Gems from the dark deep recesses of the Chrono's mine

[chrono]

I know I owe Freke a ton of pictures but I didn't feel like taking my gems out for a proper photography session. Instead, I spent nearly an hour at the bank vault to photograph a few very lonely looking gems. The bank employees who know me by sight thought I had gotten lost in the dark little room. I did not bother to remove them from their gem cases so the colours are not as vibrant as they are in person, not to mention all the horrible gem case glare. You can also see my shadow reflection too! I hope these pictures will suffice.

 

[chrono]

I've always thought these two would make an excellent pendant. My only excuse is laziness and the current high metal price. Of course when metal price was lower, I had other gems with a higher priority to set. I'll get to this pair some day.
1.62 ct pink flower tourmaline
2.59 ct concave cut aquamarine

 

[chrono]

My various combos of green gossular garnets and pink spinels. I'll get around to setting these one day too...
1.3 cttw matched portuguese round pink spinels
0.81 cttw matched trilliant Mahenge pink spinels
1.5 cttw matched trilliant Mahenge pink spinels
1.15 ct elongated cushion mint garnet
2.15 ct square cushion tsavorite

 

[boerumbiddy]

All those pinks and greens make me think of Lilly Pulitzer print dresses!

 

[chrono]

More pictures of the green and pink colour combination. I know the smaller trilliants are more proportionate to the tsavorite but I am sorely tempted to pair it with the larger trilliants. My pictures do not do the Mahenge spinels justice. They are incredibly hot in person and with barely any orange even under fluroescent lights.

 

[chrono]

Is it too much to have 2 rings that are similar colour-wise?

 

[boerumbiddy]

I always loved this color combination.
Lilly Pulitzer print bedroom, from the Garnet Hill catalogue archives:

 

[chrono]

The danger of having too many blue spinels is that some are unintentionally ignored. I like these two Tanzanian stones but they cannot compete with my newly set violet blue spinel. Unfortunately, I like them too much to part with them as well, so here they sit by their lonely selves. Again, there is colour distortion but I didn't feel like taking them out of their gem cases. The colour is richer and deeper in hand.
1.5 ct cobalt blue oval spinel
1.78 ct round blue spinel

 

[chrono]

Boerumbiddy,
I see the colour reference. This colour combination is very strong and could be considered by some to be rather garish, but I like the happy bright feeling it evokes in me.

 

[chrono]

Last picture.
0.94 ct Burmese red spinel
2.08 ct Mozambique tourmaline

I plan to set the red spinel someday in a pendant to complete my red spinel suite since I have 2 red spinel rings and a pair of red spinel earrings, all cushion stones.

 

[FrekeChild]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep 'em comin'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[OreoRosies86]

::gulp::

That pair of round mahenge spinels is my exact dream. I have been hunting for something that beautiful for months now. I can't take my eyes off them!

 

[T L]

Very nice Chrono,
You should see my bank vault goodies, totally unorganized, and lots of stones in one case.

I still think you should set that round violet spinel. Maybe it would make a nice combination with your trillion mahenges as well, since you have two pairs of those.

 

[petit_bijou]

1.78 ct round blue spinel

If you ever decide to place it in foster care, or find a surrogate parent for this, please keep me in mind! It is absolutely divine!

The tsavorite is going to look incredible set with those trilliant spinels!

 

[katharath]

These are so fun for me to see bc I love the pink and green color combo in general - and specifically I love mahenges, tsavs, green garnets, etc. Plus I've turned into a spinel freak as well, and so I completely adore both of the blues...sigh. These are all so beautiful. I would take any of these gems off your hands in a heartbeat, lol.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

Yes, I like the larger triliants with the tsav.

Annette

 

[OTL]

LOVE the violet spinel....Wish I have one like that AND cut by Barry

 

[chrono]

Sorry Freke, but that's it. Perhaps I'll take pictures of my other gems when I drop by the vault again, say Christmas 2014?

Elliot, the pair of round pinks are from Tan on eBay. Perhaps something similar might pop up again.

TL, you have far more gems than I do, so it is understandable that it is less well organized.

PetitBijou, alas, there is a dibs queue for that blue spinel. I'm not even sure who has first dibs on it anymore.

Katharath, thank you for the kind words. Coloured stones are very addicting, aren't they?

Smitcompton, I like the larger trilliants with the tsavorite too but most PSers tend to prefer the smaller pair. I have yet to decide on the design. Actually, I'm pondering a 5 stone design but don't know how well it will work with trilliants.

OTL, it is actually a very blue spinel. It becomes violetish under fluorescent lighting, which is what I photographed it under.

 

[missy]

Chrono, your gems are so beautiful. There is no way I would be able to keep them so far away from me in a bank vault where I could only gaze at them during banking hours. Have you thought about getting a home safe? That way you could take these precious babies out anytime you wanted. So lovely!

 

[OreoRosies86]

Oh oh! Thank you! I always forget about OdysseyGem for some reason.

 

[JewelFreak]

I'm in lust, Chrono! For the tsav and the round blue spinel, oh ahhhh. And all the rest. I love the greens & pinks together -- spring in the South colors. Maybe if you kept them at home under your mattress or something, you'd remember them enough to set them so we can see them again? I don't think you should be allowed to buy more until you get those fixed up! (Or decide to give them to a REAL good friend like me.)

--- Laurie

 

[Kelli]

Oh my! I can't wait to come back and drool over this thread again when I have more time! Stupid work...

 

[bling addict]

Beautiful collection Chrono! Along with a bunch of other posters I was really drawn to the barry round spinel!

 

[FrekeChild]

1.78 ct round blue spinel

If you ever decide to place it in foster care, or find a surrogate parent for this, please keep me in mind! It is absolutely divine!

The tsavorite is going to look incredible set with those trilliant spinels!

I called dibs YEARS ago! Get in line!

 

[Kim Bruun]

Love the Tanzanian blue spinels and the Burmese red. Where do you find such nice blue spinels? It seems whenever I buy one that looks beautiful in the vendor photo, it looks like either wet newspaper or a glob of ink...

 

[dk168]

Wow especially at the flower tourmaline and the green garnet, and the concave cut aquamarine pear!

DK

 

[kgizo]

So many lovely gems. I understand why it would be hard to choose the priority for setting. Do you only set in gold or platinum?

 

[pregcurious]

Very nice. I like the tsavs a lot. They look really bright.

 

[Phoenix]

Chrono,

You should be crowned the CS Goddess!! All of your collection is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!

 

[JLW05]

Oh, my! What beautiful stones, especially your cushion tsavorite.