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Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spinel!

innerkitten

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 1, 2003
Messages
5,623
I see people around here wearing sapphires sometimes, occasionally a yellow diamond, but I've never seen anyone wearing a spinel. Most people have never heard of them before, and I don't know anyone in SF that owns one ( except me ). I actually mistook it for a sapphire. Turns out she used to work at a jewelry store and purchased a few interesting pieces during that time. Anyway, it was a good sized oval, I'd guess 10mm in length? Sort of a cross between a peach and a cinnamon with red flashes. A color I would normally not consider, but seeing one in person I'd be interested in owning one someday.
Just had to share! It's always fun to meet someone outside of PS that likes colored stones :)
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

Nice! I occasionally fantasize that I'll be out and about somewhere, and look over and say: "Is that a Mahenge?" and the other person will be shocked and pleased that someone recognized this, and we will discuss gems ad nauseum. PS or not, it would be fun to come across someone with a similar passion! :D
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

Wouldn't that be fun! I'd fall right over on my rear end if someone asked, "is that a Mahenge?" Probably have a stroke from sheer shock. :D

--- Laurie
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

I have not met anyone else with a spinel but I have had several people ask about mine. They have never heard of them.

I went to a luncheon on Saturday at a local jeweler, he had one red spinel in a double halo. He knows about and loves spinels.
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

One time I was in the hair salon, and there was a wall between me and the other side, and I heard someone say "tsavorite." I gasped in disbelief and walked around the wall to introduce myself. We had a fun time talking. It turned out she was working towards her GG, and she had a love of colored stones, and knew many of the same vendors we talk about here, but she wasn't familiar with Pricescope. She loved spinels, and I showed her mine. One of the reasons I enjoy Pricescope so much is because its really rare outside the cyberworld to find people that enjoy colored stones, especially the lesser known ones.
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

I am sure they are out there. :cheeky: Two of my local jewellers (and I live in a teeny tiny town in nowhere) carry both loose and set gemstones that range from garnets to tourmalines to spinels, although in very limited quantities and very small sizes (sub carat except for the tourmaline). Someone has to be buying these or else the shops would not be carrying them, right? I was told that there's a local collector who buys from them frequently but I have never met this person.
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

I had a random guy on the street ask me if my ring was a mahenge. At the time I'd only sen the word written so it took me a second to realize what he'd said. I felt like such an arse, but it was cool nonetheless.
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

I once ran into three guys in the Wyoming backcountry, and immediately noticed the striking cabochon in the middle one's ring. I asked "Is that a Yowah nut?" He lit up, the guy on his right rolled his eyes and said "Oh, God". We had a real nice chat about our favorite boulder opal patterns and locations.

Another time in a hotel in central Wyoming, I admired a heavy gold ring a man was wearing with an awesome large fire agate and a blazing green round brilliant in the center of the agate. I asked if it was a tsavorite, he replied in the affirmative and told me he had cut it himself. We introduced ourselves, and that was when I met - Barry Bridgestock.

It is always wonderful to meet someone by chance who shares the same OCD subject matter :o .
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

I never met a random person who knew about spinel. Tsavorites, yes, I have even met a person who knew about a spessartite. But spinels and demantoids, never.
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

Wait, now I am wondering - How DO you pronounce "mahenge"?
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

distracts|1337751056|3201470 said:
Wait, now I am wondering - How DO you pronounce "mahenge"?

mah-hen-gay

The g is like g in 'good' not in 'George.'
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

beau-wy|1337749256|3201450 said:
Another time in a hotel in central Wyoming, I admired a heavy gold ring a man was wearing with an awesome large fire agate and a blazing green round brilliant in the center of the agate. I asked if it was a tsavorite, he replied in the affirmative and told me he had cut it himself. We introduced ourselves, and that was when I met - Barry Bridgestock.

Best story ever.

I have gotten compliments on my sphene, but a blank stare when I explain what it is.

And I once impressed a friends neighbor (a jeweler) by talking his ear off about how I wish I liked pink, because pink stones (spinels and otherwise) seem to be much cheaper than my favorite color, blue. Thank goodness I don't like red!

I have little day dreams of seeing one of you guys in an airport or somewhere random and knowing you by your rings :lol:
 
Re: Finally saw someone outside of Pricescope wearing a spin

I think that's a really cool story about meeting Barry Bridgestock too. Hmmm.....recognition by jewellery. :lol:
 
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