Honest question - Is it me or is this actually genuinely expensive? (Heated, included or SI, 2.87g 9K gold)
I've had a look around (searching for: blue sapphire 9k gold cluster ring). Is the "Ceylon" origin worth that price for small, not very blue, heated and included stones?
I'm kind of on the fence with this one. I think I'd want to see it 'in the flesh' to give an honest opinion.
If the stones are well cut, not windowed and fairly blue 'in the flesh', then for heat-only stones, it wouldn't be too bad a price in my opinion.
However, I've always found Gemporia's Ceylon Sapphires a bit hit-and-miss. Some look good quality stones - other looks wishy-washy and/or windowed. If this ring fit that description, then no, I wouldn't pay anywhere near that.
Despite all of Gemporia's faults, I've always found their Sapphires prices to be considerably lower than other retailers. You'll be lucky to find diffused / Beryllium heated sapphires for the price of Gemporia's untreated and heat treated Sapphires. Even Gem Select's prices can't compete with Gem Collector's Sapphire prices.
To be honest, for all the hype, I don't think the Ceylon Sapphires are the best that Gemporia sell anyway. The untreated Nigerian and Madagascan Sapphires that they has a few years ago were really good quality, and REALLY well priced too. Because they were untreated, some had a green to blue colour shift too.
The heated Aussie Blue sapphires are a bit too over-saturated in my opinion - almost blackish-blue in colour.
The Ceylon and Burmese can be a bit too light in colour (plus the Burmese are REALLY included).