Gold Sheen Sapphire Price Update – 2019

Posted on 07/10/201908/10/2019 by Steve Waddington

Prices for gold sheen sapphire have remained relatively constant over the last 12 months. The 2019 price chart and price reporting has been updated to bring it into line with the gold sheen sapphire grading system developed by T.M. Malik and S. Waddington. The most notable change is the inclusion of the “commercial” grade to meet a market price point under $100 per carat.

The first half of the year saw prices ease, most likely as a result of general market conditions. However prices recovered somewhat in the latter half, sales from September shows (Bangkok and Hong Kong) reported as good, despite very unfavourable conditions in Hong Kong.

New cuttings of “exceptional” grade material were premiered at the September Bangkok Gem and Jewelry show and were readily sought by Japanese, Chinese, and European buyers.

Observed prices for Commercial grade stones were seen to range from $35 to $75 per carat. Good to Very Good Grade sales were reported ranging from $85 to $200, while Fine and Very Fine grade showed a wide variation with prices negotiated from $235 to $600 per carat for single, very fine grade collectors pieces.

The most marked variation was for Exceptional grade stones ranging from $800 to “over $1,500” reported in one case.

gold sheen sapphire exceptional colours — Exceptional grade Gold Sheen Sapphire displaying translucency and colour variations. Photo T.K. Malik 2019.

For more information on Gold Sheen Sapphire, see my information page here: https://sjwgems.com/gold-sheen-sapphire/

Gold Sheen Sapphire Price Update April 2018

Posted on 03/04/201803/04/2018 by Steve Waddington

This update for Gold Sheen Sapphire pricing uses sales price point data from Tucson, Hong Kong and Bangkok exhibitions, as well as shop front sales from January to April 2018.

Prices have increased for all grades, most notably for grade 1 and 2. Increased pricing was a result of strong interest from Japanese buyers, which flowed over to grade 2 pricing as well. Grade three pricing was a more general result of broad buyer interest. Most notably highest quality pieces reached $1,000 per carat – a significant milestone for Gold Sheen Sapphire.

If you would like information about how to invest in Gold Sheen Sapphire you can visit our wholesale page: https://sjwgems.com/wholesale/ or email gss@sjwgems.com.

Gold Sheen Sapphire Price Update 2nd Half 2017

Posted on 01/12/201701/12/2017 by Steve Waddington

This is the price update for Gold Sheen Sapphire for the 2nd half of 2017. It covers the reported sale prices from the September Hong Kong and Bangkok Gem and Jewelry Trade Fairs.

I have made the following changes to the chart layout:

Removed ‘Sell’ and ‘Buy’ prices
‘Street’ is now ‘Trade Price’
Reporting periods are now half yearly, not quarterly.
Added ‘5 Point Moving Average’ price

Since price data comes principally from major trade fairs, ‘Trade Price’ of pieces sold is a more reliable indicator of current price. There are enough data points now to give a meaningful moving average, this should provide a good trend indicator for the future price.

Gold Sheen Sapphire price 2nd half 17 — Gold Sheen Sapphire price 2nd half 2017

New Diamond Cut Gold Sheen Sapphire

Posted on 07/08/201707/08/2017 by Steve Waddington

New Gold Sheen Sapphire ‘diamond cut’ direct from the factory from carefully selected highest grade rough.

After careful selection of the rough, about 10% of material is suitable for this high grade faceting. Once faceted, only one or two pieces in 10 make this selection. Most pieces show colour change from metallic copper/gold in incandescent light to blue/green in natural light.

Translucent Gold Sheen Sapphire diamond cut

While most pieces come opaque, typical of Gold Sheen Sapphire, about 20% come as translucent with yellow, green/yellow and gold hues.

All are available in all calibrated sizes from 3mm to 10mm, or can be cut to order.

Movement in Gold Sheen Sapphire Price

Posted on 31/07/201731/07/2017 by Steve Waddington

The first and second quarter of 2017 have seen some interesting movement on the price of gold sheen sapphire.

Gold Sheen Sapphire Carat Price Q2 2017 Update

The price for top grade stones has increased slightly in Q1 and remains stable though Q2. Meanwhile prices for all other grades took a dip in Q1 and remain constant in Q2, with the exception of the street price of grade 2 stones which improved in Q2.

It seems clear that the market is becoming more discerning, reflected in the willingness to pay for best quality material. The trend has been for increasing sales from repeat buyers, which have exceeded reported sales from first time buyers for the first time in Q1, and continuing into Q2. This is further reflected in the price drop of lowest grade material, where buyers have been able to negotiate pricing based on large volume orders.

Special promotions for new cutting and polishing techniques as well as the introduction of new cut types and increased presence at trade shows have all contributed to fluctuations in mid to high grade pricing.

Price Chart Key:

Grade 1 – No surface defects, no structural defects, or ‘very rare’
Grade 2 – Eye clean surface, no structural defects, or ‘rare’
Grade 3 – Minor surface defects, minor structural defects. or ‘common’
Anything less than Grade 3 is not available for sale and either discarded or re-cut.
“Buy” is the wholesale price for Grade 3 stones in large quantities over 10,000 carats
“Sell” is the price offered for sale from retail or trade fare for single stones or small sales.
“Street” is the negotiated price for small quantities of stones of various grades.

Gold Sheen Sapphire Price Update

Posted on 15/11/201628/11/2016 by Steve Waddington

The price of gold sheen sapphire continues to rise. This is the origional post of the two year price history – http://sjwgems.com/articles/price-of-gold-sheen-sapphire-2-year-history/. Now here is the price update:

gold sheen sapphire price history — Gold Sheen Sapphire price history for 4th quarter 2016

I am not particularly surprised that the price of the highest grade cut is so strong. The latest batch I reported here http://sjwgems.com/articles/new-factory-cuttings-gold-sheen-sapphire/ really are spectacular.

I heard a comment today from a long time collector and now investor in gold sheen sapphire. He said “The more I handle and look at the goldsheen (sic) sapphires, the more I appreciate their unique beauty”. Which is my own sentiment exactly, and I think that is also evident in the strengthening market price.

New Factory Cuttings – Gold Sheen Sapphire

Posted on 03/11/201603/11/2016 by Steve Waddington

The latest batch of Gold Sheen Sapphires from the factory are showing some remarkable characteristics.

Gold Sheen Sapphire cabochons, yet to be graded.

First, we are seeing vivid asterism in the cabs. All gold sheen sapphires cabs have some degree of asterism, but usually it is quite faint. The rough we are cutting now seems to have more rutile, which gives them both a ‘sleepier’ look, and the much more prominent star:

Gold sheen sapphire cabochons vivid star — Prominent star features on gold sheen sapphire cabochons

You can see the rutile silk under multiple light sources (with a single light source, these would have a prominent star)

Gold Sheen Sapphire cabs softer silk look — Gold Sheen Sapphire cabs showing softer silk look due to greater rutile inclusion

Then, there was this incredible find – for the first time we have seen completely transparent gold sheen sapphire with full sheen and star effect. The smartphone snapshot does it no justice, but imagine the transparency of a vivid blue medium tone sapphire, but instead of blue, the colour is golden sheen.

transparent star gold sheen sapphire — Incredibly beautiful star gold sheen sapphire, completely transparent, very very rare.

Out of 200,000 carats cut, we have found less than 20 carats of stones like this. We know how to cut is as cabochons, so that is what the factory did. But what I am thinking is, what if we faceted it with a brilliant cut? I’ll run it by Tanzim and see what he thinks.

New Factory Cuttings – Ruby

Posted on 02/11/201602/11/2016 by Steve Waddington

I have just seen the latest cuttings from the factory for ruby. We are getting more range of colour and gradings as we progress into the parcel.

Tray of ruby cabochons — Tray of ruby cabs sorted by colour grade

Tray of dark ruby cabochons — Tray of darker ruby cabs sorted by colour grade

I am seeing quite a lot of medium-light and slight purplish red natural unheated ruby cabs in the market now, between $200 and $300 per carat. The lighter stones we are getting from the parcel would match that grade.

Some, like these, are at the other end of the tone scale with strong purple red to purple/red hue and strong saturation:

But I have to say, I do prefer the medium/dark tone best of all:

Medium Dark to dark Ruby cabs with moderate to strong saturation

SJW gems can supply ruby cabs in calibrated sizes to any specification. We own the rough and control the production through to the final polish and shipment. We can accommodate order sizes up to 10,000 carats per month, and welcome small orders from collectors and independent designers. Talk to us now for your Christmas Season orders!