spinel envy

brandy_z28 · Jun 17, 2009

Date: 6/17/2009 7:20:18 PM
Author: Chrono
I like the idea of placing contrasting demantoids with the spinel. The intense and dispersive green would make lovely sidestones for that Mahenge.

Thank you so much Chrono!

CravingDiamonds · Jun 18, 2009

I love the spinel. I love the color of it and it just beautiful. So what if it is smaller, it wil look great in a 3 stone ring.

LtlFirecracker · Jul 17, 2009

Very pretty, I love how it is muted in some lighting situations and bright in others!

Harriet · Jul 17, 2009

Good things come in small packages!

sparkles · Jul 18, 2009

Beautiful. I particularly got a kick out of the orange glow!

Can''t wait to see how you set it.....

icekid · Jul 18, 2009

Date: 7/17/2009 5:09:06 PM
Author: LtlFirecracker
Very pretty, I love how it is muted in some lighting situations and bright in others!

Ditto! What a great spinel.

jleb · Jul 20, 2009

I think "sleepy" mahenge spinel makes an incredible gemstone. I''ve been buying up the rough every chance I get, I have one already done that''s a Trilliant. The most amazing thing about it ( which is why it is so hard to photograph) is that the micro "fibers" in it reflect light throughout the stone, so it has NO extinction (ie: dark areas) when you tilt/roll it on your hand. It also glows in the shadow (try it with your hand over top of it shading).

When I was at the Tucson AGTA show a while back I spent about 20 min looking at Pala''s high end sapphires, including a Kashmiri. The Kashmiri sapphire had exactly that same velvety sleep look that you also see in these spinels! A few more chunks and I''m going to cut a suite of those, don''t know if i''ll be able to part with them afterwards though...

brandy_z28 · Jul 20, 2009

Thank you CravingDiamonds, LtlFirecracker, Harriet sparkles, and icekid!

Date: 7/20/2009 9:17:22 PM
Author: jleb
I think ''sleepy'' mahenge spinel makes an incredible gemstone. I''ve been buying up the rough every chance I get, I have one already done that''s a Trilliant. The most amazing thing about it ( which is why it is so hard to photograph) is that the micro ''fibers'' in it reflect light throughout the stone, so it has NO extinction (ie: dark areas) when you tilt/roll it on your hand. It also glows in the shadow (try it with your hand over top of it shading).

When I was at the Tucson AGTA show a while back I spent about 20 min looking at Pala''s high end sapphires, including a Kashmiri. The Kashmiri sapphire had exactly that same velvety sleep look that you also see in these spinels! A few more chunks and I''m going to cut a suite of those, don''t know if i''ll be able to part with them afterwards though...

I couldn''t agree more jleb! So far I believe it''s my favorite stone. I wish I could describe how it looks because pictures really don''t do it justice. It''s got this way of bouncing light around inside that is just incredible.

It''s almost got this "wet" look to it internally. Almost like a blazing sunset reflecting off of the water...

Stone Hunter · Jul 20, 2009

Neat photo and description of the sleepy spinel. Enjoy it!

sleepyspinel · Jul 20, 2009

Hi John,

Nice to see you posting here! Perhaps you can do us the honor of posting some of the spinels you've cut... I remember that nice piece of rough you got a while back, did you have a chance to cut it yet?

-SS

here is a link to that project I discussed with you last year LINK.

Date: 7/20/2009 9:17:22 PM
Author: jleb
I think 'sleepy' mahenge spinel makes an incredible gemstone. I've been buying up the rough every chance I get, I have one already done that's a Trilliant. The most amazing thing about it ( which is why it is so hard to photograph) is that the micro 'fibers' in it reflect light throughout the stone, so it has NO extinction (ie: dark areas) when you tilt/roll it on your hand. It also glows in the shadow (try it with your hand over top of it shading).

When I was at the Tucson AGTA show a while back I spent about 20 min looking at Pala's high end sapphires, including a Kashmiri. The Kashmiri sapphire had exactly that same velvety sleep look that you also see in these spinels! A few more chunks and I'm going to cut a suite of those, don't know if i'll be able to part with them afterwards though...

jleb · Jul 20, 2009

Hi SS,

You''ll have to jog my memory about the project last year.. sorry, can''t recall.. are you on G.O.? I did get the "flat top" Vietnamese spinel recut, however that spinel had a HUGE amount of internal stress in it, so it had a tendency to crack propagate. By the time it was done, it was under the client''s requirements for weight... That''s the problem sometimes w/ recuts when there is damage/cracks to cut out in the stone.

I couldn''t find a picture of that recut. Here''s a shot of some of the sleepy pink rough I picked up, I have more buried somewhere... those are about 7 - 10 carats each, you can see the pink peeking out at the bottom, it''s not quite this deep a read in person.. camera illusions as we all know.. There''s such a problem locating good rough these days, mostly it''s upside down ( rough worth more than finished stones) so a lot of us are looking at native cut stones as preforms. The absolutely must cut next is my 19.9 carat tsavorite chunk, then some big peridot and hopefully I can get to those spinels.

jleb · Jul 20, 2009

Date: 7/21/2009 12:58:05 AM
Author: jleb
Hi SS,

You'll have to jog my memory about the project last year.. sorry, can't recall.. are you on G.O.? I did get the 'flat top' Vietnamese spinel recut, however that spinel had a HUGE amount of internal stress in it, so it had a tendency to crack propagate. By the time it was done, it was under the client's requirements for weight... That's the problem sometimes w/ recuts when there is damage/cracks to cut out in the stone.

I couldn't find a picture of that recut. Here's a shot of some of the sleepy pink rough I picked up, I have more buried somewhere... those are about 7 - 10 carats each, you can see the pink peeking out at the bottom, it's not quite this deep a read in person.. camera illusions as we all know.. There's such a problem locating good rough these days, mostly it's upside down ( rough worth more than finished stones) so a lot of us are looking at native cut stones as preforms. The absolutely must cut next is my 19.9 carat tsavorite chunk, then some big peridot and hopefully I can get to those spinels.

Sorry pix was too big.. here it is..

sleepyspinel · Jul 20, 2009

Almost looks good enough to eat! Can''t wait to see some of your cuts. Thanks for the pic of the rough.

-SS

brandy_z28 · Jul 21, 2009

Date: 7/21/2009 1:30:27 AM
Author: jleb

Date: 7/21/2009 12:58:05 AM
Author: jleb
Hi SS,

You''ll have to jog my memory about the project last year.. sorry, can''t recall.. are you on G.O.? I did get the ''flat top'' Vietnamese spinel recut, however that spinel had a HUGE amount of internal stress in it, so it had a tendency to crack propagate. By the time it was done, it was under the client''s requirements for weight... That''s the problem sometimes w/ recuts when there is damage/cracks to cut out in the stone.

I couldn''t find a picture of that recut. Here''s a shot of some of the sleepy pink rough I picked up, I have more buried somewhere... those are about 7 - 10 carats each, you can see the pink peeking out at the bottom, it''s not quite this deep a read in person.. camera illusions as we all know.. There''s such a problem locating good rough these days, mostly it''s upside down ( rough worth more than finished stones) so a lot of us are looking at native cut stones as preforms. The absolutely must cut next is my 19.9 carat tsavorite chunk, then some big peridot and hopefully I can get to those spinels.

Click to expand...

Sorry pix was too big.. here it is..

Those are going to be so gorgeous! Please come back and post the cut stones when you get them done!

Stone Hunter · Jul 21, 2009

Date: 7/21/2009 1:30:27 AM
Author: jleb

Sorry pix was too big.. here it is..

Well those look just lovely!!

chrono · Jul 21, 2009

Date: 7/21/2009 12:58:05 AM
Author: jleb
Hi SS,

You''ll have to jog my memory about the project last year.. sorry, can''t recall.. are you on G.O.? I did get the ''flat top'' Vietnamese spinel recut, however that spinel had a HUGE amount of internal stress in it, so it had a tendency to crack propagate. By the time it was done, it was under the client''s requirements for weight... That''s the problem sometimes w/ recuts when there is damage/cracks to cut out in the stone.

I couldn''t find a picture of that recut. Here''s a shot of some of the sleepy pink rough I picked up, I have more buried somewhere... those are about 7 - 10 carats each, you can see the pink peeking out at the bottom, it''s not quite this deep a read in person.. camera illusions as we all know.. There''s such a problem locating good rough these days, mostly it''s upside down ( rough worth more than finished stones) so a lot of us are looking at native cut stones as preforms. The absolutely must cut next is my 19.9 carat tsavorite chunk, then some big peridot and hopefully I can get to those spinels.

John,
I still have those pictures. Would you like me to post any?