Mahenge spinels

[Art Nouveau]

TL,

Sorry to hear the spinels did not meet your expectations. I like the sleepy one better. The pinker one is not saturated enough. The sleepy one has better color and saturation, but there''s too much silk and the stone does not look vibrant enough. I think neither stone is a good example of top quality Mahenge spinel. I guess you get what you pay for. You have to expect to pay ~$2000 per carat for fine 2 to 3-carat stones.

AN

 

[T L]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:19:46 PM
Author: sleepyspinel
It very well might be difficult to compete with the copper bearing tourmalines. I do hope that you were able to see something similar to at least some of the pictures I posted of mine... or similar to CMW''s stone.

As for the clarity, perhaps its the MI that is also causing some disatisfaction. Mine are in the eye-clean to slightly included border and perhaps the pink orange stone has too much. The other stone''s window isnt all that wonderful either. I must also say that ovals, esp non precision cuts, can be underwhelming and I feel that may also be a contributor to the lackluster performance you are experiencing with these specific stone...

SS,
Thank you for your thorough explanation. If only the orange stone had the clarity of the pink stone!! One has the color I want, and the other, the clarity.

 

[T L]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:22:44 PM
Author: Art Nouveau
TL,

Sorry to hear the spinels did not meet your expectations. I like the sleepy one better. The pinker one is not saturated enough. The sleepy one has better color and saturation, but there''s too much silk and the stone does not look vibrant enough. I think neither stone is a good example of top quality Mahenge spinel. I guess you get what you pay for. You have to expect to pay ~$2000 per carat for fine 2 to 3-carat stones.

AN

Thanks AN,
I guess with these Mahenge spinels, you get what you pay for. I''m also spoiled by old pricing on some of my vivid gems as well. It is no longer the case with top Mahenge spinels.

 

[T L]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:18:49 PM
Author: cellentani

Date: 6/3/2009 9:56:14 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 6/3/2009 9:53:43 PM
Author: cellentani
Maybe you should return the spinels and use the $$ to buy Mr. Kast some nice rough. I just sent him a big ugly stone to recut for me.

LOL!! How much does he charge for recutting anyways?

He said he was giving me a great deal because I was a good customer - let''s just say it''s less than your 1ct rubellite from him. I have no doubt the bigger-name cutters would charge a lot more.

That''s great to hear!!

 

[Harriet]

Honest opinion?

 

[T L]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:40:11 PM
Author: Harriet
Honest opinion?

Sure, I asked for honest ones.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:22:44 PM
Author: Art Nouveau
TL,

Sorry to hear the spinels did not meet your expectations. I like the sleepy one better. The pinker one is not saturated enough. The sleepy one has better color and saturation, but there''s too much silk and the stone does not look vibrant enough. I think neither stone is a good example of top quality Mahenge spinel. I guess you get what you pay for. You have to expect to pay ~$2000 per carat for fine 2 to 3-carat stones.

AN

And then some, I''m afraid.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:41:46 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 6/3/2009 11:40:11 PM
Author: Harriet
Honest opinion?

Sure, I asked for honest ones.

I''d pass. Dang. We need to find you a spinel to love.

 

[chrono]

TL,
I'm sorry the spinels did not turn out to be the deal you thought you were getting. At this point, I think only Eric has some reasonably priced quality Mahenges. To me, sleepy stones are fine but there is a limit to how sleepy it looks. I don't think Boom's Mahenge looks sleepy at all, just a soft look which is what I think you are after.

 

[T L]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:43:29 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 6/3/2009 11:41:46 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 6/3/2009 11:40:11 PM
Author: Harriet
Honest opinion?

Sure, I asked for honest ones.

I''d pass. Dang. We need to find you a spinel to love.

Well, I have a small 1.5 carat lilac one I like, especially for what I paid!!

 

[T L]

Date: 6/3/2009 11:46:40 PM
Author: Chrono
TL,
I''m sorry the spinels did not turn out to be the deal you thought you were getting. At this point, I think only Eric has some reasonably priced quality Mahenges. To me, sleepy stones are fine but there is a limit to how sleepy it looks. I don''t think Boom''s Mahenge looks sleepy at all, just a soft look which is what I think you are after.

Thanks Chrono!

Yes, I love Boom''s spinel. She has great taste.

 

[Harriet]

Yes, she does.

 

[sleepyspinel]

Do you have a link to this famed spinel? Sadly I''ve not yet seen it

 

[T L]

 

[sleepyspinel]

whoa... that is pretty intense! Is it my imagination or do you see a neat fleur de lis "bow tie" effect in that shot? Kind of reminds me of the Maltese cross effect I get in my OMC.

Thanks for the pic TL you''re the best!

 

[T L]

 

[Harriet]

Argh. I feel a gem urge coming on. [Threadjack over]

 

[innerkitten]

I liked the color on them but the cuts weren''t that great. I''m sure you''ll find a perfect one if you keep looking.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

Hmmm that red one glows like a little ember. Love the color! But if you don't love them you should return them.

 

[T L]

When I compare them to these stones I own, then I get bummed.

 

[Harriet]

TL,
I promise you. If you look hard enough, you''ll find one that will compare.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Who is this fanous Eric with the bright spinels?

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 6/4/2009 12:37:58 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover
When I compare them to these stones I own, then I get bummed.

This is your answer. Neither of these new stones is the one for you. It would always be less than your other stones. Sorry.

 

[T L]

Date: 6/4/2009 6:58:23 AM
Author: Lady_Disdain
Who is this fanous Eric with the bright spinels?

Eric at SwalaGemTraders.com. He''s a bit on the pricey side, but you''re not going to find discounts on these stones anywhere else, unless you''re in the trade or something.

 

[innerkitten]

Have you tried DJraregems?

 

[stepcutnut]

Bummer on the spinels! Neither of them were speaking to me either and I am a huge spinel fan!!! Keep on looking

 

[T L]

Date: 6/4/2009 10:46:55 AM
Author: innerkitten
Have you tried DJraregems?

I looked, but they don''t have anything that makes me jump out of my seat as far as a Mahenge for the pricepoint.

 

[T L]

Date: 6/4/2009 12:45:00 AM
Author: Harriet
TL,
I promise you. If you look hard enough, you''ll find one that will compare.

Thanks Harriet,
Eric has them, but they''re too pricey for me for the quality I want, so I may just skip this quest for a while.

 

[princessplease]

So pretty!!!!!!!

 

[chrono]

Date: 6/4/2009 12:11:25 AM
Author: sleepyspinel
whoa... that is pretty intense! Is it my imagination or do you see a neat fleur de lis ''bow tie'' effect in that shot? Kind of reminds me of the Maltese cross effect I get in my OMC.

Thanks for the pic TL you''re the best!

It does appear like that in the picture but per Boom, she doesn''t see it in person.