Question for blue spinel owners

[colorluvr]

I posted photos of mine on here before, but I just took a quick one outside next to a madagascar blue sapphire to show the difference in color. Mine is on the dark side and definitely isn't top color, but I love the cut (thanks to a complete recut by Jerry Newman) and the way it sends out flashes of light when the sun or bright lights hit it correctly. Definitely not an award winner for color (too dark and not true blue) but it makes for a great "everyday ring" and I love the size It's 4.74ct approx 10.2 x 8.8 x 6.9mm The sapphire is 8mm as a comparison. This photo makes the sapphire look kind of dull, but it's not at all IRL.

Both gems are beauties, I also love the side by side with the sapphire!

Thanks!

 

[NKOTB]

I easily see what you mean about the saturation of the round vs the cobalt, but I REALLY like the round as well. I've been looking for a round just like that. If you still own it and are ever looking to sell, I'd be very interested (Hope that's not too forward of me to say).

Get a number and hop in line. I have had several requests and although it isn't my best stone, I love it enough to hold on to it...for now.

I'd like to get a number and hop in line for the big oval shifter, please.

 

[marymm]

I have two blue spinels, both from Ceylon and both purchased from Rick Martin... the larger is a 1.93ct medium slightly grayish blue native-cut cushion, with some electric blue flashes depending on the lighting - I really like looking into it! This pic isn't the best when it comes to conveying the true color of the blue spinel cushion, it is not so dark IRL, but it comes close...




The other is a 0.75ct precision-cut oval, and per Rick the GIA color is Medium light, Blue, Strong - he also calls it "baby blue" - to my eyes, it is saturated true medium-light blue, also with some brighter blue flashes - there is a little bit of color shifting here, but to my eyes there may be a green modifier rather than gray. And I really can't capture the blue spinel oval - IRL I see light blue with a hint of green and bright blue, but the pics always show a grayish blue..



eta: I also have a cobalt blue spinel from Dana - but it is super, super dark... I keep it for my collection but I'd never set it.

 

[T L]

I've seen some blue spinels on the forums here but I don't think I've ever seen one in person. Most of them look a little dark in photos. Is that just the nature of blue spinel? Do they make up for it in sparkle? Do they tend to be shifty?
TIA!

I didn't read all the responses to this thread, so I apologize if I'm repeating anything, but I own a lot of blue spinels. Many of them are medium in tone, and not overly dark at all. They tend to shift from blue or violetish blue in daylight to a tanzanite bluish violet or purple in artificial light. They also have some pink flashes. There is some grey in the stones, but not so much that all you see is grey. The primary color is blue or violetish blue.

 

[Agneau]

Nice stones, Chrono.

Here's mine:

That one's pretty cool looking. Grey with blue and even some green right? Did it become a pendant?
BTW I really like your ring

Thank you! It's still loose right now. Not really sure what I will end up doing with it.. I considered using it as an engagement ring stone for a little while. For whatever it turns into, all I know is I want it in rose gold.

 

[innerkitten]

How about a rose gold bezel with milligrain?

 

[innerkitten]

I've seen some blue spinels on the forums here but I don't think I've ever seen one in person. Most of them look a little dark in photos. Is that just the nature of blue spinel? Do they make up for it in sparkle? Do they tend to be shifty?
TIA!

I didn't read all the responses to this thread, so I apologize if I'm repeating anything, but I own a lot of blue spinels. Many of them are medium in tone, and not overly dark at all. They tend to shift from blue or violetish blue in daylight to a tanzanite bluish violet or purple in artificial light. They also have some pink flashes. There is some grey in the stones, but not so much that all you see is grey. The primary color is blue or violetish blue.

Nice stone!
I remember that ring

 

[Jereni]

Here are my cobalt spinels, officially called so by AGL. Not the best pictures (again ) but the two of those can easily pass off as fine quality blue sapphire. Hardly any green or gray and hold their colour extremely well.

My older pictures are really of horrenderous quality, fuzzy and did not capture the colour accurately but I'm too lazy to do a new photoshoot.

Aaah, Chrono I too love that spinel in yellow gold. Such a perfect set!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I posted a close up of my medium dark (Well DD's spinel now, lol) blue spinel in the SMTB thread which is definately not up to PS standards for a high quality blue spinel. If you compared it to a blue sapphire then I think that medium dark translates to a darker blue sapphire. With spinels I think it is a crap shoot. I have returned spinels with a "touch of grey" that looked all grey to me. Also returned sleepy stones that looked hazy, and pink stones that looked brown. But if you can get a blue spinel that does not look grey or brown to your eye- and even the darker ones then they can be extremely beautiful. Also throw in the touch of green, or pink and red sparks that they might throw off, and you have a really gorgeous and unique stone- even if not the coveted cobalt blue color. For fun right hand rings, and pendants these stones are great.

 

[velouriaL]

I am loving this thread.

Agneau - That spinel is so pretty! Is it from gemcal? If so, I think I remember seeing it. I think it looks really pretty next to your rubies and CAN'T WAIT to see what it looks like in rose gold. I had a thread a while back about a similar color combo, and there were a lot of skeptics (which I totally understand), but I think (and I) are really onto something with this blue/gray and rose gold thing. Though, yeah, it *does* depend on the individual stone.

 

[jstarfireb]

Right now I have two. One shifts between blue and purple - an aspect that I personally love, but I was also looking for one that holds its blue color since I have several purple spinels. I bought a pre-loved one that holds its color very well but is probably too dark. Still, once you get it in the right lighting, the color is mesmerizing. I'm keeping both, at least for the moment...

 

[chrono]

I'm enjoying the variety of blue spinel everyone posted; a huge range of hues and types there's one for every preference and budget. Far less expensive than sapphires and still untreated.

 

[FrekeChild]

I've had more than my fair share of them it would seem...

Eta: I've owned probably about 50+ or so, none super high end, but nothing to turn your nose up at. Dark, light, precision cut, non precision cut, etc. I can post pics later if you'd like?

 

[royalstarrynight]

Hi Innerkitten,

Should we ask Hemi or Gemcal whether to meet up again? It's almost May! I'll start a new thread if you're/there's interest.

 

[innerkitten]

I've had more than my fair share of them it would seem...

Eta: I've owned probably about 50+ or so, none super high end, but nothing to turn your nose up at. Dark, light, precision cut, non precision cut, etc. I can post pics later if you'd like?

Yes!
PLease. I know about big blue of course. But I didn't know about the others.

 

[innerkitten]

Hi Innerkitten,

Should we ask Hemi or Gemcal whether to meet up again? It's almost May! I'll start a new thread if you're/there's interest.

Hi! I was just thinking the same thing. Is he still going to be coming through SF?

 

[royalstarrynight]

Not sure. To be honest, I haven't purchased anything from him yet and feel awkward asking for so much time....haha

But sounds like a great opportunity to obtain lovely things!

 

[innerkitten]

I guess we could email him.

 

[FrekeChild]

Ok, I'll start with Big Blue, my ering + some random loose blue spinels, ering again, supernova oval

 

[FrekeChild]

Dan Periwinkle Barion (not the same one as was loose in the above picture - the one above now belongs to Jstar), 2ct roval from Gemcal, Teal cushion from Gemcal and blue cushion from Simply Sapphires, lighter blue ovals in earring drops (also now belong to Jstar!).

 

[FrekeChild]

A variety. Big Blue, Ering, Gemcal, periwinkle barion from Dan, another Barry, bigger denim blue oval, random non-precision ovals.
Dark spinel in 4 prong setting is another Barry.
Teal-y Barry in pave setting.
Emerald spinel, supernova Barry spinel, sapphire from Gene

 

[FrekeChild]

Dan round
Dan and Barry rounds
Barry Supernova
Dan round

 

[FrekeChild]

Defunct necklace idea
Barry round
Different Barry round
Three Dan spinels

 

[FrekeChild]

I think I'm done for the night and covered a lot of bases. I know I have more, but I'm tired!

Spinel is one stone that I think really benefits from precision cutting. Especially if it's dark. Light ones get away wih a lot more.

Darker blue spinel is a different beast from light blue spinel. I tend to hoard them both, but for different reasons. The darker ones tend to be more BLUE, and the light ones tend to sparkle more. I've had people mistake my Barion from Dan (no longer in that setting actually) as a colored diamond. The darker blues would probably only be mistaken for sapphires.

From what I've seen, and again, I don't do the super high quality stuff, they have all shifted at least slightly, no matter how dark or light the blue.

Greener spinels are far more rare than the violet/purple from what I've seen. I've only had about 3 that have a greenish tint to it. And the green ones have always been pretty dark.

Once upon a time, when Cherrypicked.com (I think?) was around, there was a $19k windex blue spinel that I pinned over. I think it was just under two carats. Alas, I was a very poor college student with nary two pennies to rub together, and now they seem to have dropped off the face of the earth. Boo. Hiss.

Blue spinels are my absolute favorite stone, followed closely by gray spinels, so you can tell I don't mind gray modifiers OR purple modifiers. Really though, so long as the primary color is blue, I'm there!

Let me know if you want more pics! (Seriously, I have thousands.)

 

[innerkitten]

Wow Freke! Thanks for photos of all those spinels. Such a variety
What is the size range on those?

 

[innerkitten]

Hi Innerkitten,

Should we ask Hemi or Gemcal whether to meet up again? It's almost May! I'll start a new thread if you're/there's interest.

Bad news. He won't be coming through here after all. He did mention that his site will be new and updated in June.

 

[petit_bijou]

OMG Freke, you should know by now that I covet your entire collection like MAD, but those four spinels pictured with the emerald cut, and the round from Dan posted immediately after it just make me squirm with jealousy!!! Love love love!!

 

[FrekeChild]

I think the smallest one would probably be a Dan spinel, probably about .6ct up to Big Blue, which is 2.74cts. The (blurry!) picture of the three spinels would probably be the smaller ones. I really wish I could go back in time and retake these photos! I have a few smaller light blue stones, but I've never taken pictures of them. They are tiny, about 2mm or less? Definitely more gray.

 

[minousbijoux]

Yeah, well when Freke brings her collection out to play, I start licking the screen...

 

[Agneau]

I am loving this thread.

Agneau - That spinel is so pretty! Is it from gemcal? If so, I think I remember seeing it. I think it looks really pretty next to your rubies and CAN'T WAIT to see what it looks like in rose gold. I had a thread a while back about a similar color combo, and there were a lot of skeptics (which I totally understand), but I think (and I) are really onto something with this blue/gray and rose gold thing. Though, yeah, it *does* depend on the individual stone.

Thanks V. Yes, it was from Gemcal.


I am looooooving what this thread is producing! Freke, thanks for posting your stones! What a variety. I like the periwinkle colored ones and even the lavender colors at the end. Your big blue is amazing, I don't recall ever seeing it in detail before this thread.