Mahenge Garnet

[thirdrock]

Thoughts?

 

[T L]

Are you considering purchase? Or do you already own?

 

[musicloveranthony]

The mine at Mahenge is tapped out, so won't be any more rough coming from there. I've got a beautiful purplish-red garnet from there. Mahenge garnets in lighter colors are known for their high dispersion/rainbow sparkles. In the darker colors they're known for their vibrancy - which yours has in spades.

They aren't typically known for being included stones - the best examples are at least eye-clean. Yours has some silky inclusions that would reduce the dispersion and potentially the vibrancy. I, personally, wouldn't want a silky Mahenge; the cost is too high for me to have a compromised stone. It's all in the eye of the beholder, though.What do -you- think of it?

 

[thirdrock]

Are you considering purchase? Or do you already own?

I purchased it but it can be returned. It’s darker than I wanted and I’m having a hard time photographing it. It probably looks darker in the photos. I’m just wondering what others think of it.

 

[T L]

Well ignore the photo on the black box because black backgrounds enhances stone color.

Are there any outdoor photos?

Carat weight?

 

[thirdrock]

The mine at Mahenge is tapped out, so won't be any more rough coming from there. I've got a beautiful purplish-red garnet from there. Mahenge garnets in lighter colors are known for their high dispersion/rainbow sparkles. In the darker colors they're known for their vibrancy - which yours has in spades.

They aren't typically known for being included stones - the best examples are at least eye-clean. Yours has some silky inclusions that would reduce the dispersion and potentially the vibrancy. I, personally, wouldn't want a silky Mahenge; the cost is too high for me to have a compromised stone. It's all in the eye of the beholder, though.What do -you- think of it?

I think it’s darker than I wanted. It was supposed to not have any inclusions. I have another one arriving soon. I’m hoping I like it better.

 

[ChaiK]

Keep. But I love dark red. And wear it in the correct lighting.

 

[thirdrock]

Well ignore the photo on the black box because black backgrounds enhances stone color.

Are there any outdoor photos?

Carat weight?

A

 

[jenzgemz]

Well, having just come from the Tucson show, there were a few very nice mahenge garnets on display. It really helped to see them in person. This particular one doesn't grab me, but it could just be the lighting. I believe Eldorado Sapphire Company and Vance Gems both had some amazing examples of precision cut mahenge in brilliant sparkly light and darker tones. Very clear/clean. We bought a pink one and love it.

 

[thirdrock]

Well ignore the photo on the black box because black backgrounds enhances stone color.

Are there any outdoor photos?

Carat weight?

It’s a little over 3 carats.

 

[thirdrock]

It’s a little over 3 carats.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I purchased it but it can be returned. It’s darker than I wanted and I’m having a hard time photographing it. It probably looks darker in the photos. I’m just wondering what others think of it.

I think it's gorgouse (and im not into red !)
It just needs the right setting ???

 

[ChaiK]

I think it's gorgouse (and im not into red !)
It just needs the right setting ???

Hehe, now you will be. Some new post always starts that spark and off you go.....

 

[musicloveranthony]

This really doesn't do much for me. A 3ct Mahenge garnet is really hard to find, though.

Here is a link to my Mahenge garnet

Ramon Tesoro on Instagram: "NFS. Stunning Purple Mahenge Garnet cut for @musicloveranthony into my new personal design "STARLIGHT". The high grade of dispersion gives a mesmerizing color playing underlined by the design studied to maximize this chara

294 likes, 17 comments - rtgemcutter on August 30, 2020: "NFS. Stunning Purple Mahenge Garnet cut for @musicloveranthony into my new personal design "STARLIGHT". The high grade of dispersion gives a mesmerizing color playing underlined by the design studied to maximize this characteristic...

www.instagram.com

 

[thirdrock]

Well, having just come from the Tucson show, there were a few very nice mahenge garnets on display. It really helped to see them in person. This particular one doesn't grab me, but it could just be the lighting. I believe Eldorado Sapphire Company and Vance Gems both had some amazing examples of precision cut mahenge in brilliant sparkly light and darker tones. Very clear/clean. We bought a pink one and love it.

I have a pink one arriving soon.

 

[thirdrock]

This really doesn't do much for me. A 3ct Mahenge garnet is really hard to find, though.

Here is a link to my Mahenge garnet

Ramon Tesoro on Instagram: "NFS. Stunning Purple Mahenge Garnet cut for @musicloveranthony into my new personal design "STARLIGHT". The high grade of dispersion gives a mesmerizing color playing underlined by the design studied to maximize this chara

294 likes, 17 comments - rtgemcutter on August 30, 2020: "NFS. Stunning Purple Mahenge Garnet cut for @musicloveranthony into my new personal design "STARLIGHT". The high grade of dispersion gives a mesmerizing color playing underlined by the design studied to maximize this characteristic...

www.instagram.com

Very pretty!

 

[T L]

Is it silky or transparent?

I guess it depends on the price. To me it looks like a spess/pyrope combination, and it's precision cut obviously, so that adds to the price. I'm not sure how much Mahenge garnets are these days, but I think a large part of the price comes from the fact they're called "Mahenge" which is reminiscent of the famed spinels from that region.

Are you on the fence? For me, if it is silky, that would bother me, as I think the color is too brownish for my taste, but others may disagree. I like garnets to sparkle and show brilliance as well. However, beauty is subjective.

Now the stone @musicloveranthony has, is gorgeous, and you can see the sparkle and color just pop!

 

[ChaiK]

Ok, no. Too silky for my liking. Buy what you like though. It is important to buy what you like.

 

[thirdrock]

Is it silky or transparent?

I guess it depends on the price. To me it looks like a spess/pyrope combination, and it's precision cut obviously, so that adds to the price. I'm not sure how much Mahenge garnets are these days, but I think a large part of the price comes from the fact they're called "Mahenge" which is reminiscent of the famed spinels from that region.

Are you on the fence? For me, if it is silky, that would bother me, as I think the color is too brownish for my taste, but others may disagree. I like garnets to sparkle and show brilliance as well. However, beauty is subjective.

Now the stone @musicloveranthony has, is gorgeous, and you can see the sparkle and color just pop!

It doesn’t look brown in real life but I think it looks silky under the loupe.

 

[T L]

It doesn’t look brown in real life but I think it looks silky under the loupe.

Well, you need to decide if you can live with the color and the silk, for the price. If the price is great, and reflects the inclusions, than maybe.

 

[jenzgemz]

These folks were at the show, their 2 carat color change Mahenge trillion was one of my favorite stones (didn't buy). They also have this 3 carat, but it's not red or pink:

Look what I found on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/686108014/32-purple-mahenge-color-change-untreated?ref=share_v4_lx

 

[musicloveranthony]

These folks were at the show, their 2 carat color change Mahenge trillion was one of my favorite stones (didn't buy). They also have this 3 carat, but it's not red or pink:

Look what I found on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/686108014/32-purple-mahenge-color-change-untreated?ref=share_v4_lx

I've had my eye on that specific stone for a few YEARS! I can't believe it hasn't sold!

 

[jenzgemz]

Seeing the stone in person, I seriously can't believe it hasn't sold either! Brilliant rays, beautifully cut. It is truly stunning. By the time we saw it, I had already purchased my peachy Pink 2.5 carat mahenge... Otherwise it would be here with me now! Maybe I should put this in the "buy this stone" thread.

 

[thirdrock]

These folks were at the show, their 2 carat color change Mahenge trillion was one of my favorite stones (didn't buy). They also have this 3 carat, but it's not red or pink:

Look what I found on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/686108014/32-purple-mahenge-color-change-untreated?ref=share_v4_lx

Thanks for the link.

 

[thirdrock]

Well, you need to decide if you can live with the color and the silk, for the price. If the price is great, and reflects the inclusions, than maybe.

I will be returning it. I just wanted to know what others thought of it.

 

[thirdrock]

 

[thirdrock]

This really doesn't do much for me. A 3ct Mahenge garnet is really hard to find, though.

Here is a link to my Mahenge garnet

Ramon Tesoro on Instagram: "NFS. Stunning Purple Mahenge Garnet cut for @musicloveranthony into my new personal design "STARLIGHT". The high grade of dispersion gives a mesmerizing color playing underlined by the design studied to maximize this chara

294 likes, 17 comments - rtgemcutter on August 30, 2020: "NFS. Stunning Purple Mahenge Garnet cut for @musicloveranthony into my new personal design "STARLIGHT". The high grade of dispersion gives a mesmerizing color playing underlined by the design studied to maximize this characteristic...

www.instagram.com

Do you have any regular photos of your garnet?

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Are Mahenge garnets really mined out? I thought it was more of a case of not bothering to mine them in favour of spinels?

 

[fredflintstone]

Mahenge Garnet is just a trade name for Malaia Garnet found in Mahenge Tanzania, region. They are always finding stones of some sort there. But I find them no more beautiful than Malaia Garnets mined elsewhere in Tanzania and the world. Just depends on the stone.

No, they did not stop mining Mahenge Garnet for Spinel. The beautiful red and pink Spinel’s are few and far between now in finding them.

Your pictures are too small for me to judge. Try closer for a larger picture on your fingers. Do not put the stone on the back of your fingers but on the front of your fingers. That way you can get a closer picture at a better angle, and it stop the stone from rolling off your fingers. Also, just try photographing the stone sitting by itself, that way we can see if there is silk in it.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Mahenge Spinel is just a trade name for Malaia Garnet found in Mahenge Tanzania, region. They are always finding stones of some sort there. But I find them no more beautiful than Malaia Garnets mined elsewhere in Tanzania and the world. Just depends on the stone.

No, they did not stop mining Mahenge Garnet for Spinel. The beautiful red and pink Spinel’s are few and far between now in finding them.

Your pictures are too small for me to judge. Try closer for a larger picture on your fingers. Do not put the stone on the back of your fingers but on the front of your fingers. That way you can get a closer picture at a better angle, and it stop the stone from rolling off your fingers. Also, just try photographing the stone sitting by itself, that way we can see if there is silk in it.

You obviously haven't seen my camera thread

Currently using a cheap Motorola phone in the interim.