Another RED stone!

[MazelTov2]

Normally, my favorite colors are green and blue; but in gemstones, I've come to love the color red, particularly in rubies and spinels Attached are photos of a 14.3 carat Burma spinel that was purchased a couple of years ago. As you can tell, it's very clean...and those small formations in the middle of it are octahedran "grow" crystals that identify it definitely as spinel. The color is defined as "cinamon red" with a very tiny percetage (10% or less) of orange. I love wearing it and welcome any comments on it.

Leslie

 

[ChrisA222]

I have always been on the fence about "red" Spinel. I get some of the pinks, as they have great bright color and glow, unlike most any other pink stone. But a red one such as this...don't get me wrong, I own a few of them. But, I don't really appreciate them any more than I would a nice garnet of the same tone. These stones just look very 'garnety'. Now, if you have an appreciation for the rarity, than yes, I get that. But coming from a color and beauty perspective, and a value perspective, I think most would be better served with a Rhodolite or Spessartite, both which I've seen in the Purplish-Red, Red, and Orange-Red. You would get a little better hardness out of a Spinel, but I don't think much more to deserve the added expense.

If there are Red Spinels out there that have that Ruby "glow", I'd love to see an example of one of those. That may change my mind. I think that is the one good quality of the Ruby, which is otherwise much too included and expensive for me to ever want to own one. Maybe Its more about liking garnets than disliking these red spinels or rubies. I can get a nice red garnet in a bigger size, clean, bright and much more affordable. And its RI is right up there, too.

Just my opinion.

 

[MazelTov2]

Each to his own. I also like garnets, but I do appreciaate the rarity of a deep red spinel.

Leslie

 

[minousbijoux]

I agree with Chris. I wouldn't call that red. Its not my cup of tea (too dark and too desaturated), but as long as you like it that's what counts.

I'd prefer to have a one carat RED Mahenge spinel like TL's. TL, any time you get tired of yours, I'll take it off your hands, literally!

 

[chrono]

I'm with you on this one, Minous. The tone is too dark and desaturated for me. We all have different tastes and I respect that. As for TL's stones, you'll have to get in line though; I'm sure the queue is very long.

 

[ChrisA222]

So Minous+Chrono, there are Red Spinels that don't look like the above stone? The few red spinels I own are similar to this one posted, maybe slightly redder and less dark/brown, but still garnet-tones.

Im familiar with the Mahenge Pink Spinels, they have that glow, and brightness about them. Not unlike a bright Ruby (but Pink) as far as the glow. You are saying there exists Red Spinel that has that same glow of the pink version? Or, of a Ruby let's say? I would love to see an example of that.

TL if you own a Red Spinel with that bright color/glow, can you post? May change my overrated feeling of Red Spinels. Now, I love Spinel overall...the aformentioned Mahenge Pinks, I LOVE the blues...especially if you can find one without much grey, the purples, the blue-purple shifters. I just bought a Purple-Blue Shifter (will attach photos) which looks nice. Im about to post a thread on it as I am trying to figure out how to set it in a ring for myself.

But please, let me see a Red Spinel that is NOT garnety.

To the OP, I am impressed by the size of that stone though, I mean, its huge. Can you see the inclusions or are those just visible (in the pics) because of the magnification? If its eyeclean, than that makes it even better since its so huge!

 

[minousbijoux]

Chris, rather than asking others to show you, why don't you do the research on this site? search yourself for Red rubies and spinels. They're all over this site. Mogok spinels, Mahenges, rubies from all many locations.

 

[minousbijoux]

Start with Chrono's avatar! Chrono, that's a spinel, correct? Chrono is responsible almost singlehandedly ( ) for the Mahenge spinel craze sweeping the world, right Chrono?

 

[T L]

So Minous+Chrono, there are Red Spinels that don't look like the above stone? The few red spinels I own are similar to this one posted, maybe slightly redder and less dark/brown, but still garnet-tones.

Im familiar with the Mahenge Pink Spinels, they have that glow, and brightness about them. Not unlike a bright Ruby (but Pink) as far as the glow. You are saying there exists Red Spinel that has that same glow of the pink version? Or, of a Ruby let's say? I would love to see an example of that.

TL if you own a Red Spinel with that bright color/glow, can you post? May change my overrated feeling of Red Spinels. Now, I love Spinel overall...the aformentioned Mahenge Pinks, I LOVE the blues...especially if you can find one without much grey, the purples, the blue-purple shifters. I just bought a Purple-Blue Shifter (will attach photos) which looks nice. Im about to post a thread on it as I am trying to figure out how to set it in a ring for myself.

But please, let me see a Red Spinel that is NOT garnety.

To the OP, I am impressed by the size of that stone though, I mean, its huge. Can you see the inclusions or are those just visible (in the pics) because of the magnification? If its eyeclean, than that makes it even better since its so huge!

I think Chrono's avatar is an excellent example of a red spinel, and there are 'red' spinels that look more like pyrope garnets, which tend toward a dark toned red with brown modifiers. People like what they like. I don't like to say what is right and what is wrong anymore, because color is very subjective. If the OP is happy with her stone, that's all that counts.

Some red spinels look very much like rubies. Here is a red spinel on the left (by Nomad), next to the "Graff" Burmese ruby owned by Lawrence Graff. I'm sure both probably have strong red fluorescence too. This color is very expensive, and of all spinel colors this is the most expensive. Be careful as there are a lot of synthetics out there that look like this being sold as natural. With red spinel, you must always consider your budget because not everyone can afford a 'ruby like' red spinel.

 

[ChrisA222]

THATS what I was looking for..see, those definately would not be confused with garnet...

Back to the OP, exactly...its all about what you like. I love how big that stone is!

 

[minousbijoux]

Oh, I would happily take that Nomad ring any time. Off to daydream now of red stones...

 

[Dioptase]

ONLY 32 carats?

I know it's a small stone

Did you visit us during JCK? We had some nice spinels over 15 carats on display (among other stones).

 

[T L]

ONLY 32 carats?

I know it's a small stone

Did you visit us during JCK? We had some nice spinels over 15 carats on display (among other stones).

I haven't been to a gem show in over a year.

Nomad does have some amazing stones. I hope you post more photos on your website soon.

 

[ChrisA222]

Love it! Not at all the brownish-red or garnety color!

What is the vendors website so I can see more? Thanks

 

[RedSpinel]

Hey Chrisa,

Fine red spinels from Tanzania, Burma or Vietnam DON'T look like garnets at all (but red garnets can be very nice stones too!).
I can post the stone below as has been sold already a while ago:
http://i44.servimg.com/u/f44/14/44/26/30/dsc_2312.jpg
Tanzanian red spinel. 31.98ct.

The problem with the 31ct spinel in that link though, is that 31cts is just too small! Not only that, but 31ct true red, bright, clean spinels are a dime a dozen as everyone knows....

No, seriously though, that stone is huge, and awesome! How much did that bring? If I had to guess, I'd have to say, and I dont have the 1st clue how much a spinel of that size would sell for, but maybe ....$150,000 - $300,000 or more. I mean, a 2ct bright, clean red spinel could go for $3,000 easily, but add a premium for an unusually large stone, and its gotta be 5k -10k per ct, right?

That stone is a perfect example of why I think truly nice red spinels look so much better than 99.99% of rubies. How many rubies can you honestly say you've seen that were as bright and clean as that? Nevermind the size, thats another factor.

The other mounted red spinel in the previous post right beside the mounted ruby really looks close to the color of that ruby. Its got some inclusions that make it look ruby-like as well. I'd bet that 99% of any random group of people who looked at that stone would think it was a fine ruby, unless they were experienced gem people.

Those pics should go a long way to answering Chriss A's question...

 

[chrono]

Wow, what a spinel (from Nomad). As much as I am curious as to its estimated value, I am also too afraid to find out. I drool over every single stone in their inventory.

 

[minousbijoux]

Wowza, now those are RED! When you show me stones like those TL and Chrono, boy, do I want a red stone!

 

[Rae~]

Wow, those last two are gorgeous colours. I think I like the Pala one slightly more... but only slightly!

 

[Arkteia]

It seems like Pala has a little bit of orange secondary and Nomad's one has a touch of pink/fucshia? Also, do they come from the same locality? Nomads' one looks like a Mahenge, and Pala's stone looks like a Burmese one, but it is just my wild guess...

Price-wise... I am not going to even guess. I'd think, way more than 5K/ct...

 

[minousbijoux]

Ark: I'm with you on what you see in the stones and your guess on locations. As to price [**shrugs**]

 

[Dioptase]

Ark: I'm with you on what you see in the stones and your guess on locations. As to price [**shrugs**]

Don't be scared

 

[chrono]

It seems like Pala has a little bit of orange secondary and Nomad's one has a touch of pink/fucshia? Also, do they come from the same locality? Nomads' one looks like a Mahenge, and Pala's stone looks like a Burmese one, but it is just my wild guess...

Price-wise... I am not going to even guess. I'd think, way more than 5K/ct...

Correct; I see the same undertones as you do and also guess the same origins. Even with the secondary colours, they are bright and very well saturated. I'll gladly take them any day.