Gift celebrating birth of our daughter

[Autumn in New England]

Is this the barion you mentioned earlier? Really nice cut... looks a bit too yellow to my eyes though. But they describe it as only "very slightly yellow," so it may be worth it to inquire. All fanta shades will have a touch of yellow (because orange is a secondary color, and will typically veer yellow or red). I would steer clear of anything with red if you're looking for true fanta.

Spessartite Mandarin Garnet Barion 2.80 Carat - Rare Gemstone Company

This stunning Mandarin garnet boasts top color, clarity, cutting and most important - explosive brilliance. A very beautiful piece indeed.

www.theraregemstonecompany.com

 

[Double E]

What do you think of this guy? Slightly chubby (8.64 x 7.19mm) and squarely within your budget. (Antony also regularly gives 15% discounts.) The cutting looks fabulous...

Spessartite Mandarin Garnet Oval 2.55 Carat - Rare Gemstone Company

They don't come better. Flawless, top cutting and the finest color possible in this gem type. Mandarins of this pedigree are rare.

www.theraregemstonecompany.com

I keep come back to their website to view this one. I am not sure about the spec of your Fanta but the 2.55 looks a tiny bit less chubby (a bit “thinner”) than yours. So I would say the two are similar enough yet different.

 

[Double E]

Is this the barion you mentioned earlier? Really nice cut... looks a bit too yellow to my eyes though. But they describe it as only "very slightly yellow," so it may be worth it to inquire. All fanta shades will have a touch of yellow (because orange is a secondary color, and will typically veer yellow or red). I would steer clear of anything with red if you're looking for true fanta.

Spessartite Mandarin Garnet Barion 2.80 Carat - Rare Gemstone Company

This stunning Mandarin garnet boasts top color, clarity, cutting and most important - explosive brilliance. A very beautiful piece indeed.

www.theraregemstonecompany.com

This one is the best cut to me from their list. I hope it’s larger…though.

For what I understand, barion applies to various shapes, including both squarish / cushion and oval. The point is their pavilion, it looks sort of modified brilliant cut style actually, am I right? It just looks more livelier than traditional step cut pavilion to me.

In regards to the colour, I also found their newer drop of stones also classified as yellowish or slightly yellowish orange but appear darker or more reddish (I am not sure) in the photos. I am curious about that.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I took a look at mine, and it measures 8.97 x 7.46mm, so the one you're looking at is actually a hair chubbier!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Here is some great info about barion cuts. You're very right about the modified brilliant aspect, because it was the first cut to meld brilliant and step cuts!

Barion Cut

A cut developed in the 1970s that features unique facets shaped like a

www.gemporia.com

 

[Double E]

Hi there, having heard from my jeweller (Dan) at the JCK show, would simply like to share and when applicable, get some second opinion from the folks here.

Dan has shown me 4 options, 1 cushion, and 3 squarish stones. Among these, only the cushion is from Loliondo, with the other three all from Nigeria. While I am confident Dan undoubtedly knows her stuff, my hearts still wants to ask again, would even the best Nigerian stones still be inferior to Tanzanian counterparts in terms of hue, vividness, and neoness?

Considering it may be a bit more options from Nigeria as presented, and it’s hard and nearly impossible to judge the colour myself through video or photos, can I have more of your thoughts?

*The mentioned stones are above my budget, so I really have to consider more carefully.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I wouldn't be concerned about the location, Nigeria produced some fantastic orange stones. Typically the stones from Tanzania are more yellow, the current stones being found in Nigeria are darker with more red, but there are still very nice strong oranges found there. The Tanzanian stones for the most part will have "sugar" in them.

As far as the Barion cut, here are some examples. It's a method of going the main pavilion facets with the girdle, and can used on most any shape. I don't think it was first developed in the 70's as I have seen published designs much older than that the use this method. You can't believe everything you read in the internet!

 

[Double E]

Little pricing update from the show:

4.3ct $4800
3.8ct $4300

The other two are larger and way more expensive.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I wouldn't be concerned about the location, Nigeria produced some fantastic orange stones. Typically the stones from Tanzania are more yellow, the current stones being found in Nigeria are darker with more red, but there are still very nice strong oranges found there. The Tanzanian stones for the most part will have "sugar" in them.

This has been my experience. After the Namibian material, which is mined out, I prefer the Loliondo mandarin material. This mine has produced some world-class stones.

 

[Double E]

I wouldn't be concerned about the location, Nigeria produced some fantastic orange stones. Typically the stones from Tanzania are more yellow, the current stones being found in Nigeria are darker with more red, but there are still very nice strong oranges found there. The Tanzanian stones for the most part will have "sugar" in them.

As far as the Barion cut, here are some examples. It's a method of going the main pavilion facets with the girdle, and can used on most any shape. I don't think it was first developed in the 70's as I have seen published designs much older than that the use this method. You can't believe everything you read in the internet!

I agreed that ruling out a stone simply due to its origin is unreasonable. A more objective way to take it may be different localities show certain tendencies in producing particular colour or appearance. However, the exact hue, tone, saturation, clarity etc. still vary stone by stone. This is also what I got from talking with d as one one in the trade.

As for cut, there are certain styles being more appealing to me compared to some others. Barion being one of them.

Btw how do you guys think about the pricing? Is it normal it’s salready that high at the moment?

 

[Double E]

Just realised that AJS Gems have plenty of Spess on inventory. Not really considering their stones, as they are either too large, too expensive or too native / simply too poorly cut. But still curious about how you guys think about their stones, particularly colour.

Buy Natural Loose Spessartite Garnet Gemstones at AJS Gems

See our large stock in fine natural mandarin garnet gemstones from Nigeria.

www.ajsgem.com

 

[Autumn in New England]

Just realised that AJS Gems have plenty of Spess on inventory. Not really considering their stones, as they are either too large, too expensive or too native / simply too poorly cut. But still curious about how you guys think about their stones, particularly colour.

Buy Natural Loose Spessartite Garnet Gemstones at AJS Gems

See our large stock in fine natural mandarin garnet gemstones from Nigeria.

www.ajsgem.com

Just as well... I had a bad experience with them recerntly, after having been a customer for many years. Long story. That aside, I also find that their photos and videos are far more saturated than the gems in person.

 

[Double E]

Just as well... I had a bad experience with them recerntly, after having been a customer for many years. Long story. That aside, I also find that their photos and videos are far more saturated than the gems in person.

That tells a lot already, thank you^^

 

[Autumn in New England]

That tells a lot already, thank you^^

If that happens once, I'll give a vendor the benefit of the doubt. If it happens again, I move on from that vendor. Obviously, I always expect less vibrancy in person than we see on our screens. Photos and videos are automatically enhanced by our iphones these days (on the vendor's end and then again on ours - so twice). But if a gem's saturation looks nothing like it did in the listing, I'm probably done with that vendor for good. That being said, this wasn't the recent issue I had with AJS. But just the same, I won't be patronizing them again.

 

[Double E]

If that happens once, I'll give a vendor the benefit of the doubt. If it happens again, I move on from that vendor. Obviously, I always expect less vibrancy in person than we see on our screens. Photos and videos are automatically enhanced by our iphones these days (on the vendor's end and then again on ours - so twice). But if a gem's saturation looks nothing like it did in the listing, I'm probably done with that vendor for good. That being said, this wasn't the recent issue I had with AJS. But just the same, I won't be patronizing them again.

True. Mistake happens, but regular one, way worse. And can’t agree more, on that unacceptable variance on vendors presentation vs real life is definitely also what I am always trying to avoid. Honesty especially essential and especially when shopping for stones.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I wanted to show you a recent disappointment, @Double E, since we're on the subject. Before I settled on my periwinkle sapphire, I had actually been searching for a lavender spinel. It seemed no matter how much I spent or who I purchased from, they always had too much gray or brown for my liking. That's what made me turn my sights to sapphire. In any event, this is one of the spinels I purchased from (and returned to) a well-known vendor (I don't want to mention the name, because this person is a sweetheart). But I thought the disparity was outrageous. I mean, that's just a total disregard for even attempting to accurately display a gem's true color. And I don't believe that this person purposely enhanced the photos to deceive anyone. I think it's probably the equipment and software this person uses. But if that's the case, you need to color correct your photos!

Vendor photo:



My iphone photo (daylight), unedited:

 

[PrecisionGem]

I'm having this issue right now with some prescription sunglasses I bought online. Here is a picture from the vendors website, and then a picture of the frames as they came in. I wrote the vendor, and they told me the color is correct, it must be a difference in my monitor or resolution. I am referring to the frames, not lenses.

 

[VividRed]

I wanted to show you a recent disappointment, @Double E, since we're on the subject. Before I settled on my periwinkle sapphire, I had actually been searching for a lavender spinel. It seemed no matter how much I spent or who I purchased from, they always had too much gray or brown for my liking. That's what made me turn my sights to sapphire. In any event, this is one of the spinels I purchased from (and returned to) a well-known vendor (I don't want to mention the name, because this person is a sweetheart). But I thought the disparity was outrageous. I mean, that's just a total disregard for even attempting to accurately display a gem's true color. And I don't believe that this person purposely enhanced the photos to deceive anyone. I think it's probably the equipment and software this person uses. But if that's the case, you need to color correct your photos!

Vendor photo:



My iphone photo (daylight), unedited:

Let’s call it a shifter

 

[Double E]

I wanted to show you a recent disappointment, @Double E, since we're on the subject. Before I settled on my periwinkle sapphire, I had actually been searching for a lavender spinel. It seemed no matter how much I spent or who I purchased from, they always had too much gray or brown for my liking. That's what made me turn my sights to sapphire. In any event, this is one of the spinels I purchased from (and returned to) a well-known vendor (I don't want to mention the name, because this person is a sweetheart). But I thought the disparity was outrageous. I mean, that's just a total disregard for even attempting to accurately display a gem's true color. And I don't believe that this person purposely enhanced the photos to deceive anyone. I think it's probably the equipment and software this person uses. But if that's the case, you need to color correct your photos!

Vendor photo:



My iphone photo (daylight), unedited:

I can see your disappointment.

The first thing I get from your example is that you don’t always have successful buy or experience even with one of the vendors you have most confidence, best relationship, least concern on anything etc. People do things differently.

But I agree the difference of the purple sapphire case is too big. The possibility of things happen that way is also why I am still a bit careful on evaluating Antony’s stone that you suggested even with the fact that you had a very successful Fanta purchase experience to share (And I do this respectfully^^). Especially when I dig deeper into the gem scan data that I created an individual thread for and the colour difference I recently found on their newer drops of Spess compared to the original ones (the ovals and the little barion cushion).

My main question is both the older and new drop of Spess are mainly graded as slightly or very slightly yellowish orange, with all of them being same tone #6 and highest saturation #6, however what I see on my monitor or mob is that the new drop appear obviously more reddish and darker, and wonder how should I interpret these.

 

[Double E]

I'm having this issue right now with some prescription sunglasses I bought online. Here is a picture from the vendors website, and then a picture of the frames as they came in. I wrote the vendor, and they told me the color is correct, it must be a difference in my monitor or resolution. I am referring to the frames, not lenses.

Um…bright intense mint green from the vendor, and ever so slightly greenish tinted white in yours?

 

[Autumn in New England]

My main question is both the older and new drop of Spess are mainly graded as slightly or very slightly yellowish orange, with all of them being same tone #6 and highest saturation #6, however what I see on my monitor or mob is that the new drop appear obviously more reddish and darker, and wonder how should I interpret these.

Yes, I understand what you mean. The only thing I can say is that there will be a range within the levels of any "grading" method. The RGC company appears to use Gemset, which was originally created in partnership with the GIA. It's actually my favorite of the subjective methods out there. But, truthfully, there's only so much we can glean from photos, videos, and vendor opinions. Sometimes, when a gem looks good, you just need to pull the trigger and get it home for an in-person evaluation. And if it looks right to your eyes in person, that's all that matters. Don't get too hung up on trade ideals, especially with a stone like this (as opposed to a Burma ruby or Kashmir sapphire). I know you want to nail this purchase, because it's such a meaningful occasion. But, as I said, I wouldn't worry about a slight or very slight yellow modifier. All mandarin garnets will lean either yellow or red to some degree (and I would argue that a red modifier precludes a spess from being a true fanta, because they tend to lack that almost neon vibrancy). My personal opinions, of course!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Let’s call it a shifter

Right? As in, it shifted from a goat to a rhinoceros.

 

[Double E]

Hi everyone,

Its said to be increasing in terms of gold price, and thus setting cost. How do you think a normal price level would be for say normal plain pendant without other stones or melees, standard halo, and fully custom made?

 

[Double E]

It’s been a month after we first welcomed our little girl to our family it’s been a fun, challenging and amazing time looking after our baby girl and simply being with my wife and our daughter so far.

We took some time to get used to our new life and it’s time to return to the Spess journey!

As an update, I have initiated a conversation with Antony from RGC now and am honestly throwing tons of questions to him. Really hope I am completing my hunt there.

And I can’t wait to enter into the pendant design process. We’ve chosen a very elegant Chinese name for Elena which has a meaning of Autumn as a wish for her to have a family as pleasant, cozy as in the beautiful autumn season. That makes the project more fun now~

The angel’s hand we will be holding from now~

 

[Autumn in New England]

It’s been a month after we first welcomed our little girl to our family it’s been a fun, challenging and amazing time looking after our baby girl and simply being with my wife and our daughter so far.

We took some time to get used to our new life and it’s time to return to the Spess journey!

As an update, I have initiated a conversation with Antony from RGC now and am honestly throwing tons of questions to him. Really hope I am completing my hunt there.

And I can’t wait to enter into the pendant design process. We’ve chosen a very elegant Chinese name for Elena which has a meaning of Autumn as a wish for her to have a family as pleasant, cozy as in the beautiful autumn season. That makes the project more fun now~

The angel’s hand we will be holding from now~

Oh my goodness!! Welcome to our great big world, little Elena!! Congratulations to you and your dear wife, @Double E. You know I'm a little bias, but I love the Chinese name you chose.

I, too, hope you're able to end your spess hunt with Antony! Wishing you continued luck on finding just the right stone, and I look forward to seeing the completed pendant!!

 

[Double E]

Oh my goodness!! Welcome to our great big world, little Elena!! Congratulations to you and your dear wife, @Double E. You know I'm a little bias, but I love the Chinese name you chose.

I, too, hope you're able to end your spess hunt with Antony! Wishing you continued luck on finding just the right stone, and I look forward to seeing the completed pendant!!

I knew that you’d like our choice of name^^

I’ll pretty likely set on the 2.55ct angular oval, and am asking if Antony could provide me some videos under different lightings. More of a way to seeing the gem in movement under various lights as my reference before I get the pendant in hand which I expect to take some time. Hope there won’t be any issue.

I may also custom engrave on the stone. Just thinking what to inscript……

 

[Autumn in New England]

I knew that you’d like our choice of name^^

I’ll pretty likely set on the 2.55ct angular oval, and am asking if Antony could provide me some videos under different lightings. More of a way to seeing the gem in movement under various lights as my reference before I get the pendant in hand which I expect to take some time. Hope there won’t be any issue.

I may also custom engrave on the stone. Just thinking what to inscript……

I think my stone and that oval are cousins, so you know I'm rooting for it to be "the one." Good luck! I can't wait to hear all about it!!

 

[Double E]

I think my stone and that oval are cousins, so you know I'm rooting for it to be "the one." Good luck! I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Haha~ I gotta be honest, I am not needing the videos to further judge the quality of the spess any more. Antony had simply assured me that this little gem is not inferior to any in stock or sold stones. I just “selfishly” want to “see” it in action in different lights earlier or be able to may be show my wife in case she comes to me again for “what takes it so long? Our daughter has even grown up!”.

Oh I hope Antony doesn’t misunderstand and thinks I am not confident about this stone

And thank you for pointing me toward RGC and this stone, it feels more special when I know we gonna get the lost twin of your mandarin garnet

 

[Autumn in New England]

And thank you for pointing me toward RGC and this stone, it feels more special when I know we gonna get the lost twin of your mandarin garnet

Aww I agree!

 

[Double E]

Aww I agree!

Oh btw, I remember you have sent out some gems, including the Spess, to get certed and set. Did you finally have the Spess set?