Spinel: over-rated or under appreciated

[Upgradable]

My new obsession with color has led me into the beautiful field of spinel. I''ve seen gorgeous colors running the gammut. I''ve also read that these stones have been used for years in cheap costume jewelry but that recently they''ve been seen as an emerging market for collectors. I''m understandable confused. The image below is just one example of a lovely stone that I wouldn''t mind getting my hands on, but besides its appeal to my eye, is it going to be as valuable as a piece of sea glass?

I chuckled at Richard Wise''s analogy of "bottom feeders" but I guess that probably describes my collecting at this point. I look for appealing stones that are a complete and total bargain, hoping to find a diamond (metaphorically) in the rough. Not really. I know you get what you pay for. And my question is more about the future value than about getting a bargain.

What do you experienced folks think?

 

[strmrdr]

I think they rock :}
Prices are getting up there Iv seen some reds that a better looking ruby was avaialble cheaper so its a mixed bag sometimes.
But in general compared to sapphire and ruby they blow them away in the looks per $ catagory and hold up just as well.

 

[velouriaL]

Wasn''t it synthetic spinel that was used as costume jewelry? In birthstone rings and the like?

Spinel definitely has what it takes to have a big market following-- beauty, durability, etc. It seems to be pretty popular around here, and in the quality, going for upwards of $1000/ct (NOT always!), but most of my non-PS and non-jewelry-obsessed friends have ever heard of it...

I''m no investment expert, but it seems that if you''re interested in collecting beautiful things that might have some money-making potential, don''t buy too much spinel, and only go for the higher-end stuff (or, rather, try to find the higher end stuff at good prices).

Some of my favorite spinel eye candy:

Now, what''s this about bottom-feeding? I''m curious. I haven''t heard that before.

 

[Upgradable]

Strm, you always leave me grinning. I think it''s because I''m a northerner too, but I "get" your humor.

The post about \"bottom feeders\" was on yhingh''s spessertite thread at the bottom of page 3, during the discussion about pearls. I took it as he was speaking metaphorically, and funny too, by strm''s and my humometer.

 

[movie zombie]

i love the look of these spinels! but the prices are really going up up up.....

pearls come from the bottom of the ocean; hence, pearl lovers might and may be refered to as ''bottom feeders''.......lovingly refered to, of course!

peace, movie zombie

 

[MINE!!]

I think that they are beautiful. I love the way they sparkle.. yummy yummy yummy. I have never thought about buying for investement though.. so I would have no idea... but I love them cause they help to satify my never ending obsession with eye candy...

 

[Upgradable]

That''s the consumption I''m talking about too, MINE. I just would be disappointed to pay for something that loses value over time. I''m hoping all of my pretties go to my daughter!

 

[MINE!!]

Your daughter.. that is awesome. I know what you mean.. I have my 9 year old drooling after stones... by my 6yr old has a hard time hanging on to hair ties right now... But my oldest is saying that one day she wants a colored stone in her engagement ring and not a diamond.. so I think it is spreading!!!

 

[MINE!!]

oops double post

 

[velouriaL]

I developed my love for colored stones when mother caught the bug when I was a kid. She''s got quite the collection, too. Unfortunately for me, she has small fingers (size 4.5) and prefers petite gems on her hands... all her ring totally get lost on my hands (size 7.25)! Oh, and don''t even get me started on the time in high school when I JAMMED her ruby solitaire onto my finger, which proceeded to swell until it looked like a sausage... we had to go the ER to get the ring cut off! Forunately only minimal damage was done.

Let me add, of course, that I like my mother alive and well! She''s got some beauties, but I certainly don''t prefer their company to hers!

 

[Translucent]

Spinel, what a lovely stone in some very lovely colours. It''s getting a bit pricey for good stones but they are
on my list of "to get soon" items. I think they will become much more popular in the future, so I''m gettin'' some for sure.
I love the almost ruby red and the blues.

A long while ago, my mom and I use to deal in finer lines of vintage costume jewelry and I do not know of a single instance of
finding a real spinel set in any kind of base metal. If it resembled a spinal, it was synthetic.

 

[valeria101]

I don''t know what to think about the statement that spinel has been / is a staple of costume jewelry. I''d wish! This certainly is true for syntetic spinel a few decades ago... Otherwise, that might be the kind of "costume" that still uses diamonds and preciousmetals, just not world class gemstones. Red and Blue spinels (taking those color words a bit loosely to cover a range of shades etc.) have never lost face - their history of jewelry usage is as long as any. Spinels kept showing in the very finest jewelry all this time and they still do. So... I don''t understand why would the entire species be deemed "costume" all of a sudden.

Of course spinel comes with a very large range of colors, values and prices. So what ? So does sapphire... and tourmaline and beryl... Some stones are more likely to be highly priced and some less. That long history also insures that there are few surprises left about that value judgement.

Just my 0.2

About the gray-blue spinel you are holding... You know what ? I love that steel blue in general and find it funy that the same relatively sedate shade is so admired in diamonds and so frowned upon in any other gem.

For once, I think your daughter will admire her gift either for reflecting your legacy or intrinsic value or both. As far as I can tell, investment advice for such things is still rare and represents a trade in itself - no less involved than any other kind your banker handles.

 

[Translucent]

Date: 6/23/2005 2:14:35 PM
Author: valeria101

About the gray-blue spinel you are holding... You know what ? I love that steel blue in general and find it funy that the same relatively sedate shade is so admired in diamonds and so frowned upon in any other gem.

Oh Ana, I love the steely blue of spinel! It''s like a very blue sky with a slight overcast. I find it very subdued and elegant. A super stone
for colour shy people who want the blue without the bling. Very chic flanked with diamonds. One of my friends has a ring like this and
every time I borrow it, boy, do the compliments start flowing, even from people who don''t care for coloured stone. It is hands down
the most complimented ring I have ever worn. It is that awesome steely blue spinel!

 

[movie zombie]

the steely blue spinel i think is more mesmorizing than sapphire blue......

i guess i just have to get used to high quality stones and their prices.....

peace,movie zombie

 

[valeria101]

Date: 6/23/2005 2:28:32 PM
Author: Translucent

the most complimented ring I have ever worn. It is that awesome steely blue spinel!

That is a misterious color allright... It feels like the natural choice for a man''s ring, yet I don''t think it has been tried many times - not where I could see them anyway.

Perhaps someone will catch up the idea and try to match Ti or blue steel color with spinel - there isn''t much better for the job than spinel. Perhaps this amounts for a bit outlandish taste, but this is me

 

[velouriaL]

I''ve seen pictures of a steeley gray spinel, and it is just such a neat color. I agree, Val, that it would make a great man''s ring!

 

[BWise]

velouriaL, I had a good laugh at your ER story. I've heard it from far much more people than I was willing to believe, but they indeed all happened!

Love spinels for their high sparks. Seems red is the most sought after color and can get quite pricy.

Someone told me once (maybe Richard Homer) that gem stones cannot be purchased as commodities. They are for enjoyments. Cannot agree more. But it is also true that one certainly don't want buy something knowing the price will go downhill. I also wanted to pass on my collection to my daughter, but my 4-year-old son told me he wants mommy's big diamond and all the stones because 'mommy, they are very beautiful!'

Recently bought this spinel for its color. Seller called it cobalt blue, looks pretty close to the steel blue you guys mentioned. My spinel turns an interesting light purple color in office lighting, very close to light shade tanzanite. Is that a common characteristic?

 

[velouriaL]

Date: 6/23/2005 6:09:27 PM
Author: yingh
But it is also true that one certainly don''t want buy something knowing the price will go downhill

Would that this could be avoided in cars... sigh...

 

[Edward Bristol]

I guess we all agree that there is not much save fortelling in the gem market, but if I would have to, I''d say the safest bet are spinels.

Partly because of what "is said" but also very simply because so often it is the spinels that jump up from trays to be the nicest ones. And this while they are usualy not the major dollar eaters.

Spinels are eyecatcher: Be it firsttime japanese gem tourists or hardcore gemfreaks, people frequently pick up the spinels first, even if there are good sapphires on the tray.

In the currency "breathtaking beauty per dollar" spinels are excellent prey for surface hunters as much as for bottom feeders....

(spinel with cobalt)

Also, it seems to me that everybody who looks deeper in them starts loving them and that makes future market value.

Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com

P.s. I also agree that this "steel blue" or may be better "bad weather ocean blue-gray" has a a lot to say