Bezel for Spinel?

[Stone Hunter]

I am thinking of putting a spinel in a bezel setting. Will it darken the stone? I have found several options and would love your opinions. The stone is 5.75 mm and is a darker purple indoors and a light blue in diffused sunlight.

Please let me know what you all think! And if you have other setting ideas I''d love to see those too.

THANKS

LOGR

I can''t get the side view to post here but I''ve posted it before...

OK took it from my other post. Is this setting open enough to allow enough light in?

I''m also thinking about Sally''s Pillbox ring. Would I need to send the stone to her for this setting since it''s a bezel?

My third option would be a LOGR that has prongs instead of actually bezeling the stone.

 

[T L]

If it''s a dark spinel, I probably wouldn''t. Mariedtiger''s recent post on her recut pink spinel is typical of the type of spinel I would put in a bezel, which she did, and it came out great. If it''s a blue to purple spinel, it will probably be too dark to put in a bezel. I''m not a spinel expert though, so hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Thanks TL I appreciate the input!

Funny how the photos showed up when I was writing my post but not now. But everyone knows what Sally''s pillbox looks like!

Now I just need advice from some spinel experts!!

 

[mariedtiger]

Hi Stone Hunter, how deep a color is your spinel, I don''t remember? I have a violet to purple spinel in a semi bezel and it performs well. I don''t know if this helps you, but here''s a picture. The spinels that I have seen IRL, that are well cut have had good light return, and there is a beautiful "glowy" effect that comes from bezeling, that I like a lot. Good luck!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 5/29/2009 11:51:53 AM
Author: mariedtiger
Hi Stone Hunter, how deep a color is your spinel, I don''t remember? I have a violet to purple spinel in a semi bezel and it performs well. I don''t know if this helps you, but here''s a picture. The spinels that I have seen IRL, that are well cut have had good light return, and there is a beautiful ''glowy'' effect that comes from bezeling, that I like a lot. Good luck!

Love that ring
I may have a spinel coming my way as well, so I''m looking forward how your project turns out! do you have pics of the spinel somewhere?

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 5/29/2009 11:51:53 AM
Author: mariedtiger
Hi Stone Hunter, how deep a color is your spinel, I don''t remember? I have a violet to purple spinel in a semi bezel and it performs well. I don''t know if this helps you, but here''s a picture. The spinels that I have seen IRL, that are well cut have had good light return, and there is a beautiful ''glowy'' effect that comes from bezeling, that I like a lot. Good luck!

Thanks it does have alot of sparkle and good light return, even through the plastic box cover.
I really like that setting. Where did you get it? It looks a bit like the WF setting another PSer is taking her diamond out of.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 5/29/2009 12:23:02 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade

Love that ring
I may have a spinel coming my way as well, so I''m looking forward how your project turns out! do you have pics of the spinel somewhere?

Ah no photos yet. It has been overcast and rained every sigle day since I got it, very unusual for here. Once for less than 5 minutes I got to see it in the sun.

I''ve tried getting photos and they are terrible. So I''m waiting for the weather to be good when I have "free time."

Any photography tips for spinels would be appreciated.

 

[Stone Hunter]

OK how about this in WG?

It would let in more light than a bezel.

It is from Stuller and I know my local jeweler orders from them.

ETA: ARRGH I'm having nothing but photo problems this week. It is the swirl mounting for a round stone.

Thanks.

 

[D&T]

SH- cant see any pics, except the one setting you posted, and I love that setting, I''m all for bezeling as you already know I''m a bezel lover but for lighter colored stones is my preferece now... after seeing all these beauties on here...

 

[brandy_z28]

Date: 5/29/2009 11:51:53 AM
Author: mariedtiger
Hi Stone Hunter, how deep a color is your spinel, I don''t remember? I have a violet to purple spinel in a semi bezel and it performs well. I don''t know if this helps you, but here''s a picture. The spinels that I have seen IRL, that are well cut have had good light return, and there is a beautiful ''glowy'' effect that comes from bezeling, that I like a lot. Good luck!

I love your setting too mariedtiger!

That''s almost exactly the setting (minus the sidestones) that I''ve had in mind while making the last few gemstone purchases that I''ve made. Do you mind telling us where you got it?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I believe MariedTiger''s setting was custom done by a local jeweler.

I just bought this spinel from Welborn at a great deal, and it''ll probably go in a bezel too assuming it''s not too dark in person. Wahoo! Bought my first spinel, can''t wait to see it

Do you have any vendor pics of the spinel you''re thinking of bezeling SH?

 

[Stone Hunter]

Yes but the vendor picture is very different than the IRL. Probably because it''s a moderate color shifter. OK maybe there''ll be sun on Saturday and I can take photos.

 

[Chicago]

Date: 5/29/2009 11:11:45 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover
If it''s a dark spinel, I probably wouldn''t. Mariedtiger''s recent post on her recut pink spinel is typical of the type of spinel I would put in a bezel, which she did, and it came out great. If it''s a blue to purple spinel, it will probably be too dark to put in a bezel. I''m not a spinel expert though, so hopefully someone else can chime in.

Do bezel settings darken a stone is that why you don''t recommend it for dark spinels?

 

[mariedtiger]

Hi again, sorry I'm late, due to time zones. My setting is done by a local jeweler, but I'm certain Whiteflash would make the same.

I am happy with this one, it performs really well.

 

[Stone Hunter]

OK the bezel is out for this stone. On another PS thread Chrono pointed out that bezeling a color shifting spinel would limit the light going to the stone.

So while I love the LOGR setting that many other PSers have used I''ll need to keep it in mind for a different stone.

THANKS ALL you have been very helpful!

 

[chrono]

Date: 5/29/2009 11:24:25 PM
Author: Chicago

Do bezel settings darken a stone is that why you don''t recommend it for dark spinels?

A bezel usually deepens the stone''s original tone, so if it''s dark, the final result will be darker. A light toned stone will appear medium light when bezeled.