Thoughts?

[VapidLapid]

How is it at twilight and night? Does it glow, or does it turn into a black and blue hole? The vendor photo in the ring setting has a lot of surplus light on it. I am concerned it will be too dark to often.

 

[FrekeChild]

I'd probably say a black and blue hole. Lol!

Under fluorescent lighting it seems to go slightly purplish. Under incandescent, more of the top two pictures (navy/royal?), and in the sun/daylight it goes very similar to the color in the vendor picture--which does not seem easy to come by...

The picture of all of the blues, above, is under diffused daylight (skylights).

 

[Indylady]

I really like it.

 

[movie zombie]

i think its priced fairly.

its how much you love it. i'm not sure it will "go" with your other stones in the necklace due to its being native cut. however, it might go really well if you're looking for the stones to be individual personalities. this one is that!

my taste in spinel, unfortunately, is in the price range of thousands per carat [which is pretty much why i don't buy spinel]........but this one would tempt me if for no other reason than that blue is a striking color and i'm not opposed to having a "my precious" stone or two [or three] to take out and give lingering, loving looks.

MoZo

 

[FrekeChild]

MoZo,
I didn't explain the necklace very well, but it's the top 4 stones--I'll attach a pic.

I don't know how I'd set this, prongs because I set just about everything in prongs it seems, but also to not darken it too much. Likely in a ring. I imagine N/S...but other than that I have no idea. I thought about a diamond halo, but I wonder if the contrast would be too much and the diamond make it look darker...

 

[movie zombie]

well, since its not going into the necklace, you might want a ring to go with it........

i wouldn't halo it but then i dislike halos...........over used and over rated, imo. but then its not for me, is it?!

sorry i can't be of help but ultimately its what you can afford and what you can live with.....like all things in life, sigh.

MoZo

eta: i do like that shade of blue, though!

 

[T L]

I'd probably say a black and blue hole. Lol!

Under fluorescent lighting it seems to go slightly purplish. Under incandescent, more of the top two pictures (navy/royal?), and in the sun/daylight it goes very similar to the color in the vendor picture--which does not seem easy to come by...

The picture of all of the blues, above, is under diffused daylight (skylights).

It would be helpful if you could show us photos in incandescent lighting. Some color changers go a smoky purple color which is not as desirable as a violet purple, like tanzanite. Is there any dispersion in the stone, do you see any red or pink flashes in the daylight or fluorescent color (again, another sign of quality in a blue spinel), or is the color just flat? If it's the latter, flat color, no dispersion, smokey purple, you may still be paying a fair price, but you may want to save that money for something more desirable.

One of my prerequisites, especially if I'm paying what I think is a significant amount of money for something, is that it's pleasing to me in all lighting. I may love the daylight color, but if the indoor color is something I'm not loving, I will return it.

 

[minousbijoux]

One of my prerequisites, especially if I'm paying what I think is a significant amount of money for something, is that it's pleasing to me in all lighting. I may love the daylight color, but if the indoor color is something I'm not loving, I will return it.

Well said, TL, that was exactly my point. The OP will be the one experiencing it in different lightings. Personally, stones that black out drive me nuts, but maybe they don't bother her...

 

[Michael_E]

These deep blues, in both spinel and sapphire have always appealed to me much more than the vibrant stones with lighter tones. The flash from them always reminds me of lightening on a warm summer twilight. I can almost smell the fresh rain hitting the dry ground and see the flashes through the dark blue sky. I think that we all attach some things to the visual display put on by gems and they don't all have to look vibrant and glitzy all the time. I think that my favorite gems are the ones which seem to hold surprises in certain lights. Opals which are a muddy yellowish color that explode with fire in direct sunlight or smoky purplish tourmalines which flash reddish orange. This spinel is like that, a bit dark, but the darkness is a pure blue, clear darkness. Then the lightening whispers to you, "Come here, look closer"... I'd take this one over the glitzy flashy spinels any day of the week.

 

[minousbijoux]

Brief Threadjack: Michael, do you write? because that was quite poetic and will have this girl thinking of summer storms more often.

 

[T L]

These deep blues, in both spinel and sapphire have always appealed to me much more than the vibrant stones with lighter tones. The flash from them always reminds me of lightening on a warm summer twilight. I can almost smell the fresh rain hitting the dry ground and see the flashes through the dark blue sky. I think that we all attach some things to the visual display put on by gems and they don't all have to look vibrant and glitzy all the time. I think that my favorite gems are the ones which seem to hold surprises in certain lights. Opals which are a muddy yellowish color that explode with fire in direct sunlight or smoky purplish tourmalines which flash reddish orange. This spinel is like that, a bit dark, but the darkness is a pure blue, clear darkness. Then the lightening whispers to you, "Come here, look closer"... I'd take this one over the glitzy flashy spinels any day of the week.

That's fine Michael, and we all have what we like. Some like less desirable characteristics in a gem than the trade preference, which is fine. I have my preferences in certain stones that do not coincide with the trade ideal. I think in this case, and Freke can correct me if wrong, is that she's wondering if this stone is worth the money paid. From a desirability perspective and the price point, that's something to be determined by breaking down the characteristics of this gem in various lighting. If, like you, the change in color is not important to her, that's fine too. Just trying to provide as much information as possible.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I think it's a keeper! Cutting issues aside, I think the color is lovely.

Let us know what you decide to do with it!

 

[FrekeChild]

well, since its not going into the necklace, you might want a ring to go with it........

i wouldn't halo it but then i dislike halos...........over used and over rated, imo. but then its not for me, is it?!

sorry i can't be of help but ultimately its what you can afford and what you can live with.....like all things in life, sigh.

MoZo

eta: i do like that shade of blue, though!

Lol! Well I only have two halos...and many solitaires. So a halo is a relatively foreign concept for me....


I just burned the crap out of my right forefinger, so typing hurts. I'll be back after I ice it for a while...

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

It seems that if two people are posting at the same time one post never gets posted. It happens too often on here. Never had this problem on PS1

Freke, I just had a spinel recut by Jerry Newman. I got the idea from the extinction thread. It was a native cut, off center culet, etc ect. He also did a demantoid garnet with a window. He improved the stones a lot. He just cuts the pavillion, which is pretty inexpensive. So far he always tells me what he can do and I give him the go ahead. When I say inexpensive, I really don't want to put prices out there but, one was under 50.00, one a little above that. He will evaluate your stone. You can ask him if any recutting would improve the color of the stone(lighten it up) . If a recut wouldn't do that he would tell you. You can just e-mail him. He is in California. Just a thought.

Annette

The spinel was 2,90 ended losing .50 pts. the demantoid was 2.93 and ended up 2.67. You will lose something

 

[LD]

Freke - you know what's important here? YOU are hesitating. That says something as you know your blue spinels and what you like. So, playing devil's advocat:

1. Do you love it enough that the price you've paid won't get in the way of that?
2. Do you love it in all lighting conditions?
3. If you sent it back are you going to regret it?

 

[FrekeChild]

LD--the reason for the hesitation is purely $$$. If I had unlimited funds this would be mine. I'd have to put setting projects on hold to purchase it (or do it in payments) and I really have too many stones to set as it is. Not to mention not enough setting ideas (what can I say, I'm picky!). But do I want this stone? Of course.

 

[movie zombie]

i wouldn't recut this stone. love it or leave it......

love your writing, Michael E!

Freke, hope your finger is cooling down!

the more i think of the spinel in this price range that i've seen IRL, the more i think this one is a keeper.

also, re lighting: some stones perform best in certain lighting but not so well in others. the requirement that this stone perform well in all lighting is unrealistic, imo. you might find a stone that performs better in more lighting situations but you may sacrifice size, color [different color of blue], even cut [this native isn't that badly cut], have more blackout, etc.

again, its what you can live with. what's the time frame for returning the stone if you decide you're going to do that?

you don't absolutely "adore" this stone, but you're not willing to ship it back. would the $ be better spent on another stone? will you always regret having sent this one back?

question: what percentage of black out do you get when this stone is viewed face up in perfect lighting? do you only get flashes of color when the stone is tilted? just trying to ascertain more re the quality......

MoZo

eta: i just went back and looked at your pictures of this stone as well as the pictures of your rings and your stones for the necklace. i'm thinking you are crazy to send it back....i think as regards color it out performs some that you already have. ok, i've taken a position.....i don't always.

 

[FrekeChild]

i wouldn't recut this stone. love it or leave it......Agreed.

also, re lighting: some stones perform best in certain lighting but not so well in others. the requirement that this stone perform well in all lighting is unrealistic, imo. you might find a stone that performs better in more lighting situations but you may sacrifice size, color [different color of blue], even cut [this native isn't that badly cut], have more blackout, etc. The only stones I've really seen that look really amazing in all lighting conditions are really light ones. My colorless spinel is one, my lavender Mahenge is another.

again, its what you can live with. what's the time frame for returning the stone if you decide you're going to do that? I don't have one. A friend of mine is selling it and I'm the one consigning it.

you don't absolutely "adore" this stone, but you're not willing to ship it back. would the $ be better spent on another stone? will you always regret having sent this one back? I think I would regret it. Big time.

question: what percentage of black out do you get when this stone is viewed face up in perfect lighting? Um....65-75% in diffused daylight? do you only get flashes of color when the stone is tilted? Nope. just trying to ascertain more re the quality......

MoZo

I just took it into the bathroom, fluorescent lighting in there, but also a window. The daylight hit it and there were teal and lavender flashes from a different areas of the stone depending on where the different lights were hitting it...

ETA: You don't really get that from a perfectly cut stone like one from our fave precision cutters.

 

[LD]

LD--the reason for the hesitation is purely $$$. If I had unlimited funds this would be mine. I'd have to put setting projects on hold to purchase it (or do it in payments) and I really have too many stones to set as it is. Not to mention not enough setting ideas (what can I say, I'm picky!). But do I want this stone? Of course.

Then it sounds like it has to be a keeper. You'll work out the $$$ somehow. Even if you do have lots of loose stones that's the fun of collecting. Go for it!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Well if $ is the only hesitation, then I say keep it!
If you come to change your mind down the road, I'll happily buy it off you Problem solved!

You know, I think I actually posted that ring awhile ago on these forums because it caught my eye. But I didn't much care for the ring and didn't know the seller very well (I saw it on the color symphony site). I think your photos look much nicer!

 

[movie zombie]

i too didn't like the ring.......and think your photos are better.

MoZo

ps that setting and the stone just didn't belong together!

 

[colorluvr]

I just took it into the bathroom, fluorescent lighting in there, but also a window. The daylight hit it and there were teal and lavender flashes from a different areas of the stone depending on where the different lights were hitting it...

ETA: You don't really get that from a perfectly cut stone like one from our fave precision cutters.

I LIKE the color, but then I can see from reading on here that my tastes don't always run to "industry perfection", but after this last post of yours, I'd definitely say it's a keeper!

 

[ooo~Shiney!]

I think you really want it.....

 

[Largosmom]

I like the second round of photos much better, the stone is dark but has nice moments of brilliance. It seems to be singing to you from it's dark, stormy heart...if so I say go for it if you can swing the funds $$$.

Laura

 

[FrekeChild]

This looks somewhat similar...different color, non-precision cut...the color is not the same though.
http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=8580

 

[T L]

That Linton stone is awfully dark and I'm not loving the color, but you said the color isn't like that stone.

 

[marymm]

This looks somewhat similar...different color, non-precision cut...the color is not the same though.
http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=8580

I bought this Litnon color-shift spinel - you are right, the color is not the same - my spinel is much more often on the purple side and when it goes blue it is the richer deeper blue like your 3rd and 4th pics on the 1st page of this thread. This spinel was one of the more spendy stones for me but I have no regrets at all - the color dances and lights and shifts and flashes, and the cut is very pleasing to my eye. A small percentage of the time it is darkish even for me, but I still find it intriguing and full of personality.

I very much like your blue spinel - it is a blue you don't seem to have so far, and the deeper blues to me can have a fascinating moodiness. I look forward to hearing what you decide on this one.

 

[chrono]

Freke,
I can tell that you really like the stone. It comes down to how much you are willing to pay for it. A stone that is showing the ½ and ½ extinction plus is a black hole with only flashes of colour should not be that expensive even if it is over 2 carats. It is very blue in the vendor’s picture because of the extremely strong light source used (as seen by the very dark shadow below). This is a stone that needs a lot of light.

 

[FrekeChild]

The litnon stone is the closest (blue, size, shape) I've been able to find.

Based on what you've seen (since I can't post the youtube video) what do you think is a fair price for this stone?

 

[loriken214]

Sounds like you are really stressing over this spinel. Just make an offer and see how it goes...it is hard to judge a moody spinel like this one! It is calling to you and I think you should have it....GO GIRL!

Lori