New Barry spinel

[packrat]

Got this today-1.37ct, 6.6mm, lavender gray. I'll do pics first and then what I was planning on for it. It's like 15 degrees here so I didn't spend a lot of time taking pictures outside..you can see Trapper still in his pajamas. I'm sick and being lazy.

 

[packrat]

last couple

 

[packrat]

Then this is what I'm thinking of.

 

[packrat]

Or more like this Sholdt. What do you guys think? Too dark for a semi bezel or would it be ok? There is a simple prong solitaire I like too..

 

[packrat]

cripes, forgot the vendor photo. Then prong settings I like. I stole a couple of Burberry girls amethyst pics.

 

[SB621]

Oh Pack that will look gorgeous when it is set! I love the icy look of the lavendar. I personally long the prong set vs the semi bezel but either would look really wonderful! Keep us updated on this project!

 

[baby nurse]

It looks like a beautiful stone! I love the sleek, sophisticated lines of the semi-bezel but I also love the prong setting. I honestly don't have any experience with a semi-bezel-- maybe it wouldn't darken the stone at all, but if it were my stone I would go with the prongs just in case. Good luck!

 

[packrat]

Thanks Sarah and BN! I'm completely undecided what to do w/it. Play w/it for a while I guess. I'd been set on a semi bezel but then today was looking at the prong pictures and thinking hmmm..

 

[JewelFreak]

Nice one! I like the coolness of its color. Tough to know what to do, isn't it, so many choices!

 

[packrat]

Thanks JF! I've been doing a lot of browsing for cheaper gold settings on ebay and found a few prong set that I like, if I want to go that route instead. Otherwise it will be a semi bezel in silver.

 

[Indylady]

Lovely spinel Packy!

I like the second Daniel M setting you posted a lot. I am looking forward to seeing what setting you chose!

 

[Michael_E]

Too dark for a semi bezel or would it be ok?

The reason that bezels can make a stone appear darker is not because of the bezel itself, but because the normally closed area below the bezel makes the unavoidable tilt window in most colored gems appear darker than if that area of the setting were open. In those semi bezels shown there is usually enough open area under the stone that any perceived darkening of the stone is minimized, so no problems with stone colors in those settings

 

[packrat]

Thanks for the explanation Michael! I'm still leaning towards a semi bezel, and that helps a lot.

 

[Arkteia]

I LOVE THE CUT! All Barry's stones that I saw on PS have this amazing cut! And he also seems very compulsive with these cuts. I would prefer prongs, since it seems a little bit on a darker side, but it is my personal preference.

 

[Laila619]

Very pretty Packrat!!

 

[Burberrygirl]

Packrat, I love your new spinel! The color is cool.

I like all your setting ideas. I think the semi bezel is really neat and of course I like Daniel M's prong settings.

I can't wait to see what you do with it, I think it'll look beautiful in any of the settings you posted!

 

[T L]

Packrat,
To see if it looks good in a bezel, surround it in foil, kind of like MTG did when she was deciding to set one of her Barry spinels.

Enjoy your new stone!

 

[jstarfireb]

There's something about Barry's stones that makes me loath to bezel them...the high crown, expertly faceted girdle, gorgeous profile...I'd prong it because of that. Nothing against bezels (I have a ton of bezel rings), but they'll hide some of the subtly beautiful aspects of a Barry stone.

ETA: Forgot to say...nice stone! I like these lavender-grey spinels a lot.

Oh, and I guess a semi-bezel wouldn't have the same "hiding the profile view" issues as a full bezel, so it could work.

 

[mariedtiger]

Congrats on a beautiful stone! I love it and I definitely vote for a semi-bezel. I have one spinel of a similar tone, although the hue is different, and the semi-bezel works wonders for it. You get to enjoy the beautiful cut much more than in a complete bezel and a well cut gem just seems to come alive in that sort of setting.

 

[chrono]

Oh, you’ve chosen such gorgeous settings for your new spinel! I love the first one best because the lines are so sleek and smooth. With the open look of the semi-bezel, I doubt it will darken much, plus you still get to see the entire stone from the side (high crown and all).

 

[packrat]

Thanks for replying you guys!

TL, I'll get some tinfoil and play w/it, see how it looks. I remember MTG's Barry spinel and her wondering if it would be ok, and it turned out so lovely.

I got it out to look at it in the kitchen light tonight and I really can see it w/the semi bezel more so than the prongs..the prongs I'd originally planned for different projects, so I think I'll stick w/those plans.

MT, ahhh Nordic Queen! I so love the color of your stone!! My cushion spinel bezel has good days when it wants to look like yours..as I was comparing them just now, I think this round is going to be more like how I wanted my cushion to look, so that makes me happy.

 

[iheartsparkles]

Is Barry an Ebay vendor?? I'm just getting into colored stones!

 

[Burberrygirl]

Is Barry an Ebay vendor?? I'm just getting into colored stones!

Barry's website is http://www.acstones.com/..