3.3ct Burmese grey spinel

[mrs-b]

Really happy to say I've finally bought a grey spinel!

I've been trying to get one ever since I missed out on one that was for sale a couple of years back that I REALLY should have bought - and didn't.

So when I saw this one pop up today, I leapt in there!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/stonesoftheday/

I think it's the top stone on the page. I'm hoping it's not too dark, but I suppose I'll see when it gets here.

 

[Catmom]

Wah, can't see it. You have to be a member of the group. Is this part of your 12 or now number 13 and what are you going to do with it?

 

[mrs-b]

Gees - I bought it a nano second ago and it's already gone!

I contacted the person I bought it from and he sent me some stuff:

 

[mrs-b]

And here's the video.

 

[Marsha Ayers]

ARGH! I was drooling over that one! Please let me know if it's as nice in person. That seller had others that looked nice and I might want to add another spinel to my quickly growing collection. nOt that I need another one but I NEED another.

 

[mrs-b]

Will do, Marsha I'm sure it's much darker in person - they always seem to be - but I just loved the cut of it and I've wanted something grey for quite some time.

 

[Anne111]

How do you mean, you bought it and it was gone? Gone my somebody else buying it a nano second before you? That seems unlikely, given how long many gems seem to linger out there, weeks is nothing.
I can't see the seller but that looks more like bait and switch. Or am I to paranoid?

 

[Acinom]

Seems like a stunning grey! Looking forward to see what you will do with it.
Is this one of your 12 projects?

 

[mrs-b]

Seems like a stunning grey! Looking forward to see what you will do with it.
Is this one of your 12 projects?

No. This is something I've been looking for for a long time. All 12 of my projects are to do with settings, using stones I already have. Things I want to finish - things I wasn't happy with that I wanted to re-do. The grey spinel is something I've wanted for years and years. I'd given up all hope of getting one in the size I wanted -then - BAM! There she was!

It will be set in a chunky halo in platinum. Should be a nice ring. (I'm hoping!)

 

[mrs-b]

How do you mean, you bought it and it was gone? Gone my somebody else buying it a nano second before you? That seems unlikely, given how long many gems seem to linger out there, weeks is nothing.
I can't see the seller but that looks more like bait and switch. Or am I to paranoid?

No - not a bait and switch, @Anne111 - that's not what I meant.

I bought this stone within a couple of hours of it being listed in a private gem group, frequented by gem cutters, who list their stuff there. It turns over VERY quickly!

What I meant was - it was already gone from the site when I tried to cross-link photos here to show you what I'd bought. It had moved from 'For Sale' to the 'Sold' section - which I can't access. So I was unable to get photos for you all. The seller/cutter was nice enough to re-send the photos, tho, and the video - which you can see listed above.

I've already had notification that it has shipped, so I'm kind of waiting with baited breath, to see what it's like. Grey spinels are such chameleons; glorious in some lights, dead as a doornail in others. And I really hate the ones that 'brown out' and look muddy in regular daylight. Hopefully this one will be ok!

 

[chatoyancy]

No - not a bait and switch, @Anne111 - that's not what I meant.

I bought this stone within a couple of hours of it being listed in a private gem group, frequented by gem cutters, who list their stuff there. It turns over VERY quickly!

What I meant was - it was already gone from the site when I tried to cross-link photos here to show you what I'd bought. It had moved from 'For Sale' to the 'Sold' section - which I can't access. So I was unable to get photos for you all. The seller/cutter was nice enough to re-send the photos, tho, and the video - which you can see listed above.

I've already had notification that it has shipped, so I'm kind of waiting with baited breath, to see what it's like. Grey spinels are such chameleons; glorious in some lights, dead as a doornail in others. And I really hate the ones that 'brown out' and look muddy in regular daylight. Hopefully this one will be ok!

They are chameleons! That is a large and pretty spinel. Share pics of all the different moods when you receive it!

 

[mrs-b]

Wow! Well that was quick!
Got a knock on my door from Fedex this morning - and the spinel is here!

And it's gorgeous. It's darker than the photos - but the seller told me it was when I asked him. But it doesn't brown-out. It has a lot of purple in it, a lot of pink in it, and it has a faint blue also. It's a lovely, pigeon breast grey.

It's a lovely cut - small, high table, very chunky. Totally deserving of a top notch setting! Which it will get. At some point in the future...

I'll post some photos as soon as I get a chance.

 

[Rfisher]

Pigeon breast grey for a description. I love it.
sounds beautiful to me.
Hope you post many many pictures!

 

[mrs-b]

Ok. I can take no responsibility for the number of photos about to folllow; you said photos - I took photos!!

Tried to catch all color variations, including from varying distances, as I think color changes the greater the perspective.

Please forgive me for swamping you!

 

[mrs-b]

More....

 

[mrs-b]

More....

 

[Catmom]

Wow, what an interestingly moody color! I can't wait to see it set.

 

[mrs-b]

Needless to say, none of these are as pretty as the stone is in person. I keep picking up the black of my phone, which is making the stone look darker than it is.

Here are a few more that I took outside in indirect light. I can't capture the hints of pink, but hopefully you can see that it's a very pretty stone. I love it!

 

[mrs-b]

@Catmom - have a look at the photos I just posted, and click on them to blow them up. It's got lovely undertones of color and is, as you say, very moody. It reminds me of the sort of heavy cloud color we'd get in Australia, just prior to thunderstorms.

Give me your opinion on this pls? I really love it - but I'd like to hear if its beauty is coming through in my photos.

ETA And if you think it's ugly tell me that, too!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I think the color is lovely- very shimmery and metallic.

 

[leslie1956]

Beautiful colors in that grey spinel, love it! I vow to own one someday

 

[Catmom]

@Catmom - have a look at the photos I just posted, and click on them to blow them up. It's got lovely undertones of color and is, as you say, very moody. It reminds me of the sort of heavy cloud color we'd get in Australia, just prior to thunderstorms.

Give me your opinion on this pls? I really love it - but I'd like to hear if its beauty is coming through in my photos.

ETA And if you think it's ugly tell me that, too!

Hah, far from ugly! Is the color more like the first photos? The pink really shows in those and they are much lighter. It's a really cool stone. It can be so frustrating taking pics of gemstones.

 

[Catmom]

Beautiful colors in that grey spinel, love it! I vow to own one someday

Gah...I just got distracted by your opal in your avatar.......................squirrel.............lol. It's gorgeous by the way!

 

[mrs-b]

I've decided to do a double halo as the setting, and I have 2 options. One halo on either option will be diamond. The other halo will be either rose-de-france amethyst, or a fairly hot pink ruby. Not sure yet which way I'm going to go....

 

[Catmom]

I've decided to do a double halo as the setting, and I have 2 options. One halo on either option will be diamond. The other halo will be either rose-de-france amethyst, or a fairly hot pink ruby. Not sure yet which way I'm going to go....

Ooooh I could see either way depending upon the darkness of the stone. It will be gorgeous no matter what.

 

[leslie1956]

Gah...I just got distracted by your opal in your avatar.......................squirrel.............lol. It's gorgeous by the way!

Thank you! That dragonfly in your avatar is beautiful, too, Catmom I constantly get distracted on PS, lol.

 

[Acinom]

Gorgeous colour!! Love the ranges of grey I am seeing in your pics.

Both halo options sound delicious. Do you already have the melee? In that case a line-up would be great to make a decision.
Rose de France: dreamy, great for everyday wear
Hot pink: great contrast, spicy, also great for everyday wear but you might not be in the mood for it every day

 

[ShinyPink]

I love your grey baby! I'm hoping to pick-up one this week from Gary. There's something about them that I love!

 

[alene]

Such a pretty spinel! It is darker than in the vendor’s photos, but I actually like it better in yours, with all the different shades of gray.

 

[mrs-b]

Thank you for your kind comments @Marsha Ayers @Acinom @Catmom @Rfisher @alene @MrsKMB @leslie1956 and @LisaRN! Your love of colored stones is both inspiring and reassuring.

I absolutely love this stone. I'm not sure which way I'll go with the 2nd halo, but I've ordered both melee, so we'll see. If I do the ruby halo, it will be a delicate inner halo and the surrounding diamonds will be much more substantial. If I do the amethysts, the inner circle will be be a delicate diamond halo and the amethysts will be larger. So on that basis, the amethyst option would be far cheaper, but the ruby option would be super lush. I'll have a play with it when the melee gets here; if I do the amethysts, I can go ahead with it right away. But if I do the rubies, I'll have to wait a while, as the diamonds will cost me $6k minimum.

Which means I'll probably fall in love with the ruby option. :roll