What do you think of this Mahenge Garnet?

[Odyssey44]

I just bought this from a US vendor. The cut is fantastic. Not even a hint of a window. I was surprised at the color though--I thought I was getting a hot pink garnet. In person it is mostly purple with pink flashes to my eye. It is very beautifully sparkly in low light but seems to get dark near bright light. I think this is just par for the course with anything but light garnets? I do like this very much, but I would still need a hot pink garnet. I guess there is always room for more, right? What do you think of this stone? Vendor picture and video is first.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I just bought this from a US vendor. The cut is fantastic. Not even a hint of a window. I was surprised at the color though--I thought I was getting a hot pink garnet. In person it is mostly purple with pink flashes to my eye. It is very beautifully sparkly in low light but seems to get dark near bright light. I think this is just par for the course with anything but light garnets? I do like this very much, but I would still need a hot pink garnet. I guess there is always room for more, right? What do you think of this stone? Vendor picture and video is first.

Is that your video on the hand? Definitely deeper and more purple than I would've expected by the 1st photo, but it's gorgeous! The cut is really fantastic too, as you said. I love it. How large?

Yeah, some material just has a tendency to close-up under bright lighting. My orangey-pink spinel looks great until you get her under strong indoor lighting. She starts to close-up and take on that sort of deep, fiery, kaleidoscope look. Still pretty, but very different than she looks under natural, indirect lighting (which is how I judge all my gems anyway). Not sure if it's the color or the cut (precision) that does it.

 

[Odyssey44]

Is that your video on the hand? Definitely deeper and more purple than I would've expected by the 1st photo, but it's gorgeous! The cut is really fantastic too, as you said. I love it. How large?

Yup, that is my hand. The stone is 6.7 cts. What can I say, I need a stone over 5 cts or it looks like I am wearing a child's ring. haha.

Yeah, some material just has a tendency to close-up under bright lighting. My orangey-pink spinel looks great until you get her under strong indoor lighting. She starts to close-up and take on that sort of deep, fiery, kaleidoscope look. Still pretty, but very different than she looks under natural, indirect lighting (which is how I judge all my gems anyway). Not sure if it's the color or the cut (precision) that does it.

I will need to see how she looks in natural light. I always wind up having photo sessions in the dead of night! I would prefer if she was the color of the vendor's photos, but she has her own charm that has really grown on me as I have played with her today. Thanks a bunch for the vote of confidence! I have been working overtime this month trying to hone my eye. I am learning that every stone I get online is quite different in person--

 

[Odyssey44]

I should say her size in mm--10.8 across!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Stahhhp... your hands are lovely! And good lawdy, she's a big girl. Now I'm even more impressed by the cut. Let us know how she does tomorrow in daylight. I bet she'll open up a bit.

 

[Odyssey44]

You are too sweet. We are always our own worst critics. I am 5' 9". I need big everything! I will for sure take her out in daylight and posters how she does. May not be tomorrow as rain is predicted. But I feel she is going to be one of my permanent roommates now!

 

[Autumn in New England]

You are too sweet. We are always our own worst critics. I am 5' 9". I need big everything! I will for sure take her out in daylight and posters how she does. May not be tomorrow as rain is predicted. But I feel she is going to be one of my permanent roommates now!

What I wouldn't give to be 5'9"! I guess it could be worse... I'm 5'5" and we're Italian. Not exactly known for our height. Anyway, your stature comes with the added bonus of having nice, long digits!

I look forward to hearing your daylight review!!

 

[Odyssey44]

What I wouldn't give to be 5'9"! I guess it could be worse... I'm 5'5" and we're Italian. Not exactly known for our height. Anyway, your stature comes with the added bonus of having nice, long digits!

I look forward to hearing your daylight review!!

I would have given anything as a kid to be the same height as my girlfriends. Until middle school there was only ever one boy taller than me in all the school pictures! 5'5" is a very respectable height!! My mom was only 5'2". My Dad was 6'4" and probably the same across. Lol. I hate my shoe size of 11M, because it can be hard to find shoes, but he had to order his 15EEEs!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

I would have given anything as a kid to be the same height as my girlfriends. Until middle school there was only ever one boy taller than me in all the school pictures! 5'5" is a very respectable height!! My mom was only 5'2". My Dad was 6'4" and probably the same across. Lol. I hate my shoe size of 11M, because it can be hard to find shoes, but he had to order his 15EEEs!!

Hey you need a good sized base for that height! Wow, you definitely got your height from dad!!

 

[Mreader]

I think the stone is very pretty, but if you were looking for a hot pink – that is not it. I always get frustrated when the color looks so different from the vendor than it does IRL.

 

[Odyssey44]

Hey you need a good sized base for that height! Wow, you definitely got your height from dad!!

That is what I say if my shoe size comes up--that I would fall over without long feet.

 

[dk168]

I stopped buying pink-red Garnets as I have not had much luck with the learner stones I had purchased. All exhibited brown IRL and too dark for my liking.

Luckily, they were inexpensive.

DK

 

[Odyssey44]

I think the stone is very pretty, but if you were looking for a hot pink – that is not it. I always get frustrated when the color looks so different from the vendor than it does IRL.

I know it. This stone's glamour shots are very different from how it looks in person. If it was not just such a pretty stone, I would have returned it for color. I am still on the hunt for a hot pink round or oval garnet.

 

[Odyssey44]

I stopped buying pink-red Garnets as I have not had much luck with the learner stones I had purchased. All exhibited brown IRL and too dark for my liking.

Luckily, they were inexpensive.

DK

Wow, that is saying something if you could not find a satisfactory pink-red garnet DK. This one is a bit vampirish--I think it does not like a lot of light. It was kind of pricey at $1400.

 

[Odyssey44]

I did not get out the tweezers for this, but here is a quick shot of it next to the window on a rainy day.

 

[ShinyPink]

It's very pretty and typical of garnets. They are moody little mothers! I've found that even the most precision cut ones just don't like certain lighting. Here are a couple of mine for reference.

This one was cut by Jeff White and is a "rose" garnet, whatever that means. He found the material at Tucson. First photo is outside, sun. It matches the pink sapphires in my ring, as you can see:



Outside shade:


This is one of my favorites ever, cut my Gene. The stone isn't pink, but it's an excellent example of Mahenge. It never looks bad. This is indoors:



Another Gene Mahenge, pink:


Set by Sally @Heart of Water. She commented on the incredible cut! It's another moody garnet, but I can't fault the cut. It's just the way the material is!



Finally, an umbalite. Moody! Rarely light.





Garnets are so varied, even within the same color family. A lot depends on the rough and type of garnet, while the rest is the cut and just the nature of it. The stones I share are all precision cut, but perform differently indoors and outdoors. I'm in So Cal which also changes how it looks.

 

[Odyssey44]

ShinyPink (love your user name!), thanks so much for posting all of these. You have quite a collection! Do yours ever just seem to black out like mine near the window? I am seeing it is just luck of the draw with buying a garnet, no matter what the vendor pictures show. I love that first Gene stone too--fair to call it pinkish red. Was there anything in the description or vendor photos that tipped you off to its beauty?

I would really like a peachy pink Lotus garnet--do you have any of those? I am at least thinking they will not black out.

Since I am talking to another pink lover, what are your favorite semi-precious stones for a nice true pink that stays pink? I have also been looking at pink tourmalines, and they seem to "brown" out a lot, for lack of a better way of putting it.

 

[dk168]

Wow, that is saying something if you could not find a satisfactory pink-red garnet DK. This one is a bit vampirish--I think it does not like a lot of light. It was kind of pricey at $1400.

Perhaps I did not wish to waste anymore money on pink-red Garnets after purchasing a number of inexpensive learner stones to find they all looked too orange/brown for my liking IRL.

I found my holy grail purple pink stone in the end by asking Jeff W to source a Sapphire for me during his Tucson 2020 trip which he did.

DK

 

[ShinyPink]

I have a soft pink Mahenge garnet that I purchased from cvb. She called it a pad color, and it stays pretty light, only because it's just a light color in itself.



I would say my favorites come from Gene and Jeff White. I trust both of them, and they seem to pick awesome rough. I know nothing about choosing rough! A lot of the stones I've asked Gene to cut were based on stones he had previously cut and I asked if he had more rough. With Jeff, I tell him what color I want and he shows me rough and tells me which is likely to be the one I would like. I have yet to be disappointed by either of them.

Stones are so weird. Some black out in shade, while others look their best. With the garnets, they can look black in the direct sun. I have asked some dealers about their photos, and they tend to take them at the "golden hour" when the sun is lower and at an angle.

I love my pink spinels and pink sapphires. They cost more, but are worth it, imo. They do go dark in certain circumstances. Again, it depends on the rough and locale sourced, plus cut, etc. Also, I consider some pinks to really be a sort of purple.

Take this ring from Yvonne for example. These are pink sapphires, but I would say they lean more purple-ish.



Now this one I love, love, love! A sapphire from Sri Lanka:


Then there's the pink spinel from Vietnam. Vendor photo:



My photo:



Darks and browns are not your friend. I love my garnets, though. I have accepted that they won't always be perfect, and I have had to adjust my expectations. You might want to start looking at the lighter garnets. They will darken, but it won't be so severe and black.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I did not get out the tweezers for this, but here is a quick shot of it next to the window on a rainy day.

Let her face the light, my friend, and see if she opens up. That cut pattern is so interesting!

 

[Odyssey44]

Perhaps I did not wish to waste anymore money on pink-red Garnets after purchasing a number of inexpensive learner stones to find they all looked too orange/brown for my liking IRL.

I found my holy grail purple pink stone in the end by asking Jeff W to source a Sapphire for me during his Tucson 2020 trip which he did.

DK

You know that I am going to request a picture after you use the words pink and holy and grail!

 

[Odyssey44]

I have a soft pink Mahenge garnet that I purchased from cvb. She called it a pad color, and it stays pretty light, only because it's just a light color in itself.



I would say my favorites come from Gene and Jeff White. I trust both of them, and they seem to pick awesome rough. I know nothing about choosing rough! A lot of the stones I've asked Gene to cut were based on stones he had previously cut and I asked if he had more rough. With Jeff, I tell him what color I want and he shows me rough and tells me which is likely to be the one I would like. I have yet to be disappointed by either of them.

Stones are so weird. Some black out in shade, while others look their best. With the garnets, they can look black in the direct sun. I have asked some dealers about their photos, and they tend to take them at the "golden hour" when the sun is lower and at an angle.

I love my pink spinels and pink sapphires. They cost more, but are worth it, imo. They do go dark in certain circumstances. Again, it depends on the rough and locale sourced, plus cut, etc. Also, I consider some pinks to really be a sort of purple.

Take this ring from Yvonne for example. These are pink sapphires, but I would say they lean more purple-ish.



Now this one I love, love, love! A sapphire from Sri Lanka:


Then there's the pink spinel from Vietnam. Vendor photo:



My photo:



Darks and browns are not your friend. I love my garnets, though. I have accepted that they won't always be perfect, and I have had to adjust my expectations. You might want to start looking at the lighter garnets. They will darken, but it won't be so severe and black.

I like the light pink garnet you got from cvb very much! I did not realize she sold stones too. I thought she just designed jewelry settings. I definitely prefer pinks that lean pink rather than purple. I keep watching Gene's for new stones. I know that right now he is only taking commissions for lab created stones. I have Jeff cutting something for me as we speak! It will be my first commissioned stone! I will not say what because I want to post the picture of it and reveal the surprise all at the same time. Of course it will be a few months out still.

Now, about that sapphire from Sri Lanka--it is a DREAM!! I absolutely love, love, love it. The color is just what my heart says is a perfect pink! Please do tell where you bought it. I feel the same way about your spinel. Please do reveal that source too if you do not mind. I cannot believe it is possible to get a stone that looks better IRL than in the vendor photo, but my gosh, you really did!! I am not sure I would have bought it based on that photo!! How did you know to get it?

Thanks for being my pink gem inspiration!

 

[Odyssey44]

Let her face the light, my friend, and see if she opens up. That cut pattern is so interesting!

I will, I will. Hoping for sunny weather tomorrow! I am not good at waiting!

 

[dk168]

Here you go, the thread about my Sapphire:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...d-asscher-blue-zircon-from-jeff-white.281115/

DK

 

[toomuchB]

Garnets are so varied, even within the same color family. A lot depends on the rough and type of garnet, while the rest is the cut and just the nature of it. The stones I share are all precision cut, but perform differently indoors and outdoors. I'm in So Cal which also changes how it looks.

In my other thread, I just bought a purple garnet pretty much on faith—and it honestly feels like I’m gambling.

I totally relate to the struggles discussed in this thread...
I also feel like these colors of garnets are often very pretty, but with the ones I’ve bought, they’ve just not been pretty enough. Missing an excitement factor. Of course, some absolutely do have that, including some posted in this thread.

 

[Odyssey44]

Here you go, the thread about my Sapphire:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...d-asscher-blue-zircon-from-jeff-white.281115/

DK

Thanks for posting that! I really enjoyed reading the whole process, from an idea to a finished ring! I am so glad you posted it all because I am going to refer to that thread frequently. It's just lovely and I am with you on not waiting for any man to get us the ring that speaks to our heart!! Congratulations on that beauty. I will get a sapphire at some point, when I feel more confident about my eye and color. I have to work my way up to the precious jewels.

 

[Odyssey44]

In my other thread, I just bought a purple garnet pretty much on faith—and it honestly feels like I’m gambling.

I totally relate to the struggles discussed in this thread...
I also feel like these colors of garnets are often very pretty, but with the ones I’ve bought, they’ve just not been pretty enough. Missing an excitement factor. Of course, some absolutely do have that, including some posted in this thread.

Let me know if it turns up pink! HAHA I am going to try for a light pink garnet, but then I think my darker garnet buying days will be behind me unless I see the stone in person. Greens are another story...

 

[Odyssey44]

OK Autumn, fabulous advice as always. I took her out into the sun on a very sunny day today. The first picture was directly in full sun and I was thinking maybe I should just return her, but given a tiny bit of shade and held at an angle to the sun, she became a beauty! I even figured out how to upload to YouTube so I could post actual video instead of a gif! .

 

[Odyssey44]

I have to say I wish I knew what lighting conditions would get it to display the hot pink of the vendor's photo!

 

[Autumn in New England]

OK Autumn, fabulous advice as always. I took her out into the sun on a very sunny day today. The first picture was directly in full sun and I was thinking maybe I should just return her, but given a tiny bit of shade and held at an angle to the sun, she became a beauty! I even figured out how to upload to YouTube so I could post actual video instead of a gif! .

What a difference! My goodness, she's a magenta goddess!!