Thoughts on this Merelani Mint Garnet,please!!

[pinkjewel]

I've been wanting a Merelani Mint garnet for awhile and definitely want the blue/green not the yellow green. I keep reading how the rough is getting very difficult (and expensive) to obtain. This cushion is a tad smaller than I wanted- but I do love cushions! It is 1.28ct and aprox 6.2 x 6.2 x 4.42. It is very difficult to photograph the color. It is lighter and more sparkly in person, and I do see some yellow flashes,too which don't really show in the photos. Please let me know what you all think!!

the first pics are from Peter's site- I don't see quite as much blue in the stone as the formal pics.

the others are taken outside on my screened porch.

 

[beaujolais]

I love Toracca cuts.

I have one of those mint merelanis that also, alas, has a yellow undertone.

I believe yellow gold brings out the blue in that color stone.

I have both white and yellow stone holders, so I put in in both color stone holders and it surely did bring out the blue. The stone is (one of many) that I haven't set yet, though.

Do you have a yellow setting you can sit it in or anything like that?

 

[T L]

IMO, rose gold is best for these stones, it really brings out the blue. They can shift a little in certain lighting, going more green or yellowish green turning bluish green, but they are really beautiful stones.

 

[minousbijoux]

It actually looks a bit like a chameleon in those photos, looking a little yellow in the first of yours, and a little bluish in the second.

I think you are wise to get one, especially a cushion as one just doesn't see them that often.

 

[pinkjewel]

I love Toracca cuts.

I have one of those mint merelanis that also, alas, has a yellow undertone.

I believe yellow gold brings out the blue in that color stone.

I have both white and yellow stone holders, so I put in in both color stone holders and it surely did bring out the blue. The stone is (one of many) that I haven't set yet, though.

Do you have a yellow setting you can sit it in or anything like that?

My problem is I don't want yellow -I want the blue/green. And sometimes it looks just blue/green- and other times I see yellow tones,too. Are there some Merelani mints that only show blue green?

 

[pinkjewel]

IMO, rose gold is best for these stones, it really brings out the blue. They can shift a little in certain lighting, going more green or yellowish green turning bluish green, but they are really beautiful stones.

thanks, TL. Yes - I was planning on rose gold for the setting. It's good to know they can be "shifty" stones as I really wanted blue/green and if this is as blue green as they get-and most can shift to yellow tones,too-I know it will be a keeper.

 

[pinkjewel]

It actually looks a bit like a chameleon in those photos, looking a little yellow in the first of yours, and a little bluish in the second.

I think you are wise to get one, especially a cushion as one just doesn't see them that often.

I think "chameleon" is a good description, because it does change!!

I LOVE the cushion cut of the stone-and I haven't seen amy others,either! Peter mentions on his site that not much of the rough lends itself to cushions.

 

[LD]

I see yellow in your photos also especially in the 2nd and 4th photos. I suspect from your posts that you really don't want any yellow and just want blue/green? With that in mind, do you like the stone enough to keep it? Finding a blue/green one will take a while but it's not impossible but you'll have to weigh up whether you like the chameleon qualities of the stone or not.

 

[gsellis]

Both Pete's do good stuff (PT and Rough's Daddy). I was not sure which it was as both have been cutting stuff they got in Africa.

 

[pinkjewel]

I see yellow in your photos also especially in the 2nd and 4th photos. I suspect from your posts that you really don't want any yellow and just want blue/green? With that in mind, do you like the stone enough to keep it? Finding a blue/green one will take a while but it's not impossible but you'll have to weigh up whether you like the chameleon qualities of the stone or not.

thanks, LD. I guess that's what I'm trying to decide- whether the yellow tints bother me enough.

 

[pinkjewel]

Both Pete's do good stuff (PT and Rough's Daddy). I was not sure which it was as both have been cutting stuff they got in Africa.

PT

 

[chrono]

If you really want a mint with hints of blue, you'll need to be patient and keep on looking.

 

[jstarfireb]

I think your stone is lovely, and they are definitely getting harder to find and more expensive. My mint garnets are about the same color - nearly a pure green with chameleon qualities. They look more bluish in outdoor light and more yellowish indoors. I set one in yellow gold and one in rose gold. I prefer the rose gold setting. Here they are side by side:

 

[miraclesrule]

Interesting thread. I have an oval merelani mint garnet and I haven't had it set yet. I have wanted to do research on the best metal and setting to showcase it's amazing color. I don't have it with me right now...babysitting the grandkids...otherwise I would attempt to upload a photo. I don't think mine has yellow. I will undoubtably move my stone around to see what colors it throws off. Mine is such a beautiful green, it's hard for me to see any other colors. Mine looks like a green glow bomb. I puffy heart mine.

Sorry, I am not helping at all.

ETA: It is so difficult to get a true representation of color in a photo. I discovered that in a big way over that last few months.

You need to trust your eyes, your head, and your gut. Do you love it? Does it sing to you? Can you live with the price?

 

[pinkjewel]

I think your stone is lovely, and they are definitely getting harder to find and more expensive. My mint garnets are about the same color - nearly a pure green with chameleon qualities. They look more bluish in outdoor light and more yellowish indoors. I set one in yellow gold and one in rose gold. I prefer the rose gold setting. Here they are side by side:

Great photo! Are these "twin" stones? If so, the rose gold really does bring out the blue!! And, I am finding the same thing, that it looks more blue outside and picks up more of those yellow flashes indoors. If I keep it-definitely rose gold setting!

 

[pinkjewel]

Interesting thread. I have an oval merelani mint garnet and I haven't had it set yet. I have wanted to do research on the best metal and setting to showcase it's amazing color. I don't have it with me right now...babysitting the grandkids...otherwise I would attempt to upload a photo. I don't think mine has yellow. I will undoubtably move my stone around to see what colors it throws off. Mine is such a beautiful green, it's hard for me to see any other colors. Mine looks like a green glow bomb. I puffy heart mine.

Sorry, I am not helping at all.

ETA: It is so difficult to get a true representation of color in a photo. I discovered that in a big way over that last few months.

You need to trust your eyes, your head, and your gut. Do you love it? Does it sing to you? Can you live with the price?

Please post a pic when you can!! I'd love to see it.

And, your last line says it all!! I'm not sure I love it. My first impression when I opened it was disappointment because I saw yellow flashes-and I don't want yellow! I'll have to look at it a little more to decide if I like it well enough for the stone that it is.

 

[pinkjewel]

Did a little experiment this morning. I didn't have a rose gold setting to try the stone in, but did have a necklace. So I made a little nest for the mint stone to see if it influenced the color. Pictures are taken indoors next to a window.
I'm still seeing yellow

 

[T L]

Place it on top of a shiny penny. There's copper in rose gold, so that should give you some idea.

 

[pinkjewel]

Place it on top of a shiny penny. There's copper in rose gold, so that should give you some idea.

OK- here we go. Pics with just penny and pics with rose gold chain "setting" on top of penny. Interesting that in these photos the more yellow tinted were next to the window and the more blue/green were taken indoors with no flash and no extra lighting. If the stone is shaded from light it kind of glows-but I can't capture that on camera. The more I'm photographing this stone the more I'm starting to fall in love with the many faces of it.

Wonder if bezeling it with the rose gold would be the way to go-to keep it sort of shadowed to get that glow to show.

 

[NKOTB]

Well, I'm biased, because I love mints, cushions, and PT's cutting. I noticed that one when it first went up on his site, but had recently bought a mint from him, so couldn't justify it. I think it's a beautiful stone, personally, but you are the one who has to love it, as mentioned above.

I would say keep doing what you're doing, look at it in different lighting, against different backdrops, etc. Wrap a piece of tin foil around it. I'm loving the pictures!

 

[pinkjewel]

Well, I'm biased, because I love mints, cushions, and PT's cutting. I noticed that one when it first went up on his site, but had recently bought a mint from him, so couldn't justify it. I think it's a beautiful stone, personally, but you are the one who has to love it, as mentioned above.

I would say keep doing what you're doing, look at it in different lighting, against different backdrops, etc. Wrap a piece of tin foil around it. I'm loving the pictures!

Oh,yes- I remember the mint you purchased!! It's a beautiful stone! I looked at it before and didn't have the funds for it then. Have you set it,yet?

 

[T L]

Place it on top of a shiny penny. There's copper in rose gold, so that should give you some idea.

OK- here we go. Pics with just penny and pics with rose gold chain "setting" on top of penny. Interesting that in these photos the more yellow tinted were next to the window and the more blue/green were taken indoors with no flash and no extra lighting. If the stone is shaded from light it kind of glows-but I can't capture that on camera. The more I'm photographing this stone the more I'm starting to fall in love with the many faces of it.

Wonder if bezeling it with the rose gold would be the way to go-to keep it sort of shadowed to get that glow to show.

The only reason I wouldn't bezel is that it would look smaller on face up as the bezel has to cover part of the stone. I think a halo would be better. In my experience, mint garnets practically glow in halos. Of course, you have to like halos, as they're not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[pinkjewel]

Place it on top of a shiny penny. There's copper in rose gold, so that should give you some idea.

OK- here we go. Pics with just penny and pics with rose gold chain "setting" on top of penny. Interesting that in these photos the more yellow tinted were next to the window and the more blue/green were taken indoors with no flash and no extra lighting. If the stone is shaded from light it kind of glows-but I can't capture that on camera. The more I'm photographing this stone the more I'm starting to fall in love with the many faces of it.

Wonder if bezeling it with the rose gold would be the way to go-to keep it sort of shadowed to get that glow to show.

The only reason I wouldn't bezel is that it would look smaller on face up as the bezel has to cover part of the stone. I think a halo would be better. In my experience, mint garnets practically glow in halos. Of course, you have to like halos, as they're not everyone's cup of tea.

I like halos,too.
I was thinking something like this or how about like the Leon green diamond haloed with intense pink diamonds -bummer-can't find that picture right now-I'll keep looking for it!

 

[T L]

Place it on top of a shiny penny. There's copper in rose gold, so that should give you some idea.

OK- here we go. Pics with just penny and pics with rose gold chain "setting" on top of penny. Interesting that in these photos the more yellow tinted were next to the window and the more blue/green were taken indoors with no flash and no extra lighting. If the stone is shaded from light it kind of glows-but I can't capture that on camera. The more I'm photographing this stone the more I'm starting to fall in love with the many faces of it.

Wonder if bezeling it with the rose gold would be the way to go-to keep it sort of shadowed to get that glow to show.

The only reason I wouldn't bezel is that it would look smaller on face up as the bezel has to cover part of the stone. I think a halo would be better. In my experience, mint garnets practically glow in halos. Of course, you have to like halos, as they're not everyone's cup of tea.

I like halos,too.
I was thinking something like this or how about like the Leon green diamond haloed with intense pink diamonds -bummer-can't find that picture right now-I'll keep looking for it!

I like green and pink together too. You could do a halo with pink sapphire like a Laura Sarah design, or just diamonds. I'm not sure what your budget is, but you can probably find some be-treated small pink sapphire melee to go in a custom halo. Or you could do just diamond melee. Where did you get the photo of the above piece? Is it owned by a PS'er?

 

[pinkjewel]

found the Leon pic

TL- no, that's a Hunt Country Jeweler pic. I've been talking with them about doing a ring for me. I was originally looking at that design for my little pink diamond, but I decided you'd never see it in the rose gold and I don't want that style in white gold. So, thought it might look pretty for this mint- would provide nice contrast with the mint and rose.

 

[T L]

found the Leon pic

TL- no, that's a Hunt Country Jeweler pic. I've been talking with them about doing a ring for me. I was originally looking at that design for my little pink diamond, but I decided you'd never see it in the rose gold and I don't want that style in white gold. So, thought it might look pretty for this mint- would provide nice contrast with the mint and rose.

I'm a bit surprised that's Hunt, because I don't like the way the bezels are done on that ring (kind of sloppy), and the vines are a bit too thick and lumpy for me. I would prefer a more delicate organic look. They usually have impeccable workmanship though. It's also a bit too busy for me and may take away from your stone. Perhaps another organic design may be appropriate, but not so busy. Maybe, the use of small leaves, or less vines ?????

Adzia of etsy does nice organic designs too. You should look at some of Uppy's rings, or just search on this forum for Adzia.

I love the Leon ring, but um, what's not to love about a giant green diamond in rose gold with fabulous melee and workmanship?

 

[NKOTB]

Well, I'm biased, because I love mints, cushions, and PT's cutting. I noticed that one when it first went up on his site, but had recently bought a mint from him, so couldn't justify it. I think it's a beautiful stone, personally, but you are the one who has to love it, as mentioned above.

I would say keep doing what you're doing, look at it in different lighting, against different backdrops, etc. Wrap a piece of tin foil around it. I'm loving the pictures!

Oh,yes- I remember the mint you purchased!! It's a beautiful stone! I looked at it before and didn't have the funds for it then. Have you set it,yet?

Thanks - no, I haven't yet - but know roughly what kind of ring it will go into.

I really like that Leon ring, and I'm also a big fan of organic style rings - Adzia is a good recommendation (based on others' pieces that I've admired). Those are two very different options, though. So, are you leaning towards keeping the stone, then? I could see how a halo would make the stone pop. The last mint garnet I bought, I had second thoughts about keeping, because it's an oval (not generally a fan), but the colour (which is why I bought it in the first place) made me hesitate to send it back, then I wrapped it in some tin foil, and POP! No way could I send it back.

 

[chrono]

I can't advise you with regards to keeping or returning the stone but ask yourself this (forget the setting for now), will you wear this stone often and what will you think everytime you look down at it?

Wtih regards to the setting, I'm surprised the workmanship of Hunt was so disappointing. The curves are off round and also uneven or lumpy. If I had to go with an organic design, I'd choose Adzia based on pictures posted on PS. You can't go wrong with a diamond halo either. Not sure if I'd bezel the garnet but I think a halo will make it look bigger and give it more lightplay.

 

[pinkjewel]

Well, I'm biased, because I love mints, cushions, and PT's cutting. I noticed that one when it first went up on his site, but had recently bought a mint from him, so couldn't justify it. I think it's a beautiful stone, personally, but you are the one who has to love it, as mentioned above.

I would say keep doing what you're doing, look at it in different lighting, against different backdrops, etc. Wrap a piece of tin foil around it. I'm loving the pictures!

Oh,yes- I remember the mint you purchased!! It's a beautiful stone! I looked at it before and didn't have the funds for it then. Have you set it,yet?

Thanks - no, I haven't yet - but know roughly what kind of ring it will go into.

I really like that Leon ring, and I'm also a big fan of organic style rings - Adzia is a good recommendation (based on others' pieces that I've admired). Those are two very different options, though. So, are you leaning towards keeping the stone, then? I could see how a halo would make the stone pop. The last mint garnet I bought, I had second thoughts about keeping, because it's an oval (not generally a fan), but the colour (which is why I bought it in the first place) made me hesitate to send it back, then I wrapped it in some tin foil, and POP! No way could I send it back.

I did wrap it in tin foil and it did look very pretty in that,too. Didn't have time to take a picture,but I'm just not a big fan of white gold on me.

 

[pinkjewel]

thanks, Chrono.

that's really good advice. Will I look at it and think "the yellow really bothers me in some lighting and I should have kept looking?" or will I just enjoy it for the unique color (or colors,in this case). I have a couple of days to decide.