u/Gurtenos

Hi all,

I'm shopping for an engagement ring and asked three Swedish jewelers (all reputable, good reviews, established businesses) for quotes on the same stone. The price range I got back was wild and I'd love a sanity check.

Stone specification I sent to all three:

• Natural sapphire, oval cut, ~1.25 ct
• Teal-green / blue-green, medium tone, vivid saturation (not too dark)
• Eye-clean clarity
• Certificate from GIA, AGL, GRS, IGI, or reputable supplier

Quotes received (stone only, not setting):

• Jeweler A: ~19,000 SEK (~$2,050)
• Jeweler B: ~43,800 SEK (~$4,730)
• Jeweler C: ~70,000 SEK (~$7,570)

I understand jewelers have different supply chains and margins, but a ~3.7x spread on the same spec seems extreme. A few questions:

1. Is this kind of variance normal in the colored stone market?
2. What questions should I ask to compare apples to apples? (I've already asked about treatment, origin, and certificate type)
3. Should I be suspicious of the lowest quote, or is it just better sourcing?

Thanks for any insights