Disappointed with purchase.

[Mjay]

Ugh! Some spinels are the pits for being shifty.

I had sooo much angst about this one. It is a lovely colour most of the time but it shifts and because it shifts I always think I might as well just buy tourmaline! No more spinels for me!

Saving grace is I keep sticking it in my hair so cost per wear is dropping.

One thing that I did notice with the spinel was that it was very sparkly. I love this ring! Do you have a thread on it? It reminds me of Harry Winston’s candy collection. I have a Jeff white tourmaline that I’m hoping to set with similar vibes.

 

[Mjay]

If grey was what was predominant to your eye, I can see where the disappointment is, when looking for purple.
Especially if it wasn’t cheap.

Spinel is frustrating. I have empathy for vendors but don’t understand additional pictures showing that shift /desaturation/darkness isn’t included in listings especially for non cheap stones.
Because there’s someone out there (possibly) looking for a moody sultry grey that will pass it by because ‘purple’ is in the listing.


Glad it worked out for you in the end @Mjay !

Grey was literally all I saw. It was so frustrating. The vendor sent me multiple videos in different lighting conditions and it showed a shift in tones but not to the dark grey that I’m seeing. It would be a perfect stone for someone looking for dark grey but I do believe it probably genuinely looks different in the lighting where the vendor lives vs my lighting.

 

[Mjay]

That’s disappointing for you.
It’s sort of like how the jewellery you buy from a shop never looks so pretty anywhere else. This is because jewellery store spend ALOT on their lighting.
So with photos and videos it’s possible that settings and light source make a big difference.
That said, some gems just don’t photograph as the eye sees it.
If your gem is purple, with less light intensity (be that geographical or camera setting) it will tone towards a murky grey.
I guess this is why it’s best to always deal with a seller who will let you return.
With this purchase, hopefully the seller will take into account your past purchases and inclination towards more purchases if he assists you by accepting a return.
You aren’t “a tyre kicker” or an unreasonable buyer, you are just disappointed with the fact that it doesn’t look as you expected in real life.
Fingers crossed.

I’m very thankful the vendor was understanding. I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase from them again and still have a few items of theirs on my wishlist.

 

[Mjay]

I find it super annoying to pay so much more for something that shifts as much as tourmaline! And it’s only 0.5 harder on Mohs. And it’s so expensive! Baffles me why people bother to buy it in blue! Sapphire all the way for blues!

Haha sorry that was a rant!

I’ve learned my lesson. For me, it was just something that I wanted in my collection. I have sapphire and tourmaline so I wanted to have a spinel. I wanted to see the sparkles everyone talks about. I’ll definitely be sticking with sapphire. I’ve never been disappointed by a sapphire.

 

[newtojewels]

I bought a three stone "dark blue" spinel ring that I knew was going to be quite grey, but it still surprised me how grey it was when I actually saw it. Luckily it was inexpensive for a completed ring and I was buying for the vibe of the whole piece. I would never be able to recreate the vendor photo, though, so would have been extremely disappointed if I had bought for the color.

I'm glad you were able to return it and that you learned this lesson about spinels for you!

 

[lovedogs]

Can you share the vendor? I get if you'd rather not, but this experience makes me wsnt to buy from them more

 

[Mjay]

Can you share the vendor? I get if you'd rather not, but this experience makes me wsnt to buy from them more

The vendor did everything right in this situation but still I don’t feel comfortable sharing.

 

[lovedogs]

The vendor did everything right in this situation but still I don’t feel comfortable sharing.

No worries, I get it

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I'm glad you are able to return the stone. I remember the "stoplight red" spinel I bought and it was the ugliest, dark, purplish red spinel that I had ever seen. It was not cheap. The vendor had to have manipulated the photos and video. I tried every lighting source and I could never get it to look even close to the vendor's.

I sold it cheap on a gemstone site and listed real photos and an honest description. It was previously listed on that site. I reduced it every few days to keep the listing fresh. I don't think the vendor sold any of the expensive sapphires they listed during that time.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

One thing that I did notice with the spinel was that it was very sparkly. I love this ring! Do you have a thread on it? It reminds me of Harry Winston’s candy collection. I have a Jeff white tourmaline that I’m hoping to set with similar vibes.

No thread because I had some angst about it (which I’ve resolved) but yes it was inspired by this ring from HW!!!

 

[LilAlex]

I don't know the vendor but I promise you they know exactly what is going on here. It is one thing to represent a gray spinal as pulling a little violet in incandescent light and pulling a little blue outdoors under clear skies. But representing it as a "violet spinel" (if that is the case here) is from another planet. (Like: I have a blue emerald! Yes, it's mostly -- even overwhelmingly -- green but there is definitely a hint of blue in there...) That is not acceptable and I would grieve it to the vendor and, if unsuccessful, then the CC company. After all, if you are unsuccessful with the vendor, you will certainly never work with them again. It's like "no returns" but the dimensions don't match the description. "No returns" presupposes an accurate description.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I'm so thrilled everything worked out! I had a similar situation happen (there was a return policy, but I just hate making returns to someone I respect). So I took a screenshot of the listing photo next to my "best" photo (which still looked like an entirely different stone). I sent a polite email, but asked if they would be pleased with what they were sold vs. what they received. We've all heard horror stories, which make us a bit leery, but most sellers are reasonable, honest folks. He was embarrassed about the discrepancy and vowed to change his photography standards. I've sold my fair share of gems, and they've generally looked better in person than my amateur photos. So at some point, sellers need to look at their professional glamour shots when holding the gem in-hand, and then adjust accordingly. "Monitor variations" are one thing, but I have received gems that would have had to be photographed on Mars, MAYBE, to look the way they did in their listing pix.

The more important question is... with what are you replacing this dud???

 

[Autumn in New England]

I had no idea spinel was so moody. Lesson learned. I’ve never hated a stone so much. I cried when I opened it. I saw zero purple only dark grey

Because we tend to go for lighter saturations in purple spinel, I find it even worse than blue in terms of the gray issue. I've had so many disappointments, I can't even tell you! The stone I spoke about in my post above was a "lavender" spinel... completely, completely gray in person. And there was literally zero gray in the listing photos... the color was so pure and crisp. I actually posted about it here (with photos), if anyone recalls.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Ugh! Some spinels are the pits for being shifty.

I had sooo much angst about this one. It is a lovely colour most of the time but it shifts and because it shifts I always think I might as well just buy tourmaline! No more spinels for me!

Saving grace is I keep sticking it in my hair so cost per wear is dropping.

Ok, but... it's dazzling.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I bought a three stone "dark blue" spinel ring that I knew was going to be quite grey, but it still surprised me how grey it was when I actually saw it. Luckily it was inexpensive for a completed ring and I was buying for the vibe of the whole piece. I would never be able to recreate the vendor photo, though, so would have been extremely disappointed if I had bought for the color.

I'm glad you were able to return it and that you learned this lesson about spinels for you!

My rule for spinel is... if I see ANY hint of gray or brown in the vendor photos, expect a wholly gray or brown stone in person.

 

[dk168]

I’ve learned my lesson. For me, it was just something that I wanted in my collection. I have sapphire and tourmaline so I wanted to have a spinel. I wanted to see the sparkles everyone talks about. I’ll definitely be sticking with sapphire. I’ve never been disappointed by a sapphire.

You are not alone in having purchased a shifty Spinel, and I am glad to hear the vendor has agreed for the stone to be returned, result!

The Spinel that I REALLY REALLY wanted was beyond my reach at the time, which was a pear shaped one about 2ct listed on Finewater Gems.

I had the chance to see it in person when I met up with Gary at Tucson 2023, and I can vouch for Gary's photos being true to the stone in real life.

Some lucky person had purchased that stone now.

DK

 

[Mreader]

@Autumn in New England good to see you back here! Speaking of lavender spinels I tagged you in a gorgeous lavender that a PSer was selling (can’t recall who it was atm)

Edit - the lilac one from Gingercurls

 

[Rfisher]

Grey was literally all I saw. It was so frustrating. The vendor sent me multiple videos in different lighting conditions and it showed a shift in tones but not to the dark grey that I’m seeing. It would be a perfect stone for someone looking for dark grey but I do believe it probably genuinely looks different in the lighting where the vendor lives vs my lighting.

Maybe someday later down the road, after setting aside the uncomfortness of asking to return a no return sale, in the ‘vendor pictures and owner pictures of ps stones’ ?
Taking location and lighting into consideration, that thread is some good food for thought when shopping online.

 

[Mjay]

I'm so thrilled everything worked out! I had a similar situation happen (there was a return policy, but I just hate making returns to someone I respect). So I took a screenshot of the listing photo next to my "best" photo (which still looked like an entirely different stone). I sent a polite email, but asked if they would be pleased with what they were sold vs. what they received. We've all heard horror stories, which make us a bit leery, but most sellers are reasonable, honest folks. He was embarrassed about the discrepancy and vowed to change his photography standards. I've sold my fair share of gems, and they've generally looked better in person than my amateur photos. So at some point, sellers need to look at their professional glamour shots when holding the gem in-hand, and then adjust accordingly. "Monitor variations" are one thing, but I have received gems that would have had to be photographed on Mars, MAYBE, to look the way they did in their listing pix.

The more important question is... with what are you replacing this dud???

It was definitely a shocking discrepancy but I’m thankful that I am able to return it. I actually have something pretty exciting in the works but I’m not optimistic that it’s going to be here for Christmas so I decided to purchase the spinel. I had been eyeing it for awhile and I like my boys to see me open a gift from my husband on Christmas morning. It’s all smoke and mirrors but I’m hoping to set an example in hopes that they will become thoughtful partners when they grow up. That being said; I’m totally in the mood for a happy candy sapphire now so I’ve been browsing.

 

[Autumn in New England]

@Autumn in New England good to see you back here! Speaking of lavender spinels I tagged you in a gorgeous lavender that a PSer was selling (can’t recall who it was atm)

Edit - the lilac one from Gingercurls

Helloooo there, my friend! Missed you guys!! I will go look in the preloved forum (notifications only last so long, so it's no longer there).

 

[Autumn in New England]

It was definitely a shocking discrepancy but I’m thankful that I am able to return it. I actually have something pretty exciting in the works but I’m not optimistic that it’s going to be here for Christmas so I decided to purchase the spinel. I had been eyeing it for awhile and I like my boys to see me open a gift from my husband on Christmas morning. It’s all smoke and mirrors but I’m hoping to set an example in hopes that they will become thoughtful partners when they grow up. That being said; I’m totally in the mood for a happy candy sapphire now so I’ve been browsing.

Happy? Candy? Sapphire? You have my attention.

Two things: 1. Kudos on raising strong, but sensitive young men (the world thanks you). And 2. Sending big hugs your way.

 

[Autumn in New England]

@Autumn in New England good to see you back here! Speaking of lavender spinels I tagged you in a gorgeous lavender that a PSer was selling (can’t recall who it was atm)

Edit - the lilac one from Gingercurls

So I couldn't find where you tagged me, but I did find the spinel post and LT listing. Did you want my opinion, love? Hopefully Mjay doesn't mind me derailing the post for a moment.

 

[Mreader]

So I couldn't find where you tagged me, but I did find the spinel post and LT listing. Did you want my opinion, love? Hopefully Mjay doesn't mind me derailing the post for a moment.

Oh not for me; I just thought of you bc I recall at one point you were searching for a lavender spinel but that may be my faulty memory! And I don’t mean to threadjack either !

 

[Autumn in New England]

Oh not for me; I just thought of you bc I recall at one point you were searching for a lavender spinel but that may be my faulty memory! And I don’t mean to threadjack either !

Aww how sweet of you to think of me! It's a lovely stone, and huge, but I did end up finding one (FINALLY)!!

P.S. I don't know if anyone is weird like me, but I love when folks threadjack my posts, and 17 different conversations are going on at once. It's like a little block party.