Help me decide: Ruby or Mahenge?

[Upgradable]

How about this one? Size is good, sparkle looks really nice, and no bothersome inclusions.

 

[LD]

Uppy - Does the AIGS report say anything about treatments other than heat? It says no indications of heat - so presumably no filling????? I''m not sure if it''s possible to fill/dye etc., but not heat. Does anybody else know???

Indy - great minds!

 

[Upgradable]

some screen shots

 

[T L]

I''m not loving those bottom photos of it. It appears to muddy unless it has a bright light source. I thought you had to have a primary hue of red to be a ruby. AIGS may have different qualifications for ruby than other gem labs. For example, GRS might not call that a ruby, but a pink sapphire.

What does Tan say about the color? Did you ask him if it has any brown or orange? What did he say about the saturation?

 

[Upgradable]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:03:35 PM
Author: LovingDiamonds
Uppy - Does the AIGS report say anything about treatments other than heat? It says no indications of heat - so presumably no filling????? I''m not sure if it''s possible to fill/dye etc., but not heat. Does anybody else know???

Indy - great minds!

I got confirmation from Tan that there were no treatments at all, it is a completely natural stone.

 

[T L]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:03:35 PM
Author: LovingDiamonds
Uppy - Does the AIGS report say anything about treatments other than heat? It says no indications of heat - so presumably no filling????? I''m not sure if it''s possible to fill/dye etc., but not heat. Does anybody else know???

Indy - great minds!

All filled rubies are heated, so if a stone is unheated, one can assume it''s not filled.

 

[Upgradable]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:05:19 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I''m not loving those bottom photos of it. It appears to muddy unless it has a bright light source. I thought you had to have a primary hue of red to be a ruby. AIGS may have different qualifications for ruby than other gem labs. For example, GRS might not call that a ruby, but a pink sapphire.

What does Tan say about the color? Did you ask him if it has any brown or orange? What did he say about the saturation?

All I got were new pictures (which I agree look dark and muddy) and that there were no treatments at all. The new pictures lack the "glowy" look that initally drew me to the stone.

I''m heavily leaning in favor of mahenge. I think this stone I just posted may be the one. What do you think about it, TL?

 

[VapidLapid]

Ok, so I was thinking about this and I realized that being direct and specific is usually the best way to get what you want. Why not just write an email to Swala telling them exactly what you''re dream mahenge is and see what they can offer? They certainly have access to the material, and you can do very well with them for less than the ruby''s cost. Their cutting is good, not precision, but not native either; more like a precision native cut or a native precision cut. Either way you would likely be well served by that.

 

[T L]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:07:50 PM
Author: Uppy

Date: 4/27/2010 2:05:19 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I''m not loving those bottom photos of it. It appears to muddy unless it has a bright light source. I thought you had to have a primary hue of red to be a ruby. AIGS may have different qualifications for ruby than other gem labs. For example, GRS might not call that a ruby, but a pink sapphire.

What does Tan say about the color? Did you ask him if it has any brown or orange? What did he say about the saturation?

All I got were new pictures (which I agree look dark and muddy) and that there were no treatments at all. The new pictures lack the ''glowy'' look that initally drew me to the stone.

I''m heavily leaning in favor of mahenge. I think this stone I just posted may be the one. What do you think about it, TL?

I''m afraid to tell you what I think of that stone.

BTW, please ask Tan about the saturation level on the ruby.

 

[VapidLapid]

It looks like someone with gigantic red fingernails broke one.

 

[Upgradable]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:11:04 PM
Author: VapidLapid
It looks like someone with gigantic red fingernails broke one.

We need a really good emotie with a great giant laughing face!!

TL, you can tell me. I''ve put the stone on hold.

 

[T L]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:11:04 PM
Author: VapidLapid
It looks like someone with gigantic red fingernails broke one.

Hmmm? Did someone say "red??"

 

[colorluvr]

Date: 4/27/2010 1:27:52 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 4/27/2010 1:12:20 PM
Author: Uppy

Date: 4/27/2010 12:56:38 PM
Author: amethystguy
Not the dreaded ''bay window''..lol..Vapid!!! cue music...[dun]..[dun]...[duuuuuu] bay window
TL makes a great point..price are still good for those mahenges..they will go up..up..up..now is the time to buy..

It made me laugh too!! Keep posting Vapid. We need the humor to keep us grounded!!

TL, thanks for the head up on the round. I am drawn to the more pinky/watermelon colors. I know I need to choose the color I love most, but if the more red are more valuable I don''t want to discount checking them out.

Well, there''s flame spinels, which are an orangey red, but I believe those mainly come from Burma. You may want to check those out, but if you''re like me, and you don''t care for orange red stones, you might want to stick with Mahenges. Some Mahenges have a distinct orange secondary, and I don''t find that as attractive, but many people do. It''s a matter of taste. To find a pure red spinel, well I''m not sure if that exists. This is a fun thread by the way.

ETA: I could have sworn the origninal listing for that returned gem stated that the stone was from Burma.

I have one of those flame red spinels from Burma, and even though it doesn''t show this much orange in person, it isn''t as "real red" as the red sapphire that I have.... I agree that I don''t think she''d like a flame if she''s leaning toward more pink.

 

[T L]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:13:53 PM
Author: Uppy

Date: 4/27/2010 2:11:04 PM
Author: VapidLapid
It looks like someone with gigantic red fingernails broke one.

We need a really good emotie with a great giant laughing face!!

TL, you can tell me. I've put the stone on hold.

I bought one with very similar color saturation as that one, but it's sleepier, and it's still on his website so you can compare. I almost bought that one, but for the price, I bought the slightly smaller sleepier one (it was about half price). It's in this thread. You be the judge. I was wanting to buy that one, but holding off for a larger one, but for the price/color, I don't think anyone can beat it.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/1-53-carat-cushion-mahenge-spinel.140499/

Note that AIGS certified this stone as pinkish red, and your "ruby" and reddish pink. That tells me they think the Mahenge is more saturated than the ruby.

 

[Upgradable]

Okay, I've pulled the trigger on the 1.73 vivid pinkish red spinel at the top of this page. I've asked Tan to get an AIGS for it. I'd love to hear what you think about it. I do have the wonderful return policy from GembouriOnline if it isn't what I want when it arrives.

For the ruby lovers (and voters), I decided that although this stone is unheated with a cert, the second set of pictures really discouraged me. "Muddy" is the word that best described the look. For anyone who may still be interested in it, here is the link. Don't miss the Best Offer feature.

 

[T L]

I''m jealous you got "my" stone!

Please take lots of photos when you get it as punishment!! LOL!

 

[Indylady]

I''m really glad you got the Mahenge. I didn''t like the extra shots of the ruby..

 

[Upgradable]

Date: 4/27/2010 2:22:10 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I''m jealous you got ''my'' stone!

Please take lots of photos when you get it as punishment!! LOL!

Well, you can easily make donations regarding its final resting place: Leon or BGD.

 

[T L]

Now I''m really super jealous!!!

You meanie!!

LOL!

 

[colorluvr]

Good choice!!!!!!

 

[VapidLapid]

I would like it to have a locking pinion mechanism on the setting so that it can be worn either north/south or switched to east/west to suit your moods.

 

[Upgradable]

very cool idea!!

 

[StonieGrl]

Vapid Lapid, snork, "bay window!" Classic!!!!

Spit take with Diet Dr Pepper Cherry!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Mahenge gets my vote

 

[Stone Hunter]

I would go with the Spinel. I like the hardness of the spinels and the colors available are very similar to the color of the ruby you are considering. Staying within budget also means you might be able to set it sooner!! HTH