Hunting pear spinels

[Garysax]

Piggybacking off this thread... here

So I''m going to start a low stakes project to get familiar with colored stones and have a nice little gift for the g/f at Valentine''s this year. Not looking to spend a ton on the project (500 or less? We''ll see.) As I mentioned in the previous thread, I''m looking to get some sort of pear shaped stone to recreate the same general idea (not copy exactly) as the engagement ring I linked to in the previous thread JCJDs

So what I''m looking for is a spinel (or similarly low end in price coloured stone), probably a steely non-royal blue, light purple or perhaps an orange, pear shaped stone. Again, I''m open on color if I see something that blows me away. *Probably* 1-2 carats. One thing I''d like here is a stone that''s nice and long and not particularly wide--a lot of the pears I''m seeing are extremely fat, which I don''t think would look great on this style of ring.

Anyway, here are a couple I''ve found that fit the general idea.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-541162897
http://www.imperialjewels.com/shop_fullDetails.asp?productcode=EA005317
(this one''s a little dark IMO)


If you guys have anything that you''ve seen that would fit this description or would like to join in the search, feel free to suggest or link away! One other thought: should I get some sort of side stone arrangement, or do it in a more solitaire style? Any suggestions?

 

[valeria101]

Who is making the setting? As far as I remember, JCJD's came from a local jeweler...

Looking around Multicolor.com, it seems that some not quite so grayish spinels are lined up as well. Btw, from a little experience with the shop, I was left with the impression that between the verbal description of the colors and the pictures, the pessimistic one is safer: i.e. if they say 'grayish' it probably is.

I have not looked over the entire inventory, so there might be better around. Just a thought...

Ref#: YSP316ah Ref#: YSP395ac
2 cts, $195 1.33cts, $186


The pink pear sounds more tempting from the two...for what that matters: I have not seen them either.
This one below comes from a different shop (Link):

Spinel Aqua color tourmaline and a true aqua with rather fine color
Lot# SPI-00255 Lot# TBG-00107 1.8 cts, $318
0.85cts, $212 1.15cts, $225 @ Acstones


Fro blue and violet, a sapphire may just fit the bill too - like this one.



Precious topaz comes in some magnificent light sades of pinkish-orage...but may be a bit over the intended cost. If straight orange is appealing, spessartit garnet does it very, very well - there's a whole thread about orange stones around here too.

For example...

Precious Topaz and orage garnet
Lot# TPI-00101 Lot# GSP-00670
1.5 cts, $375 1.4 cts, $130 both @ Ajsgems



You could probably order similar things from most jewelers - you never know. And there should be allot more options online as well, these just came in handy.

And the jeweler making the ring could provide the stones as well, of course. It may even help, since I suspect that the setting is going to make up for much of the cost

As much as I can tell, spinel does warm reddish colors (orangish to violetish reds, from light pink to deep) better than blue which tends to be steely unless you get quite lucky with one. Some like those cold blues unusual as they are. Ask 'Matatora' - she has got a couple of nice blue spinels recently.


My 2c, as usual

 

[elmo]

Date: 12/12/2005 2:30:37 AM
Author:Garysax
So what I'm looking for is a spinel (or similarly low end in price coloured stone), probably a steely non-royal blue, light purple or perhaps an orange, pear shaped stone. Again, I'm open on color if I see something that blows me away.

If you've asked the folks here, you might otherwise send an email to Hemi Englisher at gemcal http://www.gemcal.com - he specializes in spinel pairs. Website shows little of his inventory so ask, don't just browse

.

Just can't make a blanket statement that spinel is "a low end in price colored stone". But in these colors yes.

 

[Garysax]

Date: 12/12/2005 8:55:13 AM
Author: elmo

Date: 12/12/2005 2:30:37 AM
Just can''t make a blanket statement that spinel is ''a low end in price colored stone''. But in these colors yes.

Thanks to both of you for your help.

Quote is very true, didn''t mean to imply otherwise. Also, yes, the setting is going to be a big chunk of the project, so the jeweler is definitely a consideration.

 

[MissAva]

1.74 ct Blue Spinel 175$

 

[MissAva]

1.75 Pear Spinel from Jewel Sapphire 9.00$ so far on ebay. I bought my oval spinel from them and it is very lovely in person.

 

[MissAva]

2.33 Color Change Spinel 37.01$ so far on Ebay, ends soon though.

 

[MissAva]

.96 Blue/Purple Spinel 20$ This seems like a perfect fit for what you described.

 

[MissAva]

.76 Blue Pear Spinel .99$ Ebay

 

[MissAva]

1.50 Deep Purple Pear Spinel 5.24$

 

[MissAva]

5.65 Purple Gray Spinel 199$

 

[MissAva]

Double Post...sorry!

 

[MissAva]

Here is the last one, not sure why the click and drag photos dont show up...sorry about that.

 

[Garysax]

Date: 12/13/2005 3:29:00 AM
Author: Matatora
.96 Blue/Purple Spinel 20$ This seems like a perfect fit for what you described.

That is lovely. I may have to bid on that.

 

[MissAva]

I dont think you can do much better then 20$ that is a box of Godiva Choclates.

I think that would also alow you to spend more on the setting which will proably have to be custom. Simple Gold Setting 150$ 14kt

 

[valeria101]

The last one has the prettier color (least gray and not too dark) - second that.

However, the pictures show a rather large window (see-through, dull patch under the table and beyond) and the shallow pavilion is consistent with that... Now, I wouldn't mind it quite as much if the window would be either smaller, or in a deeper colored stone where it may lighten the color at the expense of brightness. This is light, so it does not need that sort of help. With a window across, it would just be less bright.

Sure enough, I can only see the same pictures you do and do not know what the stone looks like.


Thinking of a ring... it reminded me that this shop started making rather attractive ones with their semiprecious stones a while ago. Someone from the shop has passed by this forum a while back, and the shop stayed on my list. The website doesn't get updated much - you might want to ask for what you want. The stones seem nicely cut as a rule.

Among the current listings, this may fit.




Anyway, it may help to find out about how, where and for how much the setting could be made. If you do find one off the shelf, the stone will need to fit.

 

[Garysax]

I won the auction. I'm definitely not expecting miracles when I get it (to say the least), but for twenty bucks I don't really care.

I'll probably end up getting another stone, probably a little higher price and nicer, but I couldn't pass up the cheap one. I'll have to think of what I want to do with the one I just bought on ebay, but, hey, it never hurts to have an extra stone.

edit: Valeria: I agree, I'm definitely going to go to a jeweler that I've had something done with before (not a gem setting, but a very custom gold family ring). I'll see how much they think such a thing would be and I'll think about it--there's no point putting a 20 dollar stone in a 200-300 dollar setting, that would be a waste.

 

[DiamondExpert]

I''ve been looking for a pair of well matched, top color spinel for over a year now...

...and at this point, if I ever find them, I think I''ll just keep ''em

!

 

[Garysax]

Date: 12/13/2005 8:14:56 PM
Author: DiamondExpert

I''ve been looking for a pair of well matched, top color spinel for over a year now...

...and at this point, if I ever find them, I think I''ll just keep ''em

!

I suspect we''re talking some pretty big differences in budget and quality here between the pears I''m looking at and yours!

 

[MJO]

Date: 12/13/2005 8:14:56 PM
Author: DiamondExpert

I''ve been looking for a pair of well matched, top color spinel for over a year now...

...and at this point, if I ever find them, I think I''ll just keep ''em

!

Hello Gary,

What color spinels are you looking for? I was stupid about 6 months ago and sold a pair of matched 9ctw Pad color cushion spinels. A friend of mine wanted to see them so I sent them to her. She then told me she refused to give them back and how much did I want for them? I told her I thought I should keep them but she helped me fined some wonderful stones so I sold them to her cheap.

Regards,
Maurice

 

[MissAva]

Date: 12/13/2005 3:44:10 PM
Author: Garysax
I won the auction. I''m definitely not expecting miracles when I get it (to say the least), but for twenty bucks I don''t really care.

I''ll probably end up getting another stone, probably a little higher price and nicer, but I couldn''t pass up the cheap one. I''ll have to think of what I want to do with the one I just bought on ebay, but, hey, it never hurts to have an extra stone.

edit: Valeria: I agree, I''m definitely going to go to a jeweler that I''ve had something done with before (not a gem setting, but a very custom gold family ring). I''ll see how much they think such a thing would be and I''ll think about it--there''s no point putting a 20 dollar stone in a 200-300 dollar setting, that would be a waste.

So if the stone cost more then it would go in a nicer setting? Why would that be wasteful? I thought you wanted a setting like JCJDs? That is not going to be less then 2/300 I would imagine more. Wait until you see the stone before discounting it for the ring.

 

[Garysax]

Date: 12/14/2005 12:40:52 PM
Author: Matatora

Date: 12/13/2005 3:44:10 PM

Author: Garysax

I won the auction. I''m definitely not expecting miracles when I get it (to say the least), but for twenty bucks I don''t really care.


I''ll probably end up getting another stone, probably a little higher price and nicer, but I couldn''t pass up the cheap one. I''ll have to think of what I want to do with the one I just bought on ebay, but, hey, it never hurts to have an extra stone.


edit: Valeria: I agree, I''m definitely going to go to a jeweler that I''ve had something done with before (not a gem setting, but a very custom gold family ring). I''ll see how much they think such a thing would be and I''ll think about it--there''s no point putting a 20 dollar stone in a 200-300 dollar setting, that would be a waste.

So if the stone cost more then it would go in a nicer setting? Why would that be wasteful? I thought you wanted a setting like JCJDs? That is not going to be less then 2/300 I would imagine more. Wait until you see the stone before discounting it for the ring.

Point taken. I shouldn''t rush to judgement on the stone until I see it. It might be quite sufficient for what I want to do!

And yeah, I''m figuring the ring work will be at least 200-300 if not substantially more.

 

[TKC]

Here is 1 carat pear cut spinel I have. I have another one which is 0.99 carat. Their color is a bit different, but I think they are a good matched for earrings (does not look too much different in real). The color of both spinels are quite bright not dark. The color just like in the picture in all lighting condition.

 

[TKC]

The other one

 

[MJO]

Nice color.