On the other hand, there are two stones that are classified as just 'blue', one blue oval (C) and a cushion (D). I find them quite lively, especially the heated one on the left, but I also suspect they are a bit dark / opaque. The GRS certificates state these to be 'vivid blue (GRS type 'royal blue')'. Two of them are oval shaped, 5.71 carat heated (A) and 6.34 carat unheated (B), both from Sri Lanka. Out of the 10 or so stones I've viewed, I'm now comparing the 4 stones that I like best.

I honestly couldn't believe the cost of a few stones I didn't like at all, so quality doesn't seem to necessarily correlate with price. I've looked at a range of stones from 2500 USD / carat all the way up to 8000 USD / carat. My budget ceiling is ~32K USD, but I've quickly realized that there is no market price for these gems and (maybe) I could even get one I really like with spending less! I am looking for a 5-6 carat blue sapphire to set into an engagement ring for my fiance, oval shaped, preferably unheated, with the best colour and cut that I can afford. Thank you everybody for the positive contributions on this board. Ask our PriceScope members and industry experts for a second opinion or get lost in the thousands of user-shared diamond and jewelry images for inspiration.

Royal blue sapphire