Pretty Spinel ring

[MakingTheGrade]

I was browsing online, and saw this ring. It has a 2.6ct blue spinel, pretty no?

I was wondering how one can tell if a spinel contains cobalt? Is this something the AGTA labs can do?

 

[AustenNut]

I know nothing about cobalt and spinel, but I will say that is a very pretty ring! I''ve never seen anything like it before, but it''s beautiful!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 9/24/2009 10:54:08 PM
Author: AustenNut
I know nothing about cobalt and spinel, but I will say that is a very pretty ring! I''ve never seen anything like it before, but it''s beautiful!

I know, I saw it and went "SHINY!". Haha, if only I could justify the 2k pricetag

 

[chrono]

There is a VERY strong light source lighting up the blue spinel as observed by the darkness of the shadow below the ring. I don’t think the stone is going to look this blue and great in person. AGTA and AGL will be able to check this stone for cobalt content.

 

[T L]

Also be aware that just because a spinel contains cobalt, doesn''t mean it''s a sapphire blue, and it can still have a substantial amount of grey. Some cobalt spinels contain iron as well, which is the greying element to the material. I recently returned a cobalt spinel that was too grey and dark for my taste.

 

[Kismet]

I''m guessing that stone is a lot darker than that picture makes it look. It looks like the stone is pretty seriously back lit.

 

[LD]

Picture looks great but I'm pretty sure the reality will be different. Not only has this had very strong lighting shone on it (to emphasis its colour), the colour may have been adjusted as well.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Good points about the shadow telling us that a strong light was used!

I like the setting alot but wouldn''t pay that much for it!!

 

[oddoneout]

I like the setting a lot but I can''t really give much information because I don''t know much about spinels.

 

[morecarats]

Date: 9/24/2009 9:14:45 PM
Author:MakingTheGrade
I was browsing online, and saw this ring. It has a 2.6ct blue spinel, pretty no?

I was wondering how one can tell if a spinel contains cobalt? Is this something the AGTA labs can do?

AGTA has closed their lab in New York as of July. But other labs should be able to analyse a spinel for cobalt. Usually they use a spectrometer (such as EDXRF) that can do an analysis of chemical composition. That''s how they determine if a tourmaline is copper-bearing, for example.

I''m not quite sure why one would get excited about cobalt though. A cobalt-bearing blue spinel can have uninspiring color, and a blue spinel without a trace of cobalt can be top color. Trust your eyes.