Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ring?

[catdoc]

Newbie looking for some tips on purchasing an e-ring gem. Trying to find a cushion sapphire or spinel with a nice cut, eye clean, with no windows and minimal extinction, under $2K to go in a white gold halo skinny band setting that we're having a local jeweler design. The more sparkle the better, ideally in some kind of lavender/light pink/purple color.

A few questions for you:

This one is a bit darker than I originally was going after... It's beautiful to me, but I'm not sure how I'd feel with such a "dark" color, would I get tired of it? I was also curious why this stone seems so inexpensive compared to most sapphires of this cut/color/size... perhaps because of the little nick I can see on one edge? From what I can tell it looks great, and the more I look at it, the more I like it, and the price helps. I didn't notice any certifications though, so what would you all recommend? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUSHION-CUT...704?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item56519fdcd0#

I like this one a lot from Africa Gems, but find it strange how much more expensive it is than the above sapphire, given that it's a spinel (albeit slightly bigger). Does anyone have experience ordering from AfricaGems.com, and how accurate their pictures are to real life? I wish they put up videos like Jeff Davies so I could see how that spinel changes in the light! http://www.africagems.com/cushion-purple-spinel-g2k-3226.html

This is pretty much bang on for the color I was going after, but wrong shape and a bit small http://www.africagems.com/round-purple-sapphire-g2k-4117.html

I started looking a few weeks ago using various tips I found on this website (you guys rock!) but am finding it hard to find the exact color + cut (and quality) I'm hoping for. I would love if kunzites were hard enough to wear as an every day stone, as there are plenty in the perfect color! Do you think I should be more open to the slightly darker colors like that first one I posted, given the difficulties I'm having in my search? My boyfriend is fairly color-deficient so it's up to me to find the right stone... but I get the impression he'd like a finished ring by the end of March to put it on my finger soon . Sorry for all the questions, thanks for your help!

 

[colorluvr]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

Let me see if I can answer a few of your questions:

Jeff Davies (first link) is a volume seller, so his stones are usually quite competively priced. If you find one of his stones that you want and it doesn't have a lab report, he will (at least he has for me) send it off to a lab for a report. He is in Thailand and the AIGS lab there now has the necessary equipment to test for diffusion (which I would always have done with a sapphire). I believe the reports run around $35, but could be a bit higher now.

As far as the color is concerned, you will get the best idea of color from his videos, but I do agree that is it MUCH darker than the other stones you linked, so it may be darker than you want.

Do you want a deep colored stone (like the first one) or a lighter stone (like the others)? There is a big range between the two.

 

[catdoc]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

Good to know re Jeff Davies and his prices!

As for color, I've had my mind set on lighter ones, but it has seemed pretty difficult to find so I figured I could be a bit more open-minded and started broadening my search. I really do love the color of the one I posted from Jeff Davies in of itself (I own quite a few clothing items and other items in that exact color, ha!), but am not sure how I feel about it on a ring I will wear every day? Until recently, I had anticipated a diamond center stone, but then did some research and decided with my boyfriend we loved the idea of something different instead. I am not sure if lighter colors are just easier to get used to seeing after thinking I would wear a colorless stone for so long, and if that's the case then a darker color would definitely grow on me, especially given how hard it seems to be to find a lighter one.

The third one I linked is pretty much perfect color-wise, and I'd go for the lavender ~$2K spinel I posted if it seems like a reasonable price to people on here. Although something else I hadn't though of is whether or not prices listed include tax, as the final cost should be not much above 2K. If there is a tax of more than $100 or so on that bigger spinel, it would then be too pricey.

 

[colorluvr]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

http://www.africagems.com/cushion-lavender-spinel-g2k-3117.html

Is this one darker than what you want? The spinels you have linked on the Africagems site appear to all be precision cut, where the sapphire on Jeff's site is not. I would also "guess" that the sapphire on Jeff's site may have some extinction, but I'm lousy at determining that from photos, so I'll let one of the experts on here chime in on that.

The one thing you do have to watch out for with lavendar/purple spinels is that a lot of them can look grayish in some lighting. I have seen a few lavendar spinels with NO gray, but they aren't easy to find. One of them was in a ring I saw at Intergem at the Andrew Sarosi booth. Mark Sarosi (owner of Africagems) is the son of Andrew Sarosi (who recently passed away) so it is highly possible that the lavender spinel I saw in the ring (that was perfection) came from Africagems.

 

[Rosebloom]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

Gemfix has a few that might work (although I really like the Africa Gems $1.4k one).

 

[catdoc]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

http://www.africagems.com/cushion-lavender-spinel-g2k-3117.html

The one thing you do have to watch out for with lavendar/purple spinels is that a lot of them can look grayish in some lighting. I have seen a few lavendar spinels with NO gray, but they aren't easy to find.

I've read about how they can look "gray" on the forums, but I haven't seen a picture (or spinels in person) to understand what that really looks like. I think for me as long as it has a great color from most angles, and is at least still sparkly when it flashes some "gray", I would be okay with it. From what I've read in the forums, I think it would take a long waiting period to find exactly the right spinel with no gray, which wouldn't work timing wise unfortunately.

The one you posted is definitely more comfortable price wise. Very similar to the 2.3ct spinel I posted, although a tad darker (which I think would be fine). They are quite similar in size, but do you think the lighter color is the reason for the price discrepancy per carat between them?

And good catch with the precision cut difference. Given a choice, definitely prefer a precision cut over not.

 

[catdoc]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

Also, would it be appropriate to order both and return the one I like less after seeing them in person, if I find it hard to decide just based on the photo posted on Africagem's website?

 

[pregcurious]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

Colorluvr, it's great to know that you have used the diffusion testing services at AIGS.

From Jeff's glamour shot, the pink sapphire looks like it has a cross shaped darker area. It reminds me a little of a "bow-tie" on an oval cut stone. The color looks less vibrant in the video than the photo. I think it's a nice stone at a decent price.

 

[colorluvr]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

http://www.africagems.com/cushion-lavender-spinel-g2k-3117.html

The one thing you do have to watch out for with lavendar/purple spinels is that a lot of them can look grayish in some lighting. I have seen a few lavendar spinels with NO gray, but they aren't easy to find.

I've read about how they can look "gray" on the forums, but I haven't seen a picture (or spinels in person) to understand what that really looks like. I think for me as long as it has a great color from most angles, and is at least still sparkly when it flashes some "gray", I would be okay with it. From what I've read in the forums, I think it would take a long waiting period to find exactly the right spinel with no gray, which wouldn't work timing wise unfortunately.

The one you posted is definitely more comfortable price wise. Very similar to the 2.3ct spinel I posted, although a tad darker (which I think would be fine). They are quite similar in size, but do you think the lighter color is the reason for the price discrepancy per carat between them?

And good catch with the precision cut difference. Given a choice, definitely prefer a precision cut over not.

I really don't know why the darker one is more money than the lighter one. I suggest you contact Africagems and ask, and you can ask about gray modifiers also if you choose. I've never dealt with Africagems, but they seem to have a good reputation. (I bought a setting from Sarosi Jewelers, but so far no stones).

Here are a couple of photos my silver/violet (has slight gray modifier) spinel. (first photo is in the sun) I had the pavilion recut by Dan Stair. I don't think it's the color you want, but I thought I'd show you an example. It's a tough stone to photograph and goes from almost silver to quite lavender depending on the lighting. Of course, the price is 1/10 the price of the ones you like also. BTW, it's 2.86ct (10.68 x 8.96mm) as a comparison.

 

[catdoc]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

Here are a couple of photos my silver/violet (has slight gray modifier) spinel. I had the pavilion recut by Dan Stair. I don't think it's the color you want, but I thought I'd show you an example. It's a tough stone to photograph and goes from almost silver to quite lavender depending on the lighting. Of course, the price is 1/10 the price of the ones you like also. BTW, it's 2.86ct (10.68 x 8.96mm) as a comparison.

Pretty! For the price, we're both professional students so I was surprised when my BF gave me the range he did, but I'll definitely appreciate getting to look at such a pretty ring every day. He's just happy his money stretches further with foregoing a diamond!

I guess it might be best just to see the gems in person, and they seem to have a good shipping/return policy. Would it be weird to order both, but keep the one I like better and return the other? We have an appointment with our jeweler next weekend so it would be pretty awesome to already have a stone on hand.

 

[colorluvr]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

To my knowledge, the only downside to ordering both gems is that you have to put both on your credit card and you have to worry about the cost of return shipping/insurance which isn't cheap these days. The only time I've gotten more than one stone at a time to look at and then return what I didn't want was dealing with vendors I've done a bit of business with (Primagems and Roger Dery), but I'm pretty sure they are probably used to people wanting to compare beings they are an internet company. I'll let others chime in on that.

Please do remember that even though a spinel is a "reasonable tough" gemstone, it's not nearly as durable as a diamond and they DO chip (as will a diamond, but not as easily), so please keep that in mind when you are picking out a setting and make sure the stone is protected.

 

[0-0-0]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

I don't have any experience with africagems, but the spinels certainly look nicely cut from the pictures. If you order them can you please post pictures and your impressions? I have been keeping an eye on some of their stones but have hesitated to order as I don't have a good gauge as to how accurate their pictures are. Thanks in advance and good luck!

For the color you are looking for, you may want to consider lighter toned Tajik spinels. If you are not pressed for time I suggest asking Gene from precisiongem or Jeff from whitegems about it. I'm not sure if Gene still has more rough to cut but I'm pretty sure Jeff has some. Both vendors offer precision cut stones as well as accurate pictures and descriptions of color. Pricing should be below africagems' for a 2 ct stone.

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

It is not a problem to order two with the intention of keeping the one you like more. In fact, many vendors encourage it because they have a vested interest in you being satisfied. The main issue is as CL said - whether you are returning it to the same country in which you're located and if you're not, then what additional charges you have to pay in regards to taxes, duties, insurance, and shipping requirements of the vendors, like saying you need to send it back Registered or DHL.

 

[catdoc]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

From checking their information page (http://www.africagems.com/information.html), it appears shipping/insurance is free both for delivery and returns to the US (which is where I would be shipping them to). Charging the cost of both stones at the same time would fortunately not be an issue.

Hoping to find and set a stone fairly quickly, so it would probably take too long to ask around about rough stones that are yet to be cut, but thank you for the tip.

After reading your advice here, I'm definitely leading towards ordering them both. If I go ahead with that, I'll make sure to post them once they come in!

Thanks everyone

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

I think you are wise to see more than one. Having both in hand, allows you to compare. Of course another way to see various stone IRL is to go to a gem show, which come to most major metropolitan areas in US and Canada fairly regularly.

 

[chrono]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

AfricaGems' pricing is higher than other vendors, in general. The two you linked to are not only light but pale. Stones that are light and tone with lower saturation should cost less than a medium dark with strong saturation. The eBay stone is dark and not as well cut as the AG stones.

 

[erinl]

Re: Newbie: lavender/pink/purple sapphire or spinel for e-ri

I have had my eye on both of those Africa Gems stones but they seem really expensive--that is what has stopped me from pulling the trigger. And the very difficult to read pictures.