How much should a silky/milky spinel cost?

[Ellipses]

Like what the title says, I have no idea what a silky/milky spinel would cost. I have been looking at this one from loupe troop. I like the colors and how it looks so far (I don’t know why but I’m attracted to fully silky or milky spinels provided the color is even). The only problem probably is the fracture it mentions. However, since I know that rather opaque gemstones like the one I linked are suppose to be on the cheaper side. However, as I am inexperienced in the field of buying spinels, I thought I’d turn to the more experienced people. So, what are your thoughts?

 

[Autumn in New England]

I would say the price is great, though the fracture concerns me. I'm glad the seller disclosed it, but I would worry that it might affect durability. Of course, that is something you can ask the seller, and decide for yourself should you purchase it. I am not a big fan of super milky spinel. But some folks really favor the glow of these stones. And the color is indeed mouthwatering.

 

[Arcadian]

Considering the color its a very good price. hard to find silkies at that price. I would ask about the fracture because sometimes that will keep a stone from being set.

Mine had a small one (much bigger stone) wasn't a big deal in setting and it never got any bigger.

Ensure that the bench is exceptionally experienced with colored stones however.

 

[Double E]

Nice colour~Whether the fracture is acceptable really depends.

For me, if this is purchased as a fun / casual stone, and the asked price is of an amount that I am comfortable to spend regularly (say every quarter or even every month, again down to individuals), I'll just buy it.

If not, appreciate it & keep looking, one can never buy all nice stones~

 

[T L]

OTL is a great vendor. I think that’s a fabulous price. She has an Etsy shop too, called “CDGEMSTONE.”

 

[Rfisher]

OTL is a great vendor, I enjoyed working with her.
She knows the difference in connotation of reading ‘fissure’ vs ‘inclusion’ - so her choosing that word to put into a listing carries weight- IMO
She previously had a red spinel that was pretty well included, and stated that it as a specimen needed to be admired from its gem jar - or something like that. I didn’t ask her - but that to me, means it’s not for setting /wearing.

Ask her if her thoughts about stability of setting it. Ask for a photo highlighting the inclusion at its worst?
I’m sure she will give you an honest opinion answer. There’s no guarantees of course tho - as jeweler to jeweler doing the setting will differ in opinion, ability/skill/experience, and of course luck.

Look at her other spinel she’s got for sale that’s as milky/silky, but more expensive- on her Etsy and see the video and even more pictures of the same one you are interested in.

If you like the color and are willing to risk setting it or just want it as a specimen
I personally think the amount she’s asking is fair.
But I haven’t actively shopped around compared like-to-like of evenness of color/saturation/tone/hue to see what else is out there.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

I think it's a great price.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I was looking at this one too but the fracture put me off because it’s near a corner where a prong would go. I’m guessing that’s factored into the price.

 

[Ellipses]

Well, I decided to go forward and just buy the spinel because otherwise it was going to haunt my dreams. I was also buying it because I was going to use it as like a sample stone, to compare colors with other similar colored spinels should I buy more of them in the future. The spinel ended up being quite a bit lighter then the photos showed (in terms of when light isn’t directly shining on it) and is more of a dusty rose pink majority of the day. Otherwise, it’s shows off a highlighter pink sheen under direct sunlight similar to the photos provided by OTL, though it does appear slightly more washed out. In incandescent light, I can confidently say that it replaces the highlighter pink with an orange-reddish-pink color, or is somewhat between the colors of the orange creamsicle spinel and the now reddish-pink spinel (I say now because after placing a very light pink spinel in the same container, the red is coming out a whole lot more. Before, I took its color as dark pink) I have.

 

[Ellipses]

Oh yah, I took a look at the fracture that was the concern. Under a 30x loupe, it’s a surface reaching fracture, buts it was hard to tell because it looked like it healed slightly. Without a loupe, it just looks like an inclusion that doesn’t reach the surface.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Are you happy with it, @Ellipses?

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Oh yah, I took a look at the fracture that was the concern. Under a 30x loupe, it’s a surface reaching fracture, buts it was hard to tell because it looked like it healed slightly. Without a loupe, it just looks like an inclusion that doesn’t reach the surface.

The only concern I would have is that it’s on a corner and could break when set under a prong so just be careful when you choose a setting design.

 

[Ellipses]

Are you happy with it, @Ellipses?

My feelings towards it are mixed. It made me realize that I don’t really like certain pinks and that I enjoy orange pink, red-pink, or highlighter/neon pink colors. It also made me realize I do like the silk/milky inclusions, and that they are great at covering up the more unwanted inclusions so my brain doesn’t get to irritated at it. However, I found I enjoy being able to see through gemstones. So basically, it did it’s job on educating me on my preferences, which was my intention upon buying this stone, as well as making me go figure out how to photoshop pictures to get desired colors. My slight problem is I don’t favor it’s look in the morning or noon to much, but then again, my current room makes every gemstone look desaturated by a few percents when the sun is out and I might grow to like it better after a couple of days.

 

[Ellipses]

The only concern I would have is that it’s on a corner and could break when set under a prong so just be careful when you choose a setting design.

Yah, I’m planning on bringing it to a couple of local jewelers to get their opinion on whether this can get set first, before discussing potential settings. If it can’t get set at least I’ll have one less gemstone to get and will just have it as a specimen to take out, admire, maybe look at it with a loupe, and just have fun with it.