue Sapphire GIA Certified Sri Lanka
Located in Toronto, Ontario
This is a stunning GIA Certified Sapphire The GIA report reads as follows: GIA Report Number: 5221613753 Shape: Heart Cutting Style: Cutting Style: Crown: Modified Brilliant Cut...
Blue Sapphire
GIA Certified Heart Shape 1.10 Carat Natural No Heat Blue Sapphire
Located in LA, CA
1.10ct Natural No Heat Blue Sapphire Heart Shape 5.69 x 6.15 x 4.34mm GIA # 2223505961 A 1.10-carat blue sapphire gemstone in the shape of a heart that has not undergone any heat tre...
Blue Sapphire
GIA Certified 1.69 Carat No Heat Australian Heart Shape Green Blue Sapphire
Located in LA, CA
1.69ct Natural No Heat Australian Green Blue Sapphire Heart Shape 6.76 x 7.49 x 4.13mm GIA #5221505944 One of the rarest and most highly desired colors in the sapphire family is the ...
Blue Sapphire
1.02ct Heart Blue Sapphire from Tanzania Unheated
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Description: Gem Type: Sapphire Number of Stones: 1 Weight: 1.02 cts Measurements: 6.74 x 5.46 x 3.34 mm Shape: Heart Cutting Style Crown: Brilliant Cut Cutting Style Pavilion: Ste...
Blue Sapphire
1.51ct Heart Blue Sapphire GIA Certified Sri Lanka
Located in Toronto, Ontario
This is a stunning GIA Certified Sapphire The GIA report reads as follows: GIA Report Number: 2239220859 Shape: Heart Cutting Style: Cutting Style: Crown: Brilliant Cut Cutting ...
Blue Sapphire
Unavailable
W 0.24 in D 0.16 in L 0.24 in
3.22ct Pair Heart Cabochon Blue Sapphire from Thailand Unheated
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Description: Gem Type: Sapphire Number of Stones: 2 Weight: 3.22 cts Measurements: 6.06 x 5.91 x 3.99 mm and 6.18 x 6.08 x 4.30 mm Shape: Heart Cabochon Cutting Style Crown: Caboch...
Blue Sapphire
1.85 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sapphires ...
Blue Sapphire
2.01 Ct Blue Sapphire Heart Loose Gemstone
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
A highly precious September birthstone with a delighting blue color. They are believed to bring good luck & fortune to life. Explore vibrant collection of Emerald, Ruby & Sapphires ...
Blue Sapphire
Vivid Blue Australian Sapphire 0.97ct Heart Cut Rare Loose Gem
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Natural Blue Australian Sapphire Gemstone. 0.97 Carat with a beautiful and unique vivid blue colour and excellent clarity, a very clean stone with only some small natural inclusions...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire
1.19ct Vivid Blue Australia Sapphire Heart Cut Loose Natural Gem
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Natural Australian Vivid Blue Sapphire Gemstone. 1.19 Carat with a beautiful vivid blue colour and excellent clarity, a very clean stone. Also has an excellent heart cut and ideal p...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire
2.09 Carat Deep Blue Green Sapphire Heart Cut Loose Natural Gem
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Natural Blue Sapphire Gemstone. 2.09 Carat with a beautiful and unique greenish blue colour and excellent clarity, a very clean stone. Also has an excellent heart cut and ideal poli...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire
Fine Australian Green Blue Teal Untreated Sapphire 0.62ct Heart Cut Loose Gem
By Gemsandjewelsuk
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine Australian Green Blue Teal Untreated Sapphire 0.62ct Heart Cut Loose Gem Natural Untreated Green Blue ‘Teal’ Australian Sapphire Gemstone. 0.62 Carat with a beautiful and uniq...
Sapphire
Fine 0.95ct Australian Green Blue Bi Colour Sapphire Heart Cut Rare Gem
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine Natural Green Blue Bi Colour Australian Sapphire Gem. 0.95 Carat with a beautiful and unique green blue bi-colour. Very rare and stunning to see. Also has excellent clarity, a ...
Sapphire
Rare 2.41ct GIA Certified Unique Parti Colour Untreated Thai Sapphire Heart Cut
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Unique Untreated Thai Parti Colour Sapphire Gemstone. 2.41 Carat unheated sapphire with a rare parti colour effect. Showing blue and yellow colours with a unique colour split. Very ...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire
GIA Certified 1.76ct Natural UNHEATED Blue Sapphire
Located in Singapore, SG
Kindly note that the stated price for this item is fixed and non-negotiable. We appreciate your understanding and respect for our pricing decision. This 1.76 Ct heart-shaped Burmese...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Blue Green Teal Australian Sapphire 0.80ct Oval Cut RARE Gem 6.5x5mm
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Natural Green Blue Australian Sapphire Gemstone. 0.80 Carat with a beautiful and unique green blue ‘Teal’ colour and excellent clarity, a very clean stone with only some small natur...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire
1.01Ct GIA Certified Deep Blue Sapphire Rare Heart Cut Loose Gemstone VS
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
1.01Ct GIA Certified Deep Blue Sapphire Rare Heart Cut Loose Gemstone VS Natural GIA Certified Heart Cut Deep Blue Sapphire Gemstone. 1.01 Carat sapphire with a beautiful fine deep ...
GIA Certified 2.04ct Untreated Green Blue Sapphire Heart Cut Loose Rare Gemstone
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
GIA Certified Untreated Green Blue Sapphire Gemstone. 2.04 Carat unheated sapphire with a beautiful deep green blue colour. Fully certified by GIA confirming stone as natural and un...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire
IGI Certified Blue Ceylon Sapphire 1.62 Carat Heart Cut Loose Blister Gem
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Natural Ceylon Sapphire with a stunning deep blue colour. 1.62 carat stone, with an excellent heart cut. Fully certified by IGI in Antwerp, one of the best and most well equipped g...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire
GIA Certified 1.01ct Ceylon Blue Sapphire Untreated Unheated Heart Cut Gemstone
By Gems and Jewels UK
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine Blue GIA Certified Untreated Ceylon Sapphire. 1.01 Carat with an excellent heart cut and excellent clarity, a very clean stone. Fully certified and by GIA. Certified as Sri La...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire
1.04 Ct Heart Shape Blue Sapphire IGI Certified
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Description: One Loose Blue Sapphire Report Number: GT13300602 Weight: 1.04 cts Measurements: 5.41x6.11x4.25 mm Shape: Heart Mixed Cut Cutting Style Crown: Modified Brilli...
Blue Sapphire
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.
Are you shopping for diamonds and other loose gemstones to create your own custom jewelry?
Why might you purchase a diamond or gemstone “loose” — that is, on its own, not mounted in a piece of jewelry? Perhaps you’re a connoisseur looking to acquire a unique investment. The scarcity of high-quality colored diamonds, for instance, especially pink diamonds, means that their value increases over time; the same is true of rare Kashmir sapphires and Burmese rubies. Far rarer than diamonds, Paraiba tourmaline, discovered only in the 1980s, is treasured as much for its extraordinary color as its scarcity, both of which contribute to its high value.
A more common scenario would be that you’re hoping to create a very special piece of custom jewelry, such as an engagement ring or a milestone-birthday present, and want to personally select the most beautiful, unusual, or ultra-rare stone you can find and afford. Doing so adds to the romance and substance of the gift and can be a part of the story told as the jewel is passed from generation to generation.
If this sounds like you, read on for tips on becoming one of the world’s savviest gem hunters.
Educate yourself: When buying any piece of gem-set fine jewelry, you should familiarize yourself with the factors that determine a stone’s price. This will enable you to streamline your search for the perfect gem and have intelligent, productive conversations with sellers.
There is a wealth of information online, such as our diamond-buying guide and this overview of colored gemstones for engagement rings. The buying guides of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), searchable by stone type, are also a widely trusted source for consumers venturing into the world of diamonds and gems for the first time.
Vet your vendor: If you peruse 1stDibs with any regularity, you know there is no shortage of vendors who deal in top-quality loose gemstones. (Read about our vetted sellers.) Finding a trustworthy, established dealer may be as easy as getting a recommendation from friends or family. And, although it may sound obvious, it pays to Google your candidates — and consult customer reviews — before making contact.
Harakh Mehta, designer and founder of the Mumbai, India–based fine-jewelry brand Harakh, has an innate understanding of proper client relations, especially when the customer is in unfamiliar territory. “Start chatting with the dealer, get to know them better," he says. "It’s very important to establish a comfort level. We never push a sale, as we want it to be a carefully considered purchase. So, if the client is not in a rush, we do it over a few virtual meetings or phone calls.”
Request documentation: The best dealers go to great lengths to furnish clients with documents verifying the quality rating, natural origin and provenance of a stone — showing, for example, that loose emerald hails from the famous Muzo mine in Colombia — and disclosing any treatments applied to enhance its appearance. (And who doesn't love emerald jewelry? The most valuable emeralds are the ones that have a deep bluish-green to true green color and no visible inclusions.)
If no grading report is available for a stone you are interested in, the dealer should be able to provide an authenticity document, such as an appraisal or info sheet, that has been signed by an in-house gemologist or professional appraiser. Google those names, too, for extra peace of mind.
Ask for videos and visuals: When transacting with a gem dealer online, you should always request real-time videos and photographs, since professional photos of a stone, usually on a white background, have likely been retouched for optimal presentation.
Read more about how to buy loose gemstones and find your dream gems today on 1stDibs.