Help evaluating with ruby ring or loose ruby/spinel ?

[voce]

For anyone curious, this is what the red spinel that I recently bought looks like in broad daylight.

Definitely a stone that looks better in indirect light, unlike the best red spinels and red rubies, which are even more amazing in direct sunlight.

Once set, this will probably look good indoors so long as there is plenty of indirect natural light.

 

[PriscaSinclair]

While still not showing a super saturated red, these pictures still look better than yesterday, right? Same time of day, but different lighting environment. I have never seen a ruby so shifty with color, and I now consider red spinels more difficult to shop for than rubies.

@voce yes I agree those second set of pictures show that spinel prettier than the first set of pics. How confusing this all is! I think maybe a gem show is where I will try to find my next stones. Ive never been to one but geesh its got to be easier than trying to evaluate these things in photographs! I am still waiting fo the sun here, we have had nothing but rain and endless dreary cloudy days. I have yet to get my spinel out in the sunlight so I still have no idea what it looks like in that lighting.
Tricksy little stones.