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Advice for finding a nice hot pink spinel

M

moosemunch

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2014
Messages
12
Hi Everyone,

I found this forum while looking for info about pink tourmalines (for a birthstone ring for my baby born in October) and got totally sidetracked by all the gorgeous hot pink mahenge spinels that everyone has. Luckily, I have a birthday coming up! My husband wants to gift me with one so I figured I'd emerge from lurkdom and ask for help.

I have a budget of 1k but I know I am several years late on this train, so I assume that my options will be limited. I'm looking for a small ring size stone (maybe 1 to 1.5 ct?), symmetrical cut if possible, hot pink (not red), and I'm ok with orange modifiers. I don't need precision cut or totally eye clean, although I do like precision cut and I would be ok with a smaller precision cut one (if I could even find one). I do want the stone to have the bright neon-y mahenge look if possible.

I've looked through the preferred vendors list but I haven't really found much. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions (specific gems to look at or else people to contact). Thanks!

p.s. I did manage to get a pink tourmaline from Barry Bridgestock and I love it. These colored stones are addictive though!
 
Do you have an example of the color you are looking for that you can post for reference?
 
What do you think of this color, for example?

_13970.jpg
 
It would help me tons if you were to buy that spinel. I've been lusting over it for a while now. Though, if you haven't already, check it out on the original vendors site as the picture on pricescope comes up as much more orange for me.
 
Jereni and airplay, I like that one quite a bit, although I think I saw that one on the website and wasn't so sure about the color in the hand shot (it seemed lighter or something). I would love to get something that approaches the color of the gems in the middle of this image.

mahenge-spinels-cut-.jpg
 
FrekeChild, I like the color of that one and it does seem like a great deal. But I can't get into trillions for some reason (same with pears). I'm hoping to find an oval, cushion, or round.
 
Oh, and if you are willing to pick one vendor and go with them, its a great time to ask as Tucson is going on and I'm sure there will be more to be found there. Good luck to you!
 
Thanks everyone, this is great advice! I will start to get in touch with some of the folks you suggested.

I got a photo earlier today of a few small rounds that one vendor has in stock. They are smaller than what I was looking for so I am going to see if they can find something larger. But I might consider the largest one (0.88ct, with an orange modifier). It is well below my budget so I could put it in a nice halo.

_14014.jpg
 
moosemunch|1390498878|3599547 said:
Thanks everyone, this is great advice! I will start to get in touch with some of the folks you suggested.

I got a photo earlier today of a few small rounds that one vendor has in stock. They are smaller than what I was looking for so I am going to see if they can find something larger. But I might consider the largest one (0.88ct, with an orange modifier). It is well below my budget so I could put it in a nice halo.
Click to expand...

Fwiw, those stones you just posted do not compare to the saturation level and intensity of the ones you posted as an example. :(sad
 
Minousbijoux, I agree. It seems like it has become very difficult to find well saturated ones. I wish I had realized these stones existed a few years ago! The vendor is going to try to find more for me though, so I am excited to see what she can find.
 
You might want to go straight to Prima, as the vendor (I think) you are looking at gets her stones from Prima. :))
 
moosemunch|1390498878|3599547 said:
They are smaller than what I was looking for so I am going to see if they can find something larger. But I might consider the largest one (0.88ct, with an orange modifier). It is well below my budget so I could put it in a nice halo.
Click to expand...

The 2nd one from the left looks sleepy. Is that a look you are going for?
 
Ditto Minou; those rounds don't look neon on my screen and contact Prima to see what they have. Their pricing and "off-line" selection is very reasonable.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm actually waiting to see a new group of gems today. They are all from Prima via Yvonne (yes minou guessed it). I am excited to see what she was able to find. (I did contact Jaimeen directly but he is busy preparing for the Tuscan show so we agreed that I would continue to work with Yvonne, who has been very responsive.)

Niel, that ebay stone looks very pretty but I wasn't sure about that vendor. Has anyone bought from them before?
 
moosemunch|1390660223|3600954 said:
Thanks everyone. I'm actually waiting to see a new group of gems today. They are all from Prima via Yvonne (yes minou guessed it). I am excited to see what she was able to find. (I did contact Jaimeen directly but he is busy preparing for the Tuscan show so we agreed that I would continue to work with Yvonne, who has been very responsive.)

Niel, that ebay stone looks very pretty but I wasn't sure about that vendor. Has anyone bought from them before?
Click to expand...

Ive bought from them before. Color was accurate and the guy was friendly and fast. I also googled the name and pricescope to hear some reviews. But also, that stone as a lab report already too, right? Also it has an offer button which i would take advantage of.

im not a fan of how hes always like "AAAA+++" and "rare!" but i mean, shows the vid and had has pics of the AIGS report

But maybe a seasoned vet could comment more about if its worth while or not.
 
Niel, thanks, good to know you've bought from them before. I think I'm a little nervous about spending that much money on ebay. I'd probably start with a cheaper stone. :)

I got these photos today. I think I like the sleepy one in the middle and the one to the left of it.

mahenges1.jpg
 
Here's a hand shot of them all.

mahenges2.jpg
 
Those stones would drive me nuts! I'm sure others will point this out, but they all exhibit the shadowing/head blockage/half and half that drives some of us batty. Those stones, due to their cutting, will almost always exhibit that two-tone look (as will the one Niel pointed out - though Niel, I do think that stone is pretty, and it is good feedback to hear that about the seller). If you don't mind it, go for it, otherwise, you can stick to rounds (or certain ovals like supernovas) to largely avoid it.
 
LoversKites|1390684369|3601100 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but those stones seem to display half/half extinction (half the stone is darker than the other). There's a thread about it here -

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/oval-cuts-half-n-half-extinction-effect.116619/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/oval-cuts-half-n-half-extinction-effect.116619/[/URL]

The colour is lovely on the one side of the stone but such an effect would personally bother me.
Click to expand...

Ha ha, I knew someone would beat me to it!
 
Oh I almost wish I hadn't read that since I didn't really notice that effect until someone pointed it out! Hmm. I really do love the colors. Maybe I will look at a couple in person and see if it actually bothers me.
 
minousbijoux said:
Ha ha, I knew someone would beat me to it!
Click to expand...

Sorry :P
 
moosemunch|1390685762|3601111 said:
Oh I almost wish I hadn't read that since I didn't really notice that effect until someone pointed it out! Hmm. I really do love the colors. Maybe I will look at a couple in person and see if it actually bothers me.
Click to expand...

Sometimes that half-and-half thing is less prevalent if you set the oval east-west rather than the usual north-south orientation - worth checking out if you really love the color and pricing.
 
If you aren't in a hurry, I'd recommend keeping an eye on LoupeTroop and the PS Preloved board. I've seen a few mahenges pop up over the last few months, and to me they often have better color than what the online stores have available. Maybe since the preloved stones are likely older stock? You just have to check often, since the good ones go FAST!
 
marymm|1390694331|3601169 said:
moosemunch|1390685762|3601111 said:
Oh I almost wish I hadn't read that since I didn't really notice that effect until someone pointed it out! Hmm. I really do love the colors. Maybe I will look at a couple in person and see if it actually bothers me.
Click to expand...

Sometimes that half-and-half thing is less prevalent if you set the oval east-west rather than the usual north-south orientation - worth checking out if you really love the color and pricing.
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest the same thing.
 
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