Bad Instagram/Vietnam spinel purchase

[CaseyLouLou]

Eh that's not too bad. I'm sure it's worth the $250. You could also resell it and try to recoup a bit more (or the rest) of your $. Just be sure to mention the flaw in the listing... unlike what's her face. But knowing you, you'll find a pretty mounting and make it work!

I got $100 back and she apologized for not specifically informing me of the fracture. I’m still annoyed but I am partly to blame for not being more careful.

 

[cocotate]

I got $100 back and she apologized for not specifically informing me of the fracture. I’m still annoyed but I am partly to blame for not being more careful.

That's good and will help with closure. At least it is a very pretty stone and you said you can't see the flaw unless louped, and the location of it doesn't look like it'll be affected by prong works. In a few years, the mind-clean issue will eventually subside if you choose to keep the stone and set it as a pendant to avoid impact.
Could we see the whole stone?

 

[CaseyLouLou]

That's good and will help with closure. At least it is a very pretty stone and you said you can't see the flaw unless louped, and the location of it doesn't look like it'll be affected by prong works. In a few years, the mind-clean issue will eventually subside if you choose to keep the stone and set it as a pendant to avoid impact.
Could we see the whole stone?

Yes, I meant to post a photo. It has a very wonky and deep pavilion but face up it looks well cut and is bright and sparkles a lot - much better than I was expecting. It’s a nice pinkish-red.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Yes, I meant to post a photo. It has a very wonky and deep pavilion but face up it looks well cut and is bright and sparkles a lot - much better than I was expecting. It’s a nice pinkish-red.

Oh well that certainly is a beauty! The color looks fab... nice medium tone. It's a strawberry shade.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Yes, I meant to post a photo. It has a very wonky and deep pavilion but face up it looks well cut and is bright and sparkles a lot - much better than I was expecting. It’s a nice pinkish-red.

Meant to say... my 2.72ct. cushion red spinel has a somewhat deep pavilion and also a really high crown. So that means it faces up smaller than it should, BUT it gives the stone insane sparkle!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Oh well that certainly is a beauty! The color looks fab... nice medium tone. It's a strawberry shade.

Thanks! It’s not neon but it’s more open and bright than my other reds. I’m still looking for an affordable neon.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Meant to say... my 2.72ct. cushion red spinel has a somewhat deep pavilion and also a really high crown. So that means it faces up smaller than it should, BUT it gives the stone insane sparkle!

Oh interesting! This is pretty small but the color will make it pop in the right setting. Is it the pavilion or the high crown or both that makes it sparkle? I don’t think mine has a particularly high crown.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Oh interesting! This is pretty small but the color will make it pop in the right setting. Is it the pavilion or the high crown or both that makes it sparkle? I don’t think mine has a particularly high crown.

A high crown can really set off the sparkle from pavilion facets. It's about proportions, so even if a stone is a bit deep/heavy, it can display some pretty intense brilliance. I'll take a deep stone over a shallow one any day!

 

[CBianco]

Meant to say... my 2.72ct. cushion red spinel has a somewhat deep pavilion and also a really high crown. So that means it faces up smaller than it should, BUT it gives the stone insane sparkle!

My pink cushion is also extremely deep with a very high crown, it's 2.03ct with 7.52x5.66 and depth at a whopping 5.8mm. Looks terrible on paper, but I don't think it negatively impacts the stone's performance at all in person. In fact I think the depth actually enhances the color, and the high crown also makes it very sparkly. It's a very brilliant gem with no windowing of course. The only "flaw" that I can see is half and half shadowing in some lighting/orientations but I think that has more to do with the elongated cut than because of depth. My precision cut oval zircons have the same "issues".

It's like what Gene from precision gems has said, there is no magic proportion when it comes to colored stones, they need to be judged with eyes. Diamonds are probably a different story though.

 

[CBianco]

Yes, I meant to post a photo. It has a very wonky and deep pavilion but face up it looks well cut and is bright and sparkles a lot - much better than I was expecting. It’s a nice pinkish-red.

That's a very pretty stone! I think for the price you did very well, prayers that the gem will hold up when setting.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Oh see, it's a great stone. I'm going to tell you that I actually prefer them that way! There is something about the extra depth of a nicely but native cut pavilion color pool, for me. My kind of sparkly! Your stone is really quite nice. It has lovely color. It's going to make a sensational ring or whatever you choose.

 

[cocotate]

Yes, I meant to post a photo. It has a very wonky and deep pavilion but face up it looks well cut and is bright and sparkles a lot - much better than I was expecting. It’s a nice pinkish-red.

It's beautiful with a YUMMY color!

 

[autumngems]

Glad you posted, I had looked at a few of their stones.

 

[JackTrick]

For < $300, I think that’s an absolute steal.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

For < $300, I think that’s an absolute steal.

You think? Even with a pretty large bullet hole (conchoidal) fracture on one end?

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

You think? Even with a pretty large bullet hole (conchoidal) fracture on one end?

Yes. Have you seen the heavily included specimens out there? The only people this doesn't apply to have mine/market connections near the source. I know it seems like there are a bunch, but that's a PS thing more than a real world thing. The prices for spinel- even the under carats are creeping higher.
They're not just the gem hound's secret anymore

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Glad you posted, I had looked at a few of their stones.

Did you notice in the videos of the stones you viewed that when you look closely there seem to be surface flaws?

 

[JackTrick]

I forget if it was mentioned. What’s the carat weight?

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I forget if it was mentioned. What’s the carat weight?

I don’t think I did mention that. It’s pretty small at 1.16ct/6.3x4.8x4.5

 

[JackTrick]

Man… red pink spinel, over a carat, with good clarity is running around $1k-$2k/ct.

Your stone isn’t perfect, but if it is still settable (which I think it might be), yeah you did fine.

 

[fredflintstone]

A high crown can really set off the sparkle from pavilion facets. It's about proportions, so even if a stone is a bit deep/heavy, it can display some pretty intense brilliance. I'll take a deep stone over a shallow one any day!

Very true. High crown creates brilliance and sometimes a little deeper pavilion can help it along with a few extra facets, but it is a fine line between a tad deeper pavilion and one that will cause extinction.

 

[fredflintstone]

Yes, I meant to post a photo. It has a very wonky and deep pavilion but face up it looks well cut and is bright and sparkles a lot - much better than I was expecting. It’s a nice pinkish-red.

Nice Spinel. You did well. The small feather inclusion will doubtfully be a problem with setting. You should be good to go.

 

[autumngems]

Did you notice in the videos of the stones you viewed that when you look closely there seem to be surface flaws?

I did, yes