Help me evaluate a darker Blue spinel

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

There's a blue spinel that just keeps drawing me back- (even though I do not need to be buying more loose stones!)
It's GIA certed-no treatment. It is priced under 1k - but still a chunk of change.
I caved and finally asked seller for info. She says is darker inside with blue flashes. Outside it has some lovely color but does have some shadowing (not fully open color? )
I once had a teal zircon that would i only "light up" in one end at a time. That sucker drove me crazy. This blue stone has a different effect- like a darker river of colour running down the right of center.
Anyway here's some pics. Would love the PS color gem expert- eyes feedback!

 

[T L]

It’s a bit too dark for my taste. If the darkness doesn’t bother you, and you think it’s something you would love, the price seems fair.

 

[dk168]

OP, I consider you as a CS expert, and if you have doubts then there is no hope for the likes of me!

It's too dark and colour too dull for my liking.

DK

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Would the dark patch bother you? You mentioned going crazy about part of your zircon being dark, I feel that this dark patch might be the same case?

This stone reminds me of a teal sapphire I have. I enjoy it but it is only optimal in appearance about 50% of the time. It needs specific types of lighting to look great but I tend to think most teals suffer from this problem because of it wasn't dark, it wouldn't be teal!

 

[Rfisher]

Mmmmmmm
I think if the darkness appeals to you
And the teal color sway does as well
I agree this one will have a different turning dark (extinction) pattern than you mentioned you didn’t like about the zircon (half/half??)

No expert here - but I can see this one being very appealing (to someone who would like a dark beauty) because I think it will perform like my dark purple/grey spinel from Finewater.
Yeah it’s dark. But that’s what it is. It’s a dark beauty! Moody and shifty and mysterious and brooding and sultry. Maybe naughty and dangerous.

Edited to add:
You aren’t mentioning price - but I think there’s enough on the market like this one that you can be choosy if you want to on inclusions to price ratio (going off of the one picture held by tweezers. A feather/veil by 6 o’clock and something right under the lower portion of the table -but hard to tell if those are really there or not !?!?)

 

[marymm]

In case others find it helpful, I am linking an article by the late great faceter Jeff Graham which I keep bookmarked -- it describes so well Tourmaline crystal properties and axes -- https://www.gemsociety.org/article/c-axis-close-open-dark-light-medium/

 

[Ellipses]

I mean, if you are okay with the spinel coming out potentially more green then you expect, and if your willing to spend the money, then I would go for it (if this is your ideal shade of blue) as I am assuming that the more green blue picture are closer to its actual color. Just fyi, as I purchased a spinel that has similar pictures when trying to go for one that is the color in the tweezers. However, it will probably be a little moody and turn closer to that color in yellow lighting or even a little purple. Also make sure the spinel has no cracks, scratches, etc so you don’t have to spend time and money getting it polished/potentially recut (which I am going to have to do as mine has a scratch that can be polished off but an unexpected crack in the corner that couldn’t be seen in the pictures). I have attached the one I bought, though I didn’t save any of the seller’s photos (it is actually closer in color to green-blue, rather then just blue that is seen. second pic is the stone pic from GIA cert).

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

Mmmmmmm
I think if the darkness appeals to you
And the teal color sway does as well
I agree this one will have a different turning dark (extinction) pattern than you mentioned you didn’t like about the zircon (half/half??)

No expert here - but I can see this one being very appealing (to someone who would like a dark beauty) because I think it will perform like my dark purple/grey spinel from Finewater.
Yeah it’s dark. But that’s what it is. It’s a dark beauty! Moody and shifty and mysterious and brooding and sultry. Maybe naughty and dangerous.

Edited to add:
You aren’t mentioning price - but I think there’s enough on the market like this one that you can be choosy if you want to on inclusions to price ratio (going off of the one picture held by tweezers. A feather/veil by 6 o’clock and something right under the lower portion of the table -but hard to tell if those are really there or not !?!?)

Exactly THIS! - she'd be a dark mysterious beauty. That was my thought when I first spotted it. I have a dark grey/teal in a wonderfully wonky abstract cut that speaks to me in the same way. Dark and mysterious. Moody.
But I don't want a stone with so much extinction it frustrates.... and I'm not an expert but I do believe there is *some* of that going on here. But is it too much or just enough to be kinda moody?
My grey/ teal in an abstract cut by Mastercut:

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

Picture from the GIA report: (is actually a very clean stone)

 

[LilAlex]

I think it will be dark. Even comes with that caveat from the vendor -- with flashes of color (?!). I think all the warning signs are there and you set the stage that you don't want another disappointment. If it looked like that "lower right" photo in the first 2X2 matrix in your initial post, that would be cool. I suspect that is the "best case" photo and it looks like through-the-window sun.

The price is fine but not for a dark-all-the-time stone.

Can't hurt to look if there is a good return policy, but: do you ever actually return or do you save yourself the trouble and social awkwardness and get stuck with a stone you don't love? If it is usually the former, take a chance. If it's generally the latter (which is where I am on lower-stakes stones, unfortunately), I think it would be a mistake...

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

I think I'm going to pass. I'm afraid it's too dark and I'd be disappointed. Thank you all for the feedback!

 

[Rfisher]

If your concern is it going to be like the zircon you mentioned that would only light up half the stone at a time
No I don’t think this stone will do that.

Will it be moody /broody = heck yeah it will.

But where do we draw the line of too much dark?
One photo on the vendors Etsy listing goes darker than what you’ve shown here. I think that photo is the litmus test.

At the risk of overstepping (and I’ve already done that by finding the listing) at this price I wouldn’t be that thrilled with the amount of what I see to be girdle /facet nicks and chips. I do think there’s a sizeable natural or something near the pavilion that bounces around as well.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

If your concern is it going to be like the zircon you mentioned that would only light up half the stone at a time
No I don’t think this stone will do that.

Will it be moody /broody = heck yeah it will.

But where do we draw the line of too much dark?
One photo on the vendors Etsy listing goes darker than what you’ve shown here. I think that photo is the litmus test.

At the risk of overstepping (and I’ve already done that by finding the listing) at this price I wouldn’t be that thrilled with the amount of what I see to be girdle /facet nicks and chips. I do think there’s a sizeable natural or something near the pavilion that bounces around as well.

Bless you for looking- honestly! That's why I wanted to run it by you guys- I wasn't sure & its a chunk of change- but I kept finding myself drawn to it....

 

[Autumn in New England]

This stone is pretty typical of the blues I've come across in my journey. It's going to be an inky teal in daylight and will likely veer more to the violet end of the spectrum under incandescent. I'll actual break with the consensus and say I don't feel it is overly dark. Believe me, I've come across darker - and much more expensive. We're not talking the true cobalt material or paler stones. So, as others have said, if you like moody blues (like the band!), then this may be a nice little stone for you.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

This stone is pretty typical of the blues I've come across in my journey. It's going to be an inky teal in daylight and will likely veer more to the violet end of the spectrum under incandescent. I'll actual break with the consensus and say I don't feel it is overly dark. Believe me, I've come across darker - and much more expensive. We're not talking the true cobalt material or paler stones. So, as others have said, if you like moody blues (like the band!), then this may be a nice little stone for you.

But being sensical- I have a drop dead cobalt lab (I'll never afford the real deal) I'm dying to set. My $$$ would be better spent on something I already own.
Adulting can be so hard...

 

[mustangchi]

But being sensical- I have a drop dead cobalt lab (I'll never afford the real deal) I'm dying to set. My $$$ would be better spent on something I already own.
Adulting can be so hard...

buying more stones vs setting what you've got is such a struggle, I'm so there now!

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

buying more stones vs setting what you've got is such a struggle, I'm so there now!

I had to buy a 2nd gem box! That's where I'm at!

 

[LilAlex]

I had to buy a 2nd gem box! That's where I'm at!

U-HAUL has very inexpensive boxes

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

Lol I'm not there yet!!

 

[fredflintstone]

There's a blue spinel that just keeps drawing me back- (even though I do not need to be buying more loose stones!)
It's GIA certed-no treatment. It is priced under 1k - but still a chunk of change.
I caved and finally asked seller for info. She says is darker inside with blue flashes. Outside it has some lovely color but does have some shadowing (not fully open color? )
I once had a teal zircon that would i only "light up" in one end at a time. That sucker drove me crazy. This blue stone has a different effect- like a darker river of colour running down the right of center.
Anyway here's some pics. Would love the PS color gem expert- eyes feedback!
I've had many like this. Still have I had many of these. I still have 5 carat stone in my personal collection.

Exactly THIS! - she'd be a dark mysterious beauty. That was my thought when I first spotted it. I have a dark grey/teal in a wonderfully wonky abstract cut that speaks to me in the same way. Dark and mysterious. Moody.
But I don't want a stone with so much extinction it frustrates.... and I'm not an expert but I do believe there is *some* of that going on here. But is it too much or just enough to be kinda moody?
My grey/ teal in an abstract cut by Mastercut:

I’ve had many of these. I still have a 5-carat stone in my personal collection.

These are dark toned under LED light and go blue, some quite blue and with a hint of violet. Even though they are dark they have an elegance about them I like.

They shift more to a teal color under natural sunlight. They lighten up some to a solid medium dark. A little closer to dark than medium. The outside color is nice. Of course, some are more grayish than others. Most are slightly grayish. The one I have kept, has no grey.

This one I see does have gray in it but looks like a nice stone. The pictures look like shaded sunlight pictures or the equivalent. Don’t expect to be as light in tone as the GIA picture.

 

[fredflintstone]

Exactly THIS! - she'd be a dark mysterious beauty. That was my thought when I first spotted it. I have a dark grey/teal in a wonderfully wonky abstract cut that speaks to me in the same way. Dark and mysterious. Moody.
But I don't want a stone with so much extinction it frustrates.... and I'm not an expert but I do believe there is *some* of that going on here. But is it too much or just enough to be kinda moody?
My grey/ teal in an abstract cut by Mastercut:

You’re confusing extinction with tone. Extinction is caused by cut, normally being too deep causing the stone to black out in certain lights, especially bright light. Tone is the actual lightness to darkness of the crystal body color. You have very light, light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark and very dark tones, using the GIA Gemset system.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

You’re confusing extinction with tone. Extinction is caused by cut, normally being too deep causing the stone to black out in certain lights, especially bright light. Tone is the actual lightness to darkness of the crystal body color. You have very light, light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark and very dark tones, using the GIA Gemset system.

So the blue spinel I posted you would say had different body tones not extinction? I'm just trying to learn

 

[fredflintstone]

Yes, It would most likely be a dark tone under LED light. A medium dark tone under natural sunlight.

I did forget to mention these stones (not all) can be absolutely stunning under commercial lighting like large discount and grocery stores, etc. Some looking very Tanzanite like under that lighting.

 

[Rfisher]

Ok - I’m the one who mentioned extinction
And that was mostly in to reference about a previous zircon OP mentioned that went light up only at one end of the stone at a time.

Sorry for muddying it up

 

[fredflintstone]

Ok - I’m the one who mentioned extinction
And that was mostly in to reference about a previous zircon OP mentioned that went light up only at one end of the stone at a time.

Sorry for muddying it up

No problem. I think many confuse tone for extinction. Not saying you do, but I hope it was helpful to some that don’t know the difference and are still learning.

 

[Autumn in New England]

But being sensical- I have a drop dead cobalt lab (I'll never afford the real deal) I'm dying to set. My $$$ would be better spent on something I already own.
Adulting can be so hard...

Yvonne said she saw 1ct.+ true cobalts in Tuscon with a price that would make your eyes bleed. And I'd want something over 2ct. (if they even exist). I'll never be able to afford what I want in that material, so melee it is!

If you're unsure of this blue spinel, them maybe passing for now is a good idea, as others have pointed out. I'm trying so hard to be happy with what I have and only spend on setting them. The struggle is real.

 

[marymm]

In case others find it helpful, I am linking an article by the late great faceter Jeff Graham which I keep bookmarked -- it describes so well Tourmaline crystal properties and axes -- https://www.gemsociety.org/article/c-axis-close-open-dark-light-medium/

Hey, just realized I posted an article about Tourmalines in this thread, which is clearly about Spinels -- OP, I am so sorry -- everyone else stayed on track so hopefully confusion was minimal lol -- I'm not quite sure what happened there other than brain glitch

 

[T L]

I mean, if you are okay with the spinel coming out potentially more green then you expect, and if your willing to spend the money, then I would go for it (if this is your ideal shade of blue) as I am assuming that the more green blue picture are closer to its actual color. Just fyi, as I purchased a spinel that has similar pictures when trying to go for one that is the color in the tweezers. However, it will probably be a little moody and turn closer to that color in yellow lighting or even a little purple. Also make sure the spinel has no cracks, scratches, etc so you don’t have to spend time and money getting it polished/potentially recut (which I am going to have to do as mine has a scratch that can be polished off but an unexpected crack in the corner that couldn’t be seen in the pictures). I have attached the one I bought, though I didn’t save any of the seller’s photos (it is actually closer in color to green-blue, rather then just blue that is seen. second pic is the stone pic from GIA cert).

I have a grayish heart spinel about that size (9x8mm) It only gets lively in flash or bright light. It’s very dark and looks opaque in natural diffused lighting. It’s more on the violet side, so you get the picture. The luster may be something you’re more besotted with in these stones. Many people don’t mind darker toned gems if they have great polish and luster. The allure is similar to black diamond.

Natural diffused lighting and with camera flash.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

I do think it would be a fun one to own but like many others- stuck in a gem box for me to play with occasionally. If it were cheaper I'd be more tempted!
Listen to me, sounding so level- headed lol

 

[icy_jade]

I got a blue spinel some time back and never set it as the dark color makes me deprioritise setting it vs other brighter stones that catches my eye more easily. I totally understand the need to get one though since I’ve been through that.