Help me find an oval blue/green spinel Please!

[Cherokee1979]

Hello.

I am working on a project for a birthday present for my mother. In a nutshell, upon her 50th birthday over 10 years ago, I gave her a ring in 14k YG, featuring an oval (4-prong-set) seafoam tourmaline. The center stone is flanked on each side by three small prong-set diamonds. I hope to post a picture of the ring soon. I am replacing the tourmaline for her birthday. She wears this ring every single day and is rather rough on it. Accordingly, all of the upper facets of the tourmaline have been completely rubbed away (the stone now looks very similar to sea glass ). Note that the measurements on the stone are as follows: 7.18 mm long x 4.88 wide x 3.3 deep. However, my jeweler tells me that the setting could accommodate a 7x5 calibrated oval.

So I want to get her a MUCH HARDER stone. Immediately my mind jumped to spinel (as she does NOT want a treated stone). Also, my budget is not large, so an untreated sapphire will likely not be in budget.

As an initial aside, my jeweler says the cost of rebuilding the prongs and setting the stone is $110. Does that sound reasonable?

Well, below are a list of my requirements, and thank you so much in advance for your help! I have searched through the approved vendors list, but have yet to find much. Thanks!

1. Size/Shape: approximately 7x5 mm oval stone.

2. Type of stone: most likely spinel for affordability, but I am open to other options in harder stones.

3. Budget for stone alone: I'd like to keep it under $150 (but this could be stretched either direction by a bit). Also, I would be ELATED to find a pre-owned stone.

4. Color: She would prefer a blue-green hue. She is open to red, but NO pink, yellow, purple, etc. She is also open to either a blue or a green.

5. Must haves: NO windowing and No bowtie. Would like decent saturation, but I do NOT want a dark stone (I'd prefer it to not "darken up" noticeably in any lighting.) Clarity can go down to an eye-clean SI1. I'd prefer a precision cut stone, if possible.

Thank you all SO much! Your time and knowledge is certainly appreciated!!!

 

[OreoRosies86]

That's a really tall order given your budget of $150.00

Blue spinels are very expensive and sought after. Same with untreated sapphires. I came across this ebay listing from a reputable seller, an untreated blue green AIGS certified sapphire. It might give you an idea of what the price is on what you are looking for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370911864679?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[Cherokee1979]

That's a really tall order given your budget of $150.00

Blue spinels are very expensive and sought after. Same with untreated sapphires. I came across this ebay listing from a reputable seller, an untreated blue green AIGS certified sapphire. It might give you an idea of what the price is on what you are looking for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370911864679?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Thank you much for your quick reply. Unfortunately, I cannot presently open any ebay link due to my blocks at work.

Please allow me to clarify, though. The spinel does not have to be blue. The ONLY colors that are a no are: pink, yellow, purple, and pure orange. ALL other colors will certainly be an option.

The below stone looked like a possibility to me. However, the vendor (Gemcal) does not provide millimeter measurements. But I think it is close in size, and it is well under budget. This one is a red, and Gemcal states that the stone is natural and that "We can provide certificates from the AIGS (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences) or GRS (GemResearch Swisslab) in Bangkok, on request."

Gemcal link to the stone: http://gemcal.com/red-spinel-with-a-tint-of-orange

 

[innerkitten]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

 

[OreoRosies86]

Have you considered tsavorite? It comes in very pretty green shades and is durable enough for daily wear. This one fits pretty closely to your budget, no treatment, pretty close to your size requirments.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-27758103

 

[Cherokee1979]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

Thank you, innerkitten! That was very helpful! I cannot open the link to the ebay stone (or go onto ebay at present) since I am at work and there are blocks on auction sites. Also, I need a oval stone to fit the setting. Oh, and BTW, I could extend my budget some for the right stone, maybe up to $225 max.

Regarding the second stone you linked, it looks great!! As a matter of fact, it is VERY close in color to the existing seafoam tourmaline that is in the ring now. My mom's favorite color is sky blue. What are your opinions of this vendor? Are they trusted on PS? Also, can I trust that Montana sapphires will not have been treated?

Thanks again!

 

[marymm]

Usually gray or purple are the secondary hues to blue Spinels - green is rather rare. I was able to find two blue Spinels that fit your size, but both have quite a bit of gray, though quite pretty I think (think stormy seas):

Gemrite blue Spinel 0.71ct - $75 - http://www.gemrite.com/products/blue-spinel-71-cts
ArtCutGems blue Spinel 0.98ct - $175 - http://www.artcutgems.com/item.php?item_id=531

 

[OreoRosies86]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

Thank you, innerkitten! That was very helpful! I cannot open the link to the ebay stone (or go onto ebay at present) since I am at work and there are blocks on auction sites. Also, I need a oval stone to fit the setting. Oh, and BTW, I could extend my budget some for the right stone, maybe up to $225 max.

Regarding the second stone you linked, it looks great!! As a matter of fact, it is VERY close in color to the existing seafoam tourmaline that is in the ring now. My mom's favorite color is sky blue. What are your opinions of this vendor? Are they trusted on PS? Also, can I trust that Montana sapphires will not have been treated?

Thanks again!

Multicolour is on the PS list of reputable sellers. Of course like anything, some people have better experiences than others but it seems they do not misrepresent their gems. Montana sapphires are just as likely to be heated as any other sapphire.

 

[Cherokee1979]

Have you considered tsavorite? It comes in very pretty green shades and is durable enough for daily wear. This one fits pretty closely to your budget, no treatment, pretty close to your size requirments.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-27758103

Thank you, Elliott86!

That stone is very nice, and that color would be a consideration. However, I am a bit wary of buying a garnet, considering that it is considerably lower on the Mohs hardness scale than a spinel/sapphire. As I mentioned, my mom is VERY rough on this ring. She washes dishes with it on, and probably even gardens with it on, for all I know. So hardness in the stone is CRITICAL for this project.

 

[MollyMalone]

You may not be able to access the Gemcal page at work, but the Specifications box does give the mm dimensions for the red spinel: 4.75 x 6.20 x 3.00 mm (width/length/depth)

 

[Cherokee1979]

Usually gray or purple are the secondary hues to blue Spinels - green is rather rare. I was able to find two blue Spinels that fit your size, but both have quite a bit of gray, though quite pretty I think (think stormy seas):

Gemrite blue Spinel 0.71ct - $75 - http://www.gemrite.com/products/blue-spinel-71-cts
ArtCutGems blue Spinel 0.98ct - $175 - http://www.artcutgems.com/item.php?item_id=531

Thank you, Marymm!

I actually saw that Gemrite stone in my search and like it a good deal, particularly for the price (as compared to the much more expensive ArtCutGems stone). I actually seem to like the cut and hue on the Gemrite stone better. However, do you think it might face up too dark in some lighting conditions??? I noticed that Gemrite says that "The saturation is medium to medium dark." Also, do you think the inclusions are too noticable? My mom is not too picky of a person, unlike me. Thanks!

 

[Cherokee1979]

You may not be able to access the Gemcal page at work, but the Specifications box does give the mm dimensions for the red spinel: 4.75 x 6.20 x 3.00 mm (width/length/depth)

Thanks for getting me the specs. What are your opinions about this stone? Also, do you think that the length might be too short (considering that the length on my present stone is at 7.18mm? Thanks!

 

[innerkitten]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

Thank you, innerkitten! That was very helpful! I cannot open the link to the ebay stone (or go onto ebay at present) since I am at work and there are blocks on auction sites. Also, I need a oval stone to fit the setting. Oh, and BTW, I could extend my budget some for the right stone, maybe up to $225 max.

Regarding the second stone you linked, it looks great!! As a matter of fact, it is VERY close in color to the existing seafoam tourmaline that is in the ring now. My mom's favorite color is sky blue. What are your opinions of this vendor? Are they trusted on PS? Also, can I trust that Montana sapphires will not have been treated?

Thanks again!

Well I first heard about them here on Pricescope. I believe they have a good reputation. I usually feel safe purchasing from a vendor if the return policy is good. Why not contact the vendor. They may have others besides the one I posted.

 

[Cherokee1979]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

Thank you, innerkitten! That was very helpful! I cannot open the link to the ebay stone (or go onto ebay at present) since I am at work and there are blocks on auction sites. Also, I need a oval stone to fit the setting. Oh, and BTW, I could extend my budget some for the right stone, maybe up to $225 max.

Regarding the second stone you linked, it looks great!! As a matter of fact, it is VERY close in color to the existing seafoam tourmaline that is in the ring now. My mom's favorite color is sky blue. What are your opinions of this vendor? Are they trusted on PS? Also, can I trust that Montana sapphires will not have been treated?

Thanks again!

Multicolour is on the PS list of reputable sellers. Of course like anything, some people have better experiences than others but it seems they do not misrepresent their gems. Montana sapphires are just as likely to be heated as any other sapphire.

Thanks for the advice, innerkitten.

So is it safe to assume that the Montana Sapphire you linked has a good chance of being heat treated?

 

[marymm]

Usually gray or purple are the secondary hues to blue Spinels - green is rather rare. I was able to find two blue Spinels that fit your size, but both have quite a bit of gray, though quite pretty I think (think stormy seas):

Gemrite blue Spinel 0.71ct - $75 - http://www.gemrite.com/products/blue-spinel-71-cts
ArtCutGems blue Spinel 0.98ct - $175 - http://www.artcutgems.com/item.php?item_id=531

Thank you, Marymm!

I actually saw that Gemrite stone in my search and like it a good deal, particularly for the price (as compared to the much more expensive ArtCutGems stone). I actually seem to like the cut and hue on the Gemrite stone better. However, do you think it might face up too dark in some lighting conditions??? I noticed that Gemrite says that "The saturation is medium to medium dark." Also, do you think the inclusions are too noticable? My mom is not too picky of a person, unlike me. Thanks!

John at GemRite is quite responsive, I'd encourage you to email him about the clarity - to my eyes, for a stone this size, I would tend to think I would not notice the inclusions, and John has a good return policy - for the price point and the fact that it meets most of your criteria, I'd probably purchase it and inspect it in person to see if it works for your project.

 

[pregcurious]

Getting a pleasant looking blue spinel will be extremely difficult as spinels tend to be greyish or very dark when they are blue. If they are a bright blue, they are usually very expensive.

Would you consider a green Montana sapphire? There are some here that are light, muted green, although not what I would call seafoam:
http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_montana.html
While there are no 5x7 ovals, maybe Andrew would cut you one? Does anyone know if Andrew takes custom cutting orders?

 

[OreoRosies86]

7x5 white spinel (precision cut)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/172382279/rare-burmese-white-spinel-nice?ref=shop_home_active_36
Probably over budget, but really really pretty.

 

[OreoRosies86]

Blue green spinel $112.00
http://www.gemselect.com/spinel/spinel-349245.php

 

[innerkitten]

Getting a pleasant looking blue spinel will be extremely difficult as spinels tend to be greyish or very dark when they are blue. If they are a bright blue, they are usually very expensive.

Would you consider a green Montana sapphire? There are some here that are light, muted green, although not what I would call seafoam:
http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_montana.html
While there are no 5x7 ovals, maybe Andrew would cut you one? Does anyone know if Andrew takes custom cutting orders?

True and I think the one from Gemrite is going to be dark based on the description.

 

[marymm]

Getting a pleasant looking blue spinel will be extremely difficult as spinels tend to be greyish or very dark when they are blue. If they are a bright blue, they are usually very expensive.

Would you consider a green Montana sapphire? There are some here that are light, muted green, although not what I would call seafoam:
http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_montana.html
While there are no 5x7 ovals, maybe Andrew would cut you one? Does anyone know if Andrew takes custom cutting orders?

I am pretty sure that Andrew does - one thing to keep in mind is that Andrew / Gemfix is closed Mon 1/24 thru 2/14 for the Tucson gem show... if you aren't able to reach him today (I'd probably telephone), then you'll probably have to wait a few weeks for his return - and I think many of the highly regarded CS vendors are also going to Tucson though of course their travel schedules will vary. GemFix actually has a storefront and I'm not so sure the other vendors do.

 

[innerkitten]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

Thank you, innerkitten! That was very helpful! I cannot open the link to the ebay stone (or go onto ebay at present) since I am at work and there are blocks on auction sites. Also, I need a oval stone to fit the setting. Oh, and BTW, I could extend my budget some for the right stone, maybe up to $225 max.

Regarding the second stone you linked, it looks great!! As a matter of fact, it is VERY close in color to the existing seafoam tourmaline that is in the ring now. My mom's favorite color is sky blue. What are your opinions of this vendor? Are they trusted on PS? Also, can I trust that Montana sapphires will not have been treated?

Thanks again!

Multicolour is on the PS list of reputable sellers. Of course like anything, some people have better experiences than others but it seems they do not misrepresent their gems. Montana sapphires are just as likely to be heated as any other sapphire.

Thanks for the advice, innerkitten.

So is it safe to assume that the Montana Sapphire you linked has a good chance of being heat treated?

Good question. Maybe ask them. It doesn't say anything about heat in the description. This one is a similar size and says heat in the description.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=154

 

[Cherokee1979]

Usually gray or purple are the secondary hues to blue Spinels - green is rather rare. I was able to find two blue Spinels that fit your size, but both have quite a bit of gray, though quite pretty I think (think stormy seas):

Gemrite blue Spinel 0.71ct - $75 - http://www.gemrite.com/products/blue-spinel-71-cts
ArtCutGems blue Spinel 0.98ct - $175 - http://www.artcutgems.com/item.php?item_id=531

Thank you, Marymm!

I actually saw that Gemrite stone in my search and like it a good deal, particularly for the price (as compared to the much more expensive ArtCutGems stone). I actually seem to like the cut and hue on the Gemrite stone better. However, do you think it might face up too dark in some lighting conditions??? I noticed that Gemrite says that "The saturation is medium to medium dark." Also, do you think the inclusions are too noticable? My mom is not too picky of a person, unlike me. Thanks!

John at GemRite is quite responsive, I'd encourage you to email him about the clarity - to my eyes, for a stone this size, I would tend to think I would not notice the inclusions, and John has a good return policy - for the price point and the fact that it meets most of your criteria, I'd probably purchase it and inspect it in person to see if it works for your project.

Thanks, marymm.

I will take your advice and certainly attempt to contact him either today or this weekend. On a separate matter concerning the Gemrite stone, the cut looks pretty darn nice to my uneducated eyes... would you agree or disagree? Would it be classified as "precision cut"? Thanks!

 

[MollyMalone]

No harm in calling Gemfix, but note all of Gemfix's Montana sapphires are quite a bit above the targeted budget.

 

[deskjockey]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

Thank you, innerkitten! That was very helpful! I cannot open the link to the ebay stone (or go onto ebay at present) since I am at work and there are blocks on auction sites. Also, I need a oval stone to fit the setting. Oh, and BTW, I could extend my budget some for the right stone, maybe up to $225 max.

Regarding the second stone you linked, it looks great!! As a matter of fact, it is VERY close in color to the existing seafoam tourmaline that is in the ring now. My mom's favorite color is sky blue. What are your opinions of this vendor? Are they trusted on PS? Also, can I trust that Montana sapphires will not have been treated?

Thanks again!

Multicolour is on the PS list of reputable sellers. Of course like anything, some people have better experiences than others but it seems they do not misrepresent their gems. Montana sapphires are just as likely to be heated as any other sapphire.

Thanks for the advice, innerkitten.

So is it safe to assume that the Montana Sapphire you linked has a good chance of being heat treated?

The stones on blazengems are often untreated, and he definitely discloses treatments (he has some Be diffused stones on there, and stuff). So feel free to ask He's very responsive and helpful, though I haven't purchased from him.

also, maybe food for thought:

almost a 5x7:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/102592311/beautiful-montana-sapphire-greenblue?ref=shop_home_feat_4

And a question to the wider community - if you have a stone like OP's, that has gotten pretty damaged, is it possible to refacet-repolish it or is it not worth it? How does that work?

 

[Cherokee1979]

I think for that price you will have to try Ebay. Sometimes there are some sellers with lower starting bids. Or if it's blue green you like maybe a sapphire.

Blue green round sapphire? It's above your budget though. I purchased a stone from this guy and was very happy with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161206730620

Also I saw this. It might be more green than blue though. It's 5x7 and $155.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=855

Thank you, innerkitten! That was very helpful! I cannot open the link to the ebay stone (or go onto ebay at present) since I am at work and there are blocks on auction sites. Also, I need a oval stone to fit the setting. Oh, and BTW, I could extend my budget some for the right stone, maybe up to $225 max.

Regarding the second stone you linked, it looks great!! As a matter of fact, it is VERY close in color to the existing seafoam tourmaline that is in the ring now. My mom's favorite color is sky blue. What are your opinions of this vendor? Are they trusted on PS? Also, can I trust that Montana sapphires will not have been treated?

Thanks again!

Multicolour is on the PS list of reputable sellers. Of course like anything, some people have better experiences than others but it seems they do not misrepresent their gems. Montana sapphires are just as likely to be heated as any other sapphire.

Thanks for the advice, innerkitten.

So is it safe to assume that the Montana Sapphire you linked has a good chance of being heat treated?

Good question. Maybe ask them. It doesn't say anything about heat in the description. This one is a similar size and says heat in the description.
http://blazengems.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53_55&products_id=154

Thanks Innerkitten. I will certainly try to email them.

As a follow-up question, though, do you think that sapphires will be noticeably stronger and take more of a beating than the spinels posted here? I have heard that their Mohs hardness level is relatively comparable. The reason I ask is because, from the stones posted to this link thus far, I think I like the saturation on the spinels much more.

 

[minousbijoux]

While I think it is lovely, I believe that Gemrite spinel will go dark in many lighting situations. Your Mom may not mind that, but its something to be aware of. By going dark, I mean it just looks like a dark stone whose color you're not sure of - when light hits it, of course, or when its in a spotlight or bright light, it will show that brighter blue.

As to John's cutting, yes its precision and he is very good as well.

 

[digdeep]

I've dealt with Blaze numerous times and he's very up front. He owns the mine! The sale that is on right now is only for the month of January and then it's over, so if you are interested in that stone contact him and ask him to set it aside, send more photo's, or buy it as Blaze has a very good return policy. Most of his stones are untreated, but the only way to know is to ask about it, and also the real color in natural light since his photo's often are not as accurate as the stone's true color. Good luck!!

PS.......Sapphire MOHS = 9 Spinel MOHS = 8

 

[Cherokee1979]

While I think it is lovely, I believe that Gemrite spinel will go dark in many lighting situations. Your Mom may not mind that, but its something to be aware of. By going dark, I mean it just looks like a dark stone whose color you're not sure of - when light hits it, of course, or when its in a spotlight or bright light, it will show that brighter blue.

As to John's cutting, yes its precision and he is very good as well.

Thanks munous! I'm very glad you joined in.

I certainly do not want the stone to darken out. The stone she has now (seafoam tourm) is much lighter and I think she would prefer that to darkening out.

On a separate note, as a question for you and the larger community, what are your thoughts as to the performance and cutting of the following stone from Gemcal?: http://gemcal.com/red-spinel-with-a-tint-of-orange I really like the saturation and slight tinge of orange. It almost looks like a ruby to my completely untrained eyes. However, do you detect any windowing or other issues? I am also worried that the stone might be a tad bit too small, in its length, as my current stone is 7.18mm and this spinel is 6.20mm. Thoughts??

Thanks!

 

[Cherokee1979]

Any other stone suggestions from the PS community? I really like the suggestions thus far. However, I plan to show this thread & the possible stones to my mom tonight, and would love to get as many suggestions of different contenders as possible! Thank you all!

- Jeff

 

[Cherokee1979]

I've dealt with Blaze numerous times and he's very up front. He owns the mine! The sale that is on right now is only for the month of January and then it's over, so if you are interested in that stone contact him and ask him to set it aside, send more photo's, or buy it as Blaze has a very good return policy. Most of his stones are untreated, but the only way to know is to ask about it, and also the real color in natural light since his photo's often are not as accurate as the stone's true color. Good luck!!

PS.......Sapphire MOHS = 9 Spinel MOHS = 8

Thanks digdeep!

I will certainly get in touch with Blaze, before the sale ends. The stone is quite nice if it is, in fact, untreated! However, I just have to check with my mom as to whether she wants a stone of very similar color to her existing tourm (like Blaze's Sapphire) or a totally different hue, like the following Gemcal red spinel: http://gemcal.com/red-spinel-with-a-tint-of-orange