Are these spinels reasonably priced?

[kindred]

I am wondering if these prices are the going rates for these types of stones. Since there seems to be some ruby and spinel love on the forum lately, I thought someone might have an idea of the going rates for stones. These are both spinels.

I am completely in love with the color of this first one, but it is $3,353.38 and only 7 x 7 mm face up, 1.9 carat.




The glow and size on this one are great, but so is the price. $7,572.62 and 9.1x7.12x5.84mm, 3 carats. I am not sure that I would be happy with how pink this one is.





My dream ring would probably be a combination of these 2 by Leon Merge. I have a fashion ring with an oval of about 11 x 8.5 mm, and sadly it doesn't look particularly big on my (large) ring finger.

 

[Niel]

Based on the white things around the first one the photo color looks all blown out - I’d be worried it’s not that color irl

The second looks like tell get brown/ Orange irl

 

[Rfisher]

On the first one you posted.
The way the listong states "cherish it in a gem box" or something like that. Makes me think inclusions are causing it to be not structurally sound enough to set/wear with any sort of reliability.
Just my take on it.

Love your inspiration though!

 

[Rfisher]

Based on the white things around the first one the photo color looks all blown out - I’d be worried it’s not that color irl

The second looks like tell get brown/ Orange irl

Did you happen to see the videos on these as well or are you going by static pics? Just curious!

Thx!

 

[kindred]

Rfisher, It hadn't occurred to me that it might not be durable enough for a ring.

I haven't seen video of the second one, but here are videos of the first one:

I am trying to figure out if I need to settle for a small spinel or if I could get very lucky and find a good deal on a larger stone of great color. Leon Merge is WAY out of my price range, sadly.

 

[kindred]

I can see that the first stone has issues, but I do love the color - at least the way it looks in pictures and video.

 

[Niel]

Did you happen to see the videos on these as well or are you going by static pics? Just curious!

Thx!

Based on the photos.

 

[princessandthepear]

https://gemfix.com/gems/spinel-31-289 Is this getting closer to your range. Well cut and ruby like.
or:https://www.finewatergems.com/store/p287/1.50_ct_Burmese_Red_Spinel.html I think the prices quoted for the above stones are due to large size and a desirable color. If you would look at smaller stones. I just posted these as an example of what's out there at a different price point.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Just my thoughts. I think the first one is too included for a ring and the second one is too windowed. On a side note I have purchased red spinels that looked amazing in pictures and videos. I returned almost all of them. One vendor (who will not be named) made a red spinel look like a true lit stoplight in both pics and video and it wasn't cheap. I received the stone and thought immediately that the wrong stone was sent. Nope. I still am amazed at how well that vendor was able to alter the images.

If you don't mind going a bit smaller and your heart is not set on spinel, Elle (a PS member) has a 1.05 carat, almost eye clean, unheated ruby for sale. She describes it as mostly red.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/492441...red-ruby-cushion?ref=search_recently_viewed-6

 

[kindred]

Thanks so much for the replies!

@princessandthepear, The gemex one is a wonderful size, but I'm afraid that it may be too dark. The listing says that the stone is a little darker than the photo turned out. I have been looking at Finewater's page. I like the size and color of the one below, but I wonder if it is too windowed.




@LisaRN, What you described is my fear. It would be a dream come true to find a real stop light red stone. I really adore the color of the stone you pointed out, but the outline looks a little uneven. If it were larger I probably would have bought it already! I am going to think about it, but the fact that I am getting Bron's lovely wonky raffle ruby makes me a little more picky now.

Here is a picture of the ruby from Bron. I can't wait until I get to see it in person.




This is where the hard compromise part probably comes in. I would really like fantastic color and 8+ mm. (12 mm if I'm really being honest. ) I just don't know if those stones are really out there or how much they would cost. I really wish that I had bought a spinel 10 years ago when I first joined Pricescope, but I didn't really know how to go about the search. I am still pretty unsure of the market, so I really appreciate any advice you guys can give me, especially about what my dream spinel might cost. I dare not even ask what my dream ruby might cost.

 

[kindred]

@princessandthepear, I just watched the video for the Gemex stone and it looks nicer than in the pictures. Do you think it would darken up a lot in a setting?

 

[kindred]

@LisaRN, I forgot to mention that I am not set on a spinel at all. I would prefer a ruby and began looking at spinels because it seems like they are often less expensive.

 

[voce]

@kindred can you state what budget you are willing to pay for ruby and/or spinel?

I had favorited this stoplight spinel on Etsy but it's sold out now
https://www.etsy.com/listing/616669746/222-ct-unheated-true-pigeon-blood-red

Not an ideal cut nor a perfect clarity stone by any means but the color is excellent. The seller has other imperfect ones too that are really red. But if you want a good cut you might have to pay for someone to recut what you buy.

FWIW I think of Finewater's red spinels as market standard price. Given what fine rubies cost for the same parameters, you'll understand why The Gemstone Project's ruby is practically a steal. You may sometimes find red spinels for cheaper than Finewater's prices from some Asian vendors, but sometimes that's a risk if you want to return something that doesn't look as advertised.

 

[princessandthepear]

If you truly want ruby then you should stick to looking for a ruby. If you want a large red gem then the spinel is the way to go. If you are interested in the Gemfix spinel ask him some questions. He also has rubies and could probably advice you much better about his gems than I could. I have asked them questions about sapphires in the past and found both them and Elle (@The GemstoneProject) quite pleasant to work with.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

I hate to say it, but reasonably priced is in the eye of the beholder (to an extent). When I came across my red spinel, I didn't think twice about the price. I assumed I'd never see one like it again and I haven't. And when I said "to an extent" above, I completely understand not wanting to get ripped off or the like. That's fair.

Is this too pink for you?

 

[kindred]

SparkliesLuver, Thanks so much for looking for me, but I think it is a too pink. I think my preference is for a stop light red but I would love a jedi spinel or another glowy one.

princessandthepear, Thank you for the suggestion.

voce, That 2.22 spinel was lovely. I am not sure of a budget. I am wondering what I could get for around $5,000 US but I might try to stretch that budget for the right size and color.

LisaRN, I inquired about that spinel but someone else has already snatched it up. Were you able to return the spinel that didn't look anything like the video and photos? Did you ever find your "perfect" red spinel?

 

[voce]

@kindred Do you like the red spinels @lovedogs posted in her "Search for a 'flaming red' CS" thread? I think she initially listed 5, only 1 of which she bought. You could maybe check to see if those are still available, if you like them.

 

[kindred]

voce, Yes, I absolutely love the ones that @lovedogs posted. Especially the one she ended up buying! I was hoping to get something in a larger mm size, though.

I will have to look at her thread again, but I am really unsure of what, if any, protections I would have if I bought one of those stones and it turned out to not look like the pictures/videos or what if it was synthetic? I think most of the stones she looked at were from Asian sellers and I am such a newbie that I am really not sure if they usually have return policies.

Also, should I plan to send an uncerted stone in to a lab? I know that spinels are sometimes treated- is that true of the red and pink ones? Can rubies and spinels be verified as natural without sending to a lab?

@lovedogs, If you see this, could you please tell me more about the buying process? I don't know if I would be covered using PayPal or if there is a time limit that I would end up going beyond if I sent a stone in to a lab and had to wait weeks to get it back and there turned out to be a problem. So many questions! I have never bought from Etsy before, much less whatspp.

It also seems like gems get quickly snatched up once they are posted here, so I would like to be ready to buy in case I find something amazing.

 

[lovedogs]

@kindred I asked about return policies with all the vendors I spoke with. The one I ended up buying from has a return policy (if I just decide I don't want it), as long as I decide within 3 days. However, if I send it to a lab to make sure it isn't fake (which I will probably do), and it isn't real, then there's unconditional returns. Also, if you pay with PayPal, you are very protected. If any fraud happens, they will refund you (you can open a case with them, etc). So paying with PP I feel secure.

If sellers are on Etsy you have even more protection because you could open a case on Etsy (and/or with PayPal). A few of the stones i posted in my thread were from Etsy sellers, although the one I ended up buying was from a seller on Instagram (I paid via PP, and this vendor has the return policy stated above).

Hope that helps!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

SparkliesLuver, Thanks so much for looking for me, but I think it is a too pink. I think my preference is for a stop light red but I would love a jedi spinel or another glowy one.

princessandthepear, Thank you for the suggestion.

voce, That 2.22 spinel was lovely. I am not sure of a budget. I am wondering what I could get for around $5,000 US but I might try to stretch that budget for the right size and color.

LisaRN, I inquired about that spinel but someone else has already snatched it up. Were you able to return the spinel that didn't look anything like the video and photos? Did you ever find your "perfect" red spinel?

I have three red spinels and my last one is on this thread. I really don't like the setting but one day I will reset it. It is exactly the color and glow that I wanted. I have a thread on it here: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-me-burma-red-spinel-ring.223341/

Good luck with your search. If I see a nice red spinel that is stop light color I will let you know.

 

[lovedogs]

@kindred maybe ask for an indoor video of this one?

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...emerald-cut-mahenge-agl-prestige-report;23407

It's 6K, but comes with AGL prestige report and is over 3ct.

 

[voce]

This is authentic Mahenge spinel of the finest color. When I saw the listing before the seller wanted $8000 for it. I think considering the size and color that it's reasonable in price.
If you want ruby, untreated top color costs $3k/ct around 1 ct, $6k/ct around 2 ct, and 3 ct would cost $12k/ct. So paying $6k for this red spinel is about 1/6 of what you would pay for similar size and color ruby in untreated condition, and 1/3 of what you would pay for a heated ruby of that color.

 

[kindred]

@lovedogs & @voce, It is stunning but I wish it was an oval or Portuguese cut oval. Hmmm...

 

[kindred]

@LisaRN, i had commented on your spinel thread 2 years ago. I had just forgotten. How fortunate to have a red spinel that is beautiful in all lighting! It's so beautiful!

 

[Burmesedaze]

@kindred maybe ask for an indoor video of this one?

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...emerald-cut-mahenge-agl-prestige-report;23407

It's 6K, but comes with AGL prestige report and is over 3ct.

Sorry but it's rather dark red and darker reds in Myanmar are still fairly common and in such sizes. I wouldn't pay us1k/ct

Just my 2 cts.

 

[lovedogs]

Sorry but it's rather dark red and darker reds in Myanmar are still fairly common and in such sizes. I wouldn't pay us1k/ct

Just my 2 cts.

I just looked again and realized the seller does have a video in lower lighting where it also looks dark to me. I agree with @Burmesedaze that after looking at the 2nd video I wouldn't be willing to pay that much per ct for this stone.

 

[lovedogs]

@kindred I totally forgot that I inquired about this stone before finding mine!

https://rogerdery.com/gems/red-spinel-oval-1712023/

I trust Roger 100000% to cut beautiful stones, and I know he has a great return policy. I'm not sure if its "ok" to post the price publicly, since the website says "inquire", but I'll tell you it's under 4K. Just as an anecdote about Roger, he once sent me multiple blue zircons so I could decide on one after seeing 3 with my own eyes. It was very generous of him and I recommend him often.

 

[voce]

LOL @Burmesedaze smacking us back to sense. It's true that rubies of this color and size are not that common. For a red spinel, this $6k one is rare in its size, but there are many red spinels with better color. And @kindred, if you want an oval or a round, then you shouldn't settle for emerald. Whatever money you shell out has to come from the heart and not just a "head purchase".

 

[peacechick]

Nkotb is selling a beautiful red spinel ring:
https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-colored-stone-center/red-mahenge-spinel-ring

It’s a cushion and is smaller than you want but is worth considering since it’s already set.

 

[chrono]

The problem not shown or evident here with spinels is that many brown out or become strongly orange indoors. Nothing wrong with that but I think it’s something to be aware of. The search for an almost pure bright red that doesn’t shift much is a long hard search.