Pics enclosed ...Keep or exchange? Trying to decide on new spess.

[4bugzinarug]

Our spess arrived today! It is a 2.3 carat 8mm round. My husband is head over heels with it ... but I am still trying to decide. I think the cut is perfect, the sparkle is gorgeous; however, the color is deeper than what I originally had thought of when dreaming of a spess. This being the first spess we have seen in person, it is hard to gauge what our likes are.

So, I have attached some pics of this spess, and a pic of the first spess we fell in love with (but didn't buy). That first spess seems to have more fire/golden tones. My husband doesn't think it matters either way. I am of the school of thought that we are only buying one spess, so it has to be just right

Does the color range shown in the below pics look about right?

 

[4bugzinarug]

Get ready, there''s lots of pics!

 

[4bugzinarug]

And another ..

 

[4bugzinarug]

Another ....

 

[4bugzinarug]

One more ...

 

[4bugzinarug]

This is the other spessartite that we first fell in love with ... but had no chance of buying (stone was sold before it was finished). I love the fiery brilliance of this one!

 

[4bugzinarug]

And here is the studio pic of the stone we purchased. What do you think of the difference in fire/color between the two? I wish I had asked Dan to send us two stones to choose from to see the color variation in person

 

[chrono]

There's really no way for me to tell from the pictures because you can see that even the background colour of the two pictures are different. For all I know, the two may even be the same colour. The first one has a lighter background, if you photoshopped the 2nd picture to the same background lightness, spessartite #2 could end up being the same bright orange colour. The best thing is to tell Dan that you want the same colour and brilliance of spessartite #1 and let him do the choosing.

Again, it could well be that spessartite #2 is slightly different in colour, having perhaps a bit more of a red tint. You can view my Spessartite thread to see which spess shade you prefer best.

Top spess colour:

 

[twodoor2]

I think the spessartite that sold before you could get it has more facets, and a better color (if all the variables in the two pictures are the same for both). It''s more firey as you stated. However, that being said, your stone is lovely. It also depends on what both stone cost, and what your budget will allow. If they were both the same price per carat, I would try to hold out for another stone with the same color as the sold one. It also depends on if you are buying a basic spess or a mandarin. Not all spessartites are mandarins, but all mandarins are spessartites, and they are at a premium price than an average ordinary spessartite. The other stone looked more like a mandarin, and yours looks like a spessartite (albeit a lovely one).

 

[twodoor2]

Forgot to mention that I''m glad your husband is head over heels in love with it. My husband could care less about any of my gemstones. If I had the Hope diamond, he would probably say, "uhh."

 

[LdyNghtWng]

I think your stone is lovely!

 

[kcoursolle]

I think there is a little too much brown undertone in the stone and that is what is probably bugging you. I''d return it and ask dan to cut you a more orangy stone.

 

[widget]

I too would probably prefer more orange, less brown undertone. But of course it''s all a matter of personal taste (and perhaps pocketbook as well...I think lighter pure orange spesses are more costly.)

widget

 

[innerkitten]

It's so hard to tell from the pics. I just got one from him too. I too am after the pure bright orange but won't no till next week when I get it in the mail.
This was described as a medium orange.

 

[innerkitten]

What did you decide?

 

[4bugzinarug]

Thank you for your responses! Apologies for the delay in posting, we have been out of town.

We have decided to return the stone. I really hated typing that email asking for the return, but Dan was very gracious about it and is going to check to see what else he can do for us. My husband *really* wanted a 2+ carat stone. However, if it comes down to budget (which it does!) I prefer to have a smaller stone with lighter/more fiery color than a large darker stone.

Don''t get me wrong, the stone *is* beautiful ... it''s just not speaking to me! This was a tough decision, I really thought that his price of $300 was quite reasonable for the quality/size/color, etc. It''s just darker than I was shooting for

Soooo, this stone will probably make it back to Dan''s website shortly

 

[4bugzinarug]

innerkitten ... your stone looks beautiful, has it arrived yet?

 

[innerkitten]

Not yet. I''ll post pics when it does. I''ve got my fingers crossed for a good orange.

 

[Dogmom]

After Dan suggested a spess for my setting, I have been looking at them more and learning to appreciate their unique beauty. I look forward to seeing what you end up with.

Innerkitten - the pic of your spess is gorgeous!

 

[innerkitten]

Have you seen the color on this one!
http://www.customgemstones.com/GARNET/ga877.html

 

[Dogmom]

Yummy!!!! Too bad it''s too large for my setting