Vote on these two stones for my ring setting please!

[Maevemarie]

My engagement ring stone is getting a new home that fits it better, but I am keeping the setting and placing a colored stone. I need something around 7.4 mm in diameter to make it fit well. Any thoughts on this light lavender/pink spinel versus this blue/green tourmaline?

What the vendor says about the spinel- Round Spinel "Portuguese" Cut
Weight: 1.61 cts Measurements: 7.4mm, depth 4.5mm Clarity: VVS
Origin: Burma Enhancements: NoneDescription: Brilliant to the extreme, nearly colorless spinel. Is it lightest lilac? Clean and flashy. (Cut by Andrew Gulij) Almost colorless, bordering on Pantone 677

What the vendor says about the tourmaline- 1.58 ct. The picture doesn't do this one justice. The color is a very pretty green/blue mint that is only found in stones from Afghanistan. The color is almost comparable to a Paraiba. 7.343 mm diameter.
Color: 10/10 Clarity: 8/10 Brilliance: 5/5 TQR: 9.3

I've added pics of my current setting as it is. I am usually partial to light pink colors, but I also thought the tourmaline was interesting. The spinal is about twice the price. Thanks for any advice!

 

[digdeep]

I liked the green precision gem, but when I checked the site it's not available.......FYI- if it says "out of stock" below the price, it's gone.

 

[Maevemarie]

Oh, thanks for letting me know! Well that sort of makes my decision easier. I was considering possibly splurging on this sapphire:
Montana Sapphire Round "Roulette" Cut
Weight: 2.58 cts
Measurements: 7.5 mm, height 5.8mm
Clarity: VVS
Origin: Montana, USA
Enhancements: None
Price: $ 2320.00
Order/Stock No.: sapphire_montana_310
Description: Stunning unheated Montana sapphire with lots of fire! Color is blue with green secondary, giving it a silvery teal appearance. Excellent brilliance, cut with a high crown, lovely! (Cut by Andrew Gulij) Pantone Coated Color Card 5483C overall

Does anyone know if this is a good price? I love how it has a high crown.

 

[JewelFreak]

That one has a lot of gray, even in the hand shot taken outdoors. Round sapphires seem a little thin on the ground at the moment, from looking through vendor sites, and you are further restricted by needing a specific size. It's an exercise in patience to find a nice sapphire these days! Both sapphire & blue-green tourmalines sell very quickly, not easy to find.

You might email Jeff White http://www.whitesgems.com to see if he has anything in the sapphire line that you might like. Roger Dery http://www.spectralgems.net has several listed. I didn't see much thrilling of either type of stone, roaming around. Maybe somebody else will find things I missed.

Keep looking & don't give up -- yours is out there!

--- Laurie

 

[Maevemarie]

Thanks for that advice! I am so impatient sometimes, but this is becoming a fun project. I really do think the spinel is very pretty too though, but have never heard of that type of stone and realize that most are less valuable than sapphires. I don't know if the light color will be enough of a contrast with my setting.

 

[peacechick]

Thanks for that advice! I am so impatient sometimes, but this is becoming a fun project. I really do think the spinel is very pretty too though, but have never heard of that type of stone and realize that most are less valuable than sapphires. I don't know if the light color will be enough of a contrast with my setting.

The spinel has a beautiful cut but it is nearly colorless. I think if this is your first colored stone, you should go for more color, maybe a blush pink or peach Why don't you message the vendors and tell them that you are looking for a spinel or sapphire of those dimensions. Sometimes they have new stock or rough, and you get first dibs.

I also think the montana sapphire is gorgeous in a moody way. It reminds me of the sea. The question is would you prefer to look at a steely blue or a pretty pink/peach when you stare down at this ring?

Does the value of the stone matter to you? I assume as it will be set in your old e-ring, you don't plan on selling it. Another way of thinking about spinels could be that they are underpriced for their value (while diamonds and sapphires are over-priced) and therefore a great bargain

 

[Maevemarie]

Thank you peacechick! I agree that I have to ultimately like what I'm looking at and I like the idea that perhaps spinel could one day go up in value (or at least feel more valuable to me compared to the price tag). I don't wear a lot of jewelery and I think I have to decide when I'll be wearing my right hand ring and what stone might feel right for those occasions.

 

[JewelFreak]

If you like that mauve-y color, Gemrite http://www.gemrite.com/collections/gems/products/pink-purple-spinel-1-49-cts has a nice one with more saturation than the one above that was sold. He calls it pink but it looks mauve to me -- you could email him & ask about the color. It is 7.11 mm so might work in your setting.

--- Laurie

 

[FrekeChild]

That spinel has made me think of this one, time and time again because they are such similar colors. Here is what it looked like resting in a white metal halo...

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/white-spinel-pear-is-here.179462/

 

[Maevemarie]

Thank you both! That other pink spinel looks very pretty, but it's hard for me to tell exactly what it looks like. I might ask the site to send me another 'real life' pic. I liked that other thread cause it also showed a mock-up of different colored stones in the halo setting. I actually thought the star sapphire one was really pretty, which is very different than the pale pink spinel.

 

[velouriaL]

Some really cool stones that came to mind for you:

http://www.torraca.net/gems.php?search=gid&for=SapG766&t=Green%20Sapphire
(Very unusually! I love this look!)

http://www.torraca.net/gems.php?search=gid&for=Chry762&t=Chrysoberyl
(Good chrysoberyl is TOUGH to find and this is a beaut. My guess is this will also go up in value.)

http://mastercutgems.com/preview.php?cat=250&id=6641
(Might be too small, but if you like the mauvey pink spinel, it might be worth contacting Dana.)

 

[Maevemarie]

Thank you! Those are all very pretty and now I have some more sites to stalk!

 

[movie zombie]

unasked for advice: buy what you like w/o any hopes of an increase in value "one day".
even vendors will tell you its a difficult area to navigate and at the end of the day or 20 years the real question is "have I enjoyed wearing this ring and looking at this stone?"

oh, and I like the Montana sapphire you posted because I like a "moody sea"...........but it all depends on the look you're going to be happy with.

just make sure that whichever vendor you go with that there is a good/excellent return policy! it is very difficult to make a purchase based on internet photos.

good luck and have fun!

 

[Maevemarie]

Thank you for all of your advice. I decided on this purple tourmaline (7.5 mm) and it will be bezel set. I will post photos when it's ready!

 

[SB621]

Oh very pretty!!!!!!!! I think that will look lovely in your halo!

 

[SB621]

Oh very pretty!!!!!!!! I think that will look lovely in your halo!

 

[peacechick]

Awesome color! It has dark richness and flashes lilac. I hope it looks great in person. Do post some photos when you get it!