Purple Spinel for engagement ring

[Jamestfl]

Hi I have been doing some digging on the internet in preparation for purchasing an engagement ring. I started by looking for tanzanite then i learned it was too soft a stone, So i have moved on my beloved's favorite color is purple she also dislikes diamonds so it seems like spinel is the way to go.

So my questions are as follows
1.) Why do the prices of stones very so greatly from site to site when both sites claim the stone is VS or VVS with good saturation and clarity?
a.) http://www.africagems.com/cushion-lavender-spinel-g2k-3117.html
b.)http://jewelsapphire.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=146
2.) many of the sites that claim to be very very cheap offer return policies do they actually honor these policies?

3.) Any tips on what to watch out for or signs of a deal that is too good to be true?


Thanks for your time gem buying is a complicated world shrouded in mystery and I'll take all the help I can get.

 

[pinkjewel]

I'll let the experts answer your questions, but just suggesting you may want to look at purple sapphires,too. There are some gorgeous ones and sapphires make excellent engagement rings.

 

[Jamestfl]

I thought about sapphire but she has said she doesn't want an expensive ring(she wanted a vacation instead, I'm getting her both), I decided that if she is going to wear it every day it should be at least very nice but my understanding is that sapphire is something like 2-3 times more expensive, though I am happy to be wrong.

 

[FrekeChild]

What would you like to spend?

What size stone are you wanting?
(price can vary here)

And what color purple does she like? Pink purple or blue purple? If she likes tanz, sounds like it's a blue purple?
(price can vary here)

I assure you that we can find a spinel or sapphire within your budget. Just need more details first!

ETA: Saturation can make the price vary a LOT. Also, I'd stop looking at so called "clarity grades" for colored stones. There are really only 2 measures when it comes to colored stones and those are "Eye clean" and "not eye clean". But those can be based on opinion (some people's eyes are better than others!) so they use the ridiculous letters that they use for diamonds as well.

Colored stones are complicated!

 

[pinkjewel]

Roger Dery (Spectral Gems) has a very pretty purple sapphire listed . 1.29cts-he does not list his prices so you would need to email him.

 

[wordie89]

Gracious! What is it about purple today? Here's one I just shared with hotpozzum and before that the thread on somebody's gotta buy this stone. I think it's pretty and am tempted as I like spinels. However, I already have about 4 unset stones and my oao is getting a little curious about my plans for them

Anyway, here's one from Rick (Gem Suite). about 1.5 cts and $179. Best wishes on your engagement and have fun with the gem hunt.

 

[Jeweljunke]

I have purchased from them, yet, but there are a couple nice spinels for a good price here http://gemcal.com/gemstones/spinel?limit=all Maybe some here has used this vendor and can chime in.

 

[minousbijoux]

I agree completely with Freke - it would be great if you could give us a better idea of the "purple" you seek, since everyone has their own ideas of purple as indicated by all the photos. Just be aware that the more saturated the color, the more expensive the stone will be. Purplish pink stones are fairly inexpensive as are greyish purple stones. I've bought from Gemcal and found their photos to be representative of the actual stone color. They have a fairly good inventory of pinkish purple and greyish purple stones. There is also an ebay seller (among others - see sticky at the top of the page about good vendors) that has a good inventory of spinels - Shopgemstone. I have not purchased anything from them, but some PSers have, including at least one who used it for an ER. Their stones tend not to be highly saturated, so there is often a grey modifier like this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-35-CT-EXTREMELY-TOP-BEAUTIFUL-SHAPE-HOT-PURPLE-SPINEL-/251088328524?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7607d74c

 

[minousbijoux]

Roger Dery (Spectral Gems) has a very pretty purple sapphire listed . 1.29cts-he does not list his prices so you would need to email him.

You can't go wrong with Roger Dery's cutting...

 

[wordie89]

Sorry James, I attributed 1.5 purple spinel incorrectly. Its from Rick Martin of art cut gems.

 

[GliderPoss]

I see the spinel from Rick has sold - did you buy it James? Certainly a beauty!!!