shape
carat
color
clarity

What do you think of this Mahenge Garnet?

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

Right? lol Your stone is gorgeous and you seem pleased (I sure would be), so I assume it's a non-issue at this point. But I've received stones and literally sent side-by-side pix to vendors asking on which planet it was photographed to make it perform like that. They love me.
 
Right? lol Your stone is gorgeous and you seem pleased (I sure would be), so I assume it's a non-issue at this point. But I've received stones and literally sent side-by-side pix to vendors asking on which planet it was photographed to make it perform like that. They love me.

That is too funny! But accurate--It is truly bizarre! I would think vendors would prefer a realistic picture--that would save returns and heartache all around. I am keeping this because it will fill my darker garnet space, and...I told the vendor I could not get the stone to look hot pink in any lighting. So, I have commissioned him to find and cut me a light pink Mahenge garnet or a pink tourmaline. I think his cutting is great if this is an indication. I'll say who it is when I post his next work so people can buy his stones if they like. I think he is unknown here. I stumbled upon him on Instagram.
 
Help! I'm new to this site. I can't find anywhere how to POST a NEW thread. I never do something like this online. I know I'm in an inappropriate thread. Sorry! But...
Tonight I found a long discussion from 2014 regarding a flawless, unheated blue sapphire from unknown origin per its GIA report. I have one too!!
Was this mystery ever resolved??
I have a good sized internally (& externally) flawless, medium-dark blue sapphire as well. Clean as a whistle. So there's no inclusions to determine origin! No typical indications of lab growth, or heating either.
It's a very old, faceted, big beautiful stone. Verified to be sapphire.
I recently brought it to a GIA GG. He was stumped by its flawless clarity. And visibly in awe.
Most gemologists want to proclaim flawless colored gems lab grown because they lack inclusions. However, I have good reason to believe this stone is not lab grown. It's been tucked away in an old jeweler's safe for at least a hundred years, until now.
I thought I'd bring it to an AGL lab next. But after reading that they told that guy they wouldn't be able to tell him origin either, and don't waste the money on it... now I don't know where to turn. I want to sell this sapphire but don't know how to without a reliable report. (I also read tonight a Kashmir sapphire seller said never trust GIA reports on those stones, they often get it wrong. I'm aware Kashmirs usually display rutile needles.)
I have been in the fine antique jewelry business myself for 25 years.
Flawless blue sapphires apparently DO exist! I've got one myself. It's obviously a quite rare phenomenon. When someone has one they need to sell, how do we get a good enough report on it so we can sell it for what it SHOULD be worth as the fantastic gemstone it is??
Today's young gemologists aren't schooled in antique gemstones. They've never seen them. Don't recognize or comprehend how high of quality old gems are.
Where do antique estate jewelry sellers turn? The beautiful old jewelry is going to end up being lost and devalued due to today's ignorance.
Any over 60 knowledgeable gemologists out there who can help?
 
Help! I'm new to this site. I can't find anywhere how to POST a NEW thread. I never do something like this online. I know I'm in an inappropriate thread. Sorry! But...
Tonight I found a long discussion from 2014 regarding a flawless, unheated blue sapphire from unknown origin per its GIA report. I have one too!!
Was this mystery ever resolved??
I have a good sized internally (& externally) flawless, medium-dark blue sapphire as well. Clean as a whistle. So there's no inclusions to determine origin! No typical indications of lab growth, or heating either.
It's a very old, faceted, big beautiful stone. Verified to be sapphire.
I recently brought it to a GIA GG. He was stumped by its flawless clarity. And visibly in awe.
Most gemologists want to proclaim flawless colored gems lab grown because they lack inclusions. However, I have good reason to believe this stone is not lab grown. It's been tucked away in an old jeweler's safe for at least a hundred years, until now.
I thought I'd bring it to an AGL lab next. But after reading that they told that guy they wouldn't be able to tell him origin either, and don't waste the money on it... now I don't know where to turn. I want to sell this sapphire but don't know how to without a reliable report. (I also read tonight a Kashmir sapphire seller said never trust GIA reports on those stones, they often get it wrong. I'm aware Kashmirs usually display rutile needles.)
I have been in the fine antique jewelry business myself for 25 years.
Flawless blue sapphires apparently DO exist! I've got one myself. It's obviously a quite rare phenomenon. When someone has one they need to sell, how do we get a good enough report on it so we can sell it for what it SHOULD be worth as the fantastic gemstone it is??
Today's young gemologists aren't schooled in antique gemstones. They've never seen them. Don't recognize or comprehend how high of quality old gems are.
Where do antique estate jewelry sellers turn? The beautiful old jewelry is going to end up being lost and devalued due to today's ignorance.
Any over 60 knowledgeable gemologists out there who can help?

Hi, welcome. This link will take you to the thread posting interface for the colored stones subforum (the one this thread is in).

You can copy paste most of you've written here and just click the blue 'post thread' button at the bottom.

If you are still a trade member you should check the site policy on what limits you have - not sure you can post about your own stones especially if for sale. But if you are not, and everything is within the rules, go ahead and please post pics if you can figure out how to, we love those. :)

There are other gem and mineral related forums, one in particular, without restrictions for the trade. You should find it easily with a google search.

In the meantime, Yoram of Gemconcepts - while I am not sure if he is over 60 lol - has vast knowledge on true antique stones and diamonds.

There is that King Louis sapphire that looks basically flawless... google The Grand Sapphire of Louis XIV and The Ruspoli Sapphire

/threadjack
 
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Hi, welcome. This link will take you to the thread posting interface for the colored stones subforum (the one this thread is in).

You can copy paste most of you've written here and just click the blue 'post thread' button at the bottom.

If you are still a trade member you should check the site policy on what limits you have - not sure you can post about your own stones especially if for sale. But if you are not, and everything is within the rules, go ahead and please post pics if you can figure out how to, we love those. :)

There are other gem and mineral related forums, one in particular, without restrictions for the trade. You should find it easily with a google search.

In the meantime, Yoram of Gemconcepts - while I am not sure if he is over 60 lol - has vast knowledge on true antique stones and diamonds.

There is that King Louis sapphire that looks basically flawless... google The Grand Sapphire of Louis XIV and The Ruspoli Sapphire

/threadjack

Thanks for your kind advice! I'll try to get on the right thread, or better site for this. I just wanted to respond here because while trying to do a basic google search for flawless sapphires, it tossed up a thread here from 2014. Someone else was looking for advice on their mysterious flawless sapphire. No one knows where it came from either.
Mine isn't currently for sale. I'm still trying to learn more about it.
I'll look into your article and gemologist suggestions.
Thanks so much.
 
Hi, welcome. This link will take you to the thread posting interface for the colored stones subforum (the one this thread is in).

You can copy paste most of you've written here and just click the blue 'post thread' button at the bottom.

If you are still a trade member you should check the site policy on what limits you have - not sure you can post about your own stones especially if for sale. But if you are not, and everything is within the rules, go ahead and please post pics if you can figure out how to, we love those. :)

There are other gem and mineral related forums, one in particular, without restrictions for the trade. You should find it easily with a google search.

In the meantime, Yoram of Gemconcepts - while I am not sure if he is over 60 lol - has vast knowledge on true antique stones and diamonds.

There is that King Louis sapphire that looks basically flawless... google The Grand Sapphire of Louis XIV and The Ruspoli Sapphire

/threadjack

Great post... thank you for replying to this poster! We should pin this. lol
 
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.

yum yum :lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout::lickout:
 
Great post... thank you for replying to this poster! We should pin this. lol

Aw thank you. I'm sure someone else could word it better than for me an actual pinned post though.
Edit-okay you probably meant a general comment on tradespeople, not my specific post :lol-2:
Let my ego get the best of me
 
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Thanks for your kind advice! I'll try to get on the right thread, or better site for this. I just wanted to respond here because while trying to do a basic google search for flawless sapphires, it tossed up a thread here from 2014. Someone else was looking for advice on their mysterious flawless sapphire. No one knows where it came from either.
Mine isn't currently for sale. I'm still trying to learn more about it.
I'll look into your article and gemologist suggestions.
Thanks so much.

Again I apologize to the OP for the threadjack.

I will just add that I have seen something similar (refusal by GIA to give origin) in a spinel before. I saved multiple images from the listing, but unfortunately not the part where the vendor specified this detail, so you'll have to take my word for it.
I can imagine something similar is possible in sapphire. GIA still gave natural designation.
Its too many images (and a video) to bombard this unrelated thread with, so here's what I saved in the Imgur link (portions with potentially personal information were blacked out).


The seller of the flawless spinel was fareengems who is still active on Instagram and etsy. Maybe worth asking them about the details.

Apologies again to OP, lets focus back on garnets.
 
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Again I apologize to the OP for the threadjack.

I will just add that I have seen something similar (refusal by GIA to give origin) in a spinel before. I saved multiple images from the listing, but unfortunately not the part where the vendor specified this detail, so you'll have to take my word for it.
I can imagine something similar is possible in sapphire. GIA still gave natural designation.
Its too many images (and a video) to bombard this unrelated thread with, so here's what I saved in the Imgur link (portions with potentially personal information were blacked out).


The seller of the flawless spinel was fareengems who is still active on Instagram and etsy. Maybe worth asking them about the details.

Apologies again to OP, lets focus back on garnets.

No apologies necessary! I really don't mind if other subjects pop up in a thread I started. I'm glad you could respond with all of this helpful info!
 
Again I apologize to the OP for the threadjack.

I will just add that I have seen something similar (refusal by GIA to give origin) in a spinel before. I saved multiple images from the listing, but unfortunately not the part where the vendor specified this detail, so you'll have to take my word for it.
I can imagine something similar is possible in sapphire. GIA still gave natural designation.
Its too many images (and a video) to bombard this unrelated thread with, so here's what I saved in the Imgur link (portions with potentially personal information were blacked out).


The seller of the flawless spinel was fareengems who is still active on Instagram and etsy. Maybe worth asking them about the details.

Apologies again to OP, lets focus back on garnets.

I'm sure no one minds a slight tangent here and there... and you're always SO incredibly helpful! I personally love when folks "threadjack" my posts, because it makes things interesting. lol (That's how unexciting my existence is, BTW.
snicker.gif
)
 
I'm sure no one minds a slight tangent here and there... and you're always SO incredibly helpful! I personally love when folks "threadjack" my posts, because it makes things interesting. lol (That's how unexciting my existence is, BTW.
snicker.gif
)

Thank you! I honestly have no problem with threadjacking and on some forums its actually encouraged/common. But on this one, the etiquette is to minimize doing so. It certainly keeps thing more organized. When in Rome... :)
 
OP you were asking about gems that stay pink… I don’t have a large collection like many here but I do own a few pink sapphires and I find the very hot pinks I own that edge on being rubies and have a bit of neon stay pink in all lighting I have seen.
 
OP you were asking about gems that stay pink… I don’t have a large collection like many here but I do own a few pink sapphires and I find the very hot pinks I own that edge on being rubies and have a bit of neon stay pink in all lighting I have seen.

Being stuck between rubies and pink/red spinels, pink sapphires are so underrated imo!
 
I saw this vendor cut a mahenge garnet on Instagram! The rough is so pink.
IMG_5980.jpeg
IMG_5981.jpeg

Their garnets often look fabulous. Very tempting pieces!
 
Their garnets often look fabulous. Very tempting pieces!

They had a bracelet layout of juicy grape garnets on their auction page a week or two ago :oops2: I had to really resist bidding. So gemmy and delicious! Very jealous of the final buyer
 
Thanks Dreamer and Pomo! A pink sapphire for sure will be in my future. I have a big birthday next year and think that is what I will ask for--and then work on putting a ring together with all your help, to give to my DH to give back to me. :) Ideally, my future holds a neon hot pink sapphire and a padparadscha-ish one. I don't care about whether it would technically qualify.

I follow that vendor on Instagram too. Who don't I follow gem wise? He definitely posts some interesting things, but usually smaller than I am after. This garnet is a great size. I wonder what would happen to it in various lighting conditions.
 
They had a bracelet layout of juicy grape garnets on their auction page a week or two ago :oops2: I had to really resist bidding. So gemmy and delicious! Very jealous of the final buyer

I saw that! They also had a pink diamond bracelet. Too small length wise, but it was tempting.
 
I am still on the hunt for a light pink Mahenge or Malaya garnet. What do you think of this one? I think it probably has brownish tones I do not want. I'll ask for more pictures if I do not just rule it out based on this.
Light Garnet 1.JPG
 
I am still on the hunt for a light pink Mahenge or Malaya garnet. What do you think of this one? I think it probably has brownish tones I do not want. I'll ask for more pictures if I do not just rule it out based on this.
Light Garnet 1.JPG

I think it's gorgeous but it does look like it could be a tad brown - possibly in some lighting.
 
I am still on the hunt for a light pink Mahenge or Malaya garnet. What do you think of this one? I think it probably has brownish tones I do not want. I'll ask for more pictures if I do not just rule it out based on this.

I like the cut! Yeah, the peachy malayas tend to lean a bit brown. If you want a complete absence of it (like a baby pink), you might want to look into a mahenge. This one is only 2ct., so probably not what you're after, but as an example of color, this is typical mahenge.

SNY2293-1200-768x768.jpg
 
Yes, my number one criteria for this pink garnet is BRIGHT. This is my holy grail Mahenge that Jeff White posted on Reddit, but he does not have the rough anymore and I have been having a tough time finding a substitute in a bigger size like I like (need?). The cut on the one I posted is precision, which I definitely gravitate to!
Mahenge Garnet--JW.JPG
 
Oh yeah, I can see why you were drawn to that one... she's lovely.
 
I know it. It has ruined me for other garnets.

I mean…. Falling in love with a glamour shot listen online is a little like falling in love with an IG model and then judging people in real life by that standard ;)2 Even the IG model doesn’t look like that all the time.
 
I mean…. Falling in love with a glamour shot listen online is a little like falling in love with an IG model and then judging people in real life by that standard ;)2 Even the IG model doesn’t look like that all the time.

HAHAHA! Good point. Setting myself up for disappointment.
 
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! 20250409_113334.jpg20250409_113411.jpg.

Many stones will close up under direct sunlight. Just the nature of the beast. Sometimes the cut, many times it is just the gemstone.

Many Mahenge Garnets will go from a pink or purplish pink too purple, like many Umbalite Garnets. They mostly stay a pink or magenta color in natural light, but depending on time of day, time of year or where you live can turn purple. Under LED light most turn purple. The purple is always darker.

Still a pretty stone you have. :)
 
Many stones will close up under direct sunlight. Just the nature of the beast. Sometimes the cut, many times it is just the gemstone.

Many Mahenge Garnets will go from a pink or purplish pink too purple, like many Umbalite Garnets. They mostly stay a pink or magenta color in natural light, but depending on time of day, time of year or where you live can turn purple. Under LED light most turn purple. The purple is always darker.

Still a pretty stone you have. :)

Thanks!! Holding out for my next, and likely last, Mahenge garnet for one that shifts just between pink and peachy pink. Hopefully this is not a unicorn! Other than their place of origin, I am not sure how to differentiate between Mahenge and Malaya.
 
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