Mahenge pink spinel

[GLbluegreen]

Hi. I Have been reading and learning as a newbie on this sight and am enjoying it very much. I do have a question for all of you who know so much more than me. I am looking at this stone to purchase, Pink Spinel (Mahenge, Tanzania). 1.63ct, 6.95×8.01×3.89mm. Untreated. EC2. I have read that many people don't mind a few inclusions as long as they are not a feather. Well this particular stone has a feather, however according to the seller the feather is not detrimental to the overall performance of the stone. As a newbie, can you tell me why feathers are bad in a sleepy mahenge spinel ? Thanks

 

[NKOTB]

Perhaps more knowledgeable people than I am can talk more about the potential problems, but I have feathers in two of my spinels that I know of, and they haven't affected the performance of either stone. I know a lot of people get spooked by them, though, as I had one for sale, but everyone got scared away when they heard about the feather, so I happily kept it. I will say that when I saw the stone that you're considering in a box of gems, it really jumped out at me. The colour is striking.

 

[GLbluegreen]

I appreciate your input since you have personally dealt with this. I will add that the stone is going to be used in a pendant setting so it won't have the risk from damage as a ring would.

 

[GLbluegreen]

Anyone else ? I have to make a decision on this stone soon. What can you tell me about sleepy pink mahenge spinel with a feather inclusion ?

 

[chrono]

Verify that it is untreated, if it bothers you. Many spinels from all locations are now being treated and the treatment is not disclosed by some vendors. Secondly, where is the location of the feather and what is the size, relative to the gem? Is it considered eye clean? Can you please post a picture of the spinel in question?

 

[lilmosun]

It sounds like NKOTB has seen the stone and was impressed by the color...if so, sounds promising coming from someone who has seen and owned manym

 

[T L]

Hi. I Have been reading and learning as a newbie on this sight and am enjoying it very much. I do have a question for all of you who know so much more than me. I am looking at this stone to purchase, Pink Spinel (Mahenge, Tanzania). 1.63ct, 6.95×8.01×3.89mm. Untreated. EC2. I have read that many people don't mind a few inclusions as long as they are not a feather. Well this particular stone has a feather, however according to the seller the feather is not detrimental to the overall performance of the stone. As a newbie, can you tell me why feathers are bad in a sleepy mahenge spinel ? Thanks

Here's my stone with a large crack, and some feathers are internal cracks. You just need a really good jeweler, who also doesn't use an ultrasonic cleaner (they can worsen cracks/feathers), to set it.

I ended up setting this stone and enjoy it very much. My jeweler is very experienced however, and knows how to set softer colored gems. He has set stones as soft as a 6 for me. The crack is circled, and "L" shaped. It's very large and in a corner, which is a very precarious position.

 

[Marlow]

You purchased it from Tan??

I have two top coloredstones with a disk like fracture near the surface in the pavillion - but the material is so precious now that I will recut the pavillion (1,38 and 1,08 ct) - I paid around 80 $ each.

 

[T L]

You purchased it from Tan??

I have two top coloredstones with a disk like fracture near the surface in the pavillion - but the material is so precious now that I will recut the pavillion (1,38 and 1,08 ct) - I paid around 80 $ each.

You mean mine? Yes, it was from Tan, around 1.7 carats, and I bought it a long time ago. The fractures did indeed help the price at the time. Maybe the OP's should be lower cost per carat because of the inclusions.

 

[Marlow]

Yes, some negative cristals or colorless inclusion like apatite are fine if not in the tip of the pavillion but these fractures are a pain in the .....!

Try to make pics before recutting - better an eyeclean 0,7 - 0,9 ct then a 1-1,3 ct SI-LI !

 

[GLbluegreen]

Chrono, Here is a photo of the gemstone in question. I am checking with seller about a little more info on the feather.

 

[chrono]

I wouldn't have any issues with this spinel as a pendant stone, if it were mine.

 

[minousbijoux]

It does look pretty silky - are you okay with that?

ETA: sorry, just reread your original post where you call it sleepy. Never mind!

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Any updates, GLbluegreen?

 

[GLbluegreen]

The vendor has assured me that there is no structural issue with the stone. I have purchased it and the vendor is submitting it to AGL for me to obtain a report. Thanks for asking.

 

[NKOTB]

Yay! Let us know what you think when you see it!

 

[GLbluegreen]

I sure will. The vendor is a PS approved vendor with many excellent reviews, plus my designer knows and regards him. So I am confident I will be pleased. Good return policy also in the event that I am not.

 

[austinj]

I've been looking at that stone for a while now! I am excited to see what it will look like in person for you!

 

[GLbluegreen]

Yes I'm excited to see it too. It will be my first spinel and to think that it's a pink one that has some fluorescence is even more exciting. I have a nice pink tourmaline so I am anxious to see how different they are.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

The vendor has assured me that there is no structural issue with the stone. I have purchased it and the vendor is submitting it to AGL for me to obtain a report. Thanks for asking.

Awesome! Super excited for you. Let us know when you receive it as we'll all be anxiously awaiting pictures ...

 

[Acinom]

The vendor has assured me that there is no structural issue with the stone. I have purchased it and the vendor is submitting it to AGL for me to obtain a report. Thanks for asking.

Congrats! That's great news. I hope you love it when you see it in real life. Please make lots of pics once you have received the stone.

 

[GLbluegreen]

I will do that. It's going to be awhile though before I get the stone as the AGL is backed up from what I hear. Plus once I get it I then have to decide exactly what I am going to do with it. It originally was meant for a pendant for a close family member who is too young right now to possess it. It will be an heirloom for when she is older, but the designer I am working with suggested that perhaps I may want to enjoy it for awhile in my own personal setting since I have a few years before it will be given as a gift. I haven't decided for sure yet which way I'm going to go. The main thing was I needed to secure the stone. The unusual stone shape is perfect for the pendant it will eventually be set into. So from the get go it was the perfect stone with its shield shape.