My new Mahenge spinel

[CaseyLouLou]

I have had this a couple of weeks and finally getting around to posting photos. I love the color and it is so vibrant. It also sparkles and has incredible UV fluorescence. Some of the photos make it look very silky for some reason and it’s less silky in real life. It’s about 1ct and cushion shaped and to my eye is a hot reddish pink. I’m not sure if it qualifies as neon but it wasn’t a criteria of mine. The underside isn’t straight but you can’t tell from the top. The inclusions aren’t visible to my eye at all.

I can’t wait to get it set but it’s fun to play with my collection for now since I tend to be undecided.

Some of these photos are vendor and others are mine. Mine were taken on a cloudy day indoors. Let me know what you think.

 

[VividRed]

Personal opinion here.

I would personally not call it vibrant but that’s only based on the few photos you posted. I see a fair amount of orange, which is less visible in the vendor’s pictures. Would call it orangish pink of medium tone and intense saturation. Not vivid, not neon, not jedi.

The cut is not terrible but not great either, there is a fair amount of extinction and windowing (1st picture) which would bother me.

I think that if you like the color and you paid less than 500$, you did well.

These are all subjective comments, someone else may - rightly so - find it amazing.

The actual only issue for me is the abyss between the vendor pictures and your pictures, which I am sure are more accurate.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Personal opinion here.

I would personally not call it vibrant but that’s only based on the few photos you posted. I see a fair amount of orange, which is less visible in the vendor’s pictures. Would call it orangish pink of medium tone and intense saturation. Not vivid, not neon, not jedi.

The cut is not terrible but not great either, there is a fair amount of extinction and windowing (1st picture) which would bother me.

I think that if you like the color and you paid less than 500$, you did well.

These are all subjective comments, someone else may - rightly so - find it amazing.

The actual only issue for me is the abyss between the vendor pictures and your pictures, which I am sure are more accurate.

I will try to get more photos but here are a couple more I took on the same day but with brighter lighting (I think I used a flash). It was a dark rainy day and I was indoors.

I love hearing your observations. I haven’t seen any other Mahenge spinels but it’s definitely vibrant compared to my other ones. My husband thinks I should buy a box of crayolas because my description of color is always messed up. I’m not seeing an orangey color although in these newer photos there is some orange flash so maybe. The stone below it is another spinel that is a peachy pink so this new one looks more red-pink to me.

My budget isn’t very high so I paid much less than $500 for this one. It has shadowing due to its shape I think but no real extinction and the tilt window is not noticeable. It’s a small stone and definitely not precision cut but it doesn’t bother me like some other step cuts that I can’t stand.

The dark stone below is a zircon that is actually peachy champagne but apparently turns purple when photographed with a flash! So weird.

 

[2Neesers]

I think your spinel is beautiful! I especially like the color it’s showing in the first three pictures of your first post. A medium saturated pink with a touch of orange and red is my ideal for spinels in this color range. They remind me of fruity hard candies

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Pretty, pretty, little crystal baby! I'm digging those pink/orange/purple flashes.
Very nice, and still a bargain? Yes, please! It's one of the many reasons why spinel is my favorite-you can find almost (except yellow) any color mix your heart desires, if you look long enough.

 

[VividRed]

I will try to get more photos but here are a couple more I took on the same day but with brighter lighting (I think I used a flash). It was a dark rainy day and I was indoors.

I love hearing your observations. I haven’t seen any other Mahenge spinels but it’s definitely vibrant compared to my other ones. My husband thinks I should buy a box of crayolas because my description of color is always messed up. I’m not seeing an orangey color although in these newer photos there is some orange flash so maybe. The stone below it is another spinel that is a peachy pink so this new one looks more red-pink to me.

My budget isn’t very high so I paid much less than $500 for this one. It has shadowing due to its shape I think but no real extinction and the tilt window is not noticeable. It’s a small stone and definitely not precision cut but it doesn’t bother me like some other step cuts that I can’t stand.

The dark stone below is a zircon that is actually peachy champagne but apparently turns purple when photographed with a flash! So weird.

Your second picture here shows a lovely mix of pink, purple, and orange. Much nicer than the previous ones you originally posted

if you spent less than 500$ then you absolutely scored - well done!!

and happy new year!!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Your second picture here shows a lovely mix of pink, purple, and orange. Much nicer than the previous ones you originally posted

if you spent less than 500$ then you absolutely scored - well done!!

and happy new year!!

Thanks! I didn’t try very hard with those photos that day.

Happy New Year!

 

[elle_71125]

Wowza! I love a good pink spinel and the fact that you found one under $500 makes it such a score! That’s going to look amazing once set.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Just for fun I took some more photos today near a window that isn’t getting any direct sun. These turned out amazing. I can’t get over the sparkle and color of this stone! Believe it or not these are not enhanced in any way. The nearby curtains are light blue.

 

[Sprinkles&Stones]

Beautiful!!!

 

[VividRed]

Just for fun I took some more photos today near a window that isn’t getting any direct sun. These turned out amazing. I can’t get over the sparkle and color of this stone! Believe it or not these are not enhanced in any way. The nearby curtains are light blue.

Wowza!!

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

It’s gorgeous! When you get your fluorescence photos, please share to the Fun with Fluorescence thread. Thanks!

Congratulations on your great find!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

It’s gorgeous! When you get your fluorescence photos, please share to the Fun with Fluorescence thread. Thanks!

Congratulations on your great find!

I will try to find that thread but here is a fluorescence photo of this spinel. I have an old pink spinel ring from the early 90’s when I worked at a high end jewelry store. The owner had brought in some little pink spinels with much excitement and I used my Xmas bonus to make a ring. I just discovered it is also fluorescent. I wonder if it’s also a Mahenge spinel. It’s small and eye clean but not as sparkly. It’s more of a soft glow.



Here’s a photo of the much older spinel ring.