Get it certed or get it appraised?

[golden_eyes]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to get everyone''s opinion. I have a 2.5 ct oval red spinel I got a few years ago. I''ve never had it set, and occasionally toy with the idea of either having it set a la Leon Mege or selling it

(how''s that for polar opposites?)...

At any rate, I really want to find out if the stone is suitable for setting, what the clarity is, how the color compares to other red spinel, and what it might be worth. I''m also really curious to learn about the cutting quality - I''ve never seen a more beautifully cut native cut stone, but I don''t know if it might benefit from a little bit of recutting to make it really shine.

So my question is - would it be better to send the stone to the AGTA or similar to get it certed, or would it be better to send it to an appraiser to get answers to my questions? In either case - please let me know if you have any recommendations for where/to whom I should send the stone. I''d love any recommendations for appraisers who are knowledgeable about spinel...

Thanks for your help!

 

[valeria101]

AGTA would not tell you if recuting would help looks or value, or how much it is worth or where it rabnks among spinels... an appraiser willtell you all these.

Gem labs can tell you what stone that is, what size and weight and possibly where it is from if you ask (and pay) for origin id. I am not sure if this is done for spinel even. The impartial service has its worth, but perhaps in other situations than yours.

Just my 0.2

I wouldn't know to reccoment an appraiser. If I were in your place, I would be writing the FedEx tag for Richard Sherwoods' lab, just because his posts on this forum made it feel up close and personal

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 6/22/2005 8:09:57 AM
Author: valeria101

If I were in your place, I would be writing the FedEx tag for Richard Sherwoods'' lab, just because his posts on this forum made it feel up close and personal

Val posted exackly what I was going to post.
Richard Sherwood is my first pick for an colored stone appraisal work even over the labs.
He flat out knows his stuff and is a great guy to work with.

 

[strmrdr]

links:
http://www.sarasotagemlab.com/

https://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/profile/myprofile.asp?userID=1376

 

[strmrdr]

Another option for a recut evaluation would be Richard M. or Micheal E. both of whom post here.

 

[golden_eyes]

Valeria and Strm - thanks so much for your advice! I''ll definitely be getting in touch with Mr. Sherwood

I really want to learn more about this stone. It''s so beautiful, but it''s really the only one I''ve seen so I always wonder how it stacks up.

Thanks again! And as soon as my silly self gets a digital camera (very soon, I''m hoping! Narrowing down the field now

) I''ll post pictures for all to enjoy

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Ohhhhhhhh, I love red spinels...