The Tale of Two Red Spinels

[BWise]

Earlier I started a topic to share my experience of red spinel inquiries. Impulsively, I bought both of them and now would like to share the second half of the story.

To begin with, here is a link to the original thread that were mostly around pricing. Related Discussion

Now the face-to-face encounter - and sorry, no pictures yet - just received the second one today where I don''t have a camera.

For easier reference, I will call the ACSstone.com one (the less expensive one) A, and the AJS one B.

COLOR:
A: although stated in description to expect slight orange hue, I honestly did not see any with naked eyes. However, the purple hue is much stronger than I expected that it is almost a rosy color from some viewing angles. It is still a very pretty color.

B: stated to be top red, I expected it to be redder than it actually is. Maybe it is unfair since we have a rainy day here today and all I got to view the stone was under incadescent light (office lighting), yellowish table lamp light, and daylight without the sunlight. It has this visible orange or even brown hue when viewed in office lighting. It appears to be medium to dark red in the other lighting. Still a lovely red, but I yet to see the brigher red as portraited at vendor''s website.

CLARITY:
Both stone has visible inclusions to naked eyes.
A: inclusion visible from window from top view, a big distraction.
B: about 3 inclusions on the pavillion that are less obvious but still visible from top view, affect light reflection.

CUT:
A: a rather flat topped native cut (pardon my layman terms), a big window that is beyond my tolerance.
B: clearly the winner. Nice cut, although I think the table is a little too small.

Tomorrow I will take some pictures and post back. Looks like we will have a little sun tomorrow!

 

[BWise]

Now the pictures, if you may bare with my poor photography and finger marks on the spinels.

This first one was taken in office lighting, kind of dark stones, right?

 

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The next three are taken in the morning sun light. In all pictures, A is on the left. The window and inclusion of A is clearly captured.

 

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Second side by side.

 

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Last side by side.

 

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The next sets introduced 2 more spinel that I bought earlier (from eBay) for comparison.

From left to right order:

eBay oval cut with more purple hue
A
B
eBay cushion cut with more brown hue and darker red

 

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2nd group shot

 

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3rd group shot

 

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4th group shot

 

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5th group shot

 

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Last group shot. In this one I used flashlight, and the color of the stones turned out to be closer to what they actually are.



Comments, anyone?

 

[widget]

Hi, Yingh...

Well, the main thing I''ve learned from your pictures is how hard...almost impossible...it is to judge the quality of colored stones from photographs!

The differences in color, cuts, etc are really hard for me, anyway, to discern!

Does one clearly stand out to you as the "Winner"?

I guess, and my opinion isn''t worth much, I like B best. From your description, it sounds like it''s your favorite, too. I guess one question to consider is whether or not the difference in the stones is worth (to you) the differences in their prices...

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[Kismet]

I like B better but then I tend to like more orange reds than purple reds. And I''m sure B being better cut helps too.

 

[BWise]

Now the sun is out in the afternoon so I took B out there. Oh mine! That red in the sun is gorgeous! Just like the vendor picture, sometimes even brighter. I think I am going to keep B. (there goes my dish washer, sigh...)

 

[FireGoddess]

They nearly look the same color on my screen! It is difficult if not impossible to judge colored stones on internet pictures alone!!!

B is a winner though. Lovely stone.

 

[flopkins]

the color is so hard to tell in pics!! but in that last one you posted ,it is definitely B that stands out!! plus the cut! no comparison IMO...

congrats on your choice!!

 

[BWise]

These pictures were taken at 6:30, near sun set. You can see its beautiful color even with my poor picture quality.

 

[BWise]

another one.

 

[colormyworld]

In judging colored gemstones everybody has thier prefrences. Some will like a more purplish red , where others may like a stone that is very slightly orangish red.
Trained gemologists look for tone, saturation and hue. And to a lesser extent cut and clarity. When these all come together in what is considered ideal the prices can get pretty high.
The stone in the last two pictures seems to really POP. Do the other stones look as good in the same lighting?
Doug

 

[maxspinel]

style="WIDTH: 96.43%; HEIGHT: 144px">Date: 9/5/2006 4:59:40 PM
Author:yingh

For easier reference, I will call the ACSstone.com one (the less expensive one) A, and the AJS one B.

COLOR:
A: although stated in description to expect slight orange hue, I honestly did not see any with naked eyes. However, the purple hue is much stronger than I expected that it is almost a rosy color from some viewing angles. It is still a very pretty color.

Hi, Yingh,
Have you returned stone A to ACS? I''ve been checking ACS web site and still don''t see it. Purplish hue/rosy color sounds great to me and I don''t mine window or inclusions so long as the color is good. Based on your description, I am getting very interested in stone A.

Thanks