Blue e-ring stone .. sapphire vs. spinel

[MommaChristine]

Realistically, which gemstone is better for an e-ring? Which sparkles more and is less expensive? I don''t have a lot to spend on a stone and the sapphires that I''ve seen are out of my price range where on the other hand blue spinels seem like their impossible to find!

Also is there a chart where you can get an idea of what size the gemstone is? Like a mm chart?!

Thanks!

 

[T L]

There are people on tight budgets that found affordable sapphires. I recommended simplysapphires.com because they have an abundance of heat treated sapphires that are affordable. I think one lady bought a sapphire from them for around $300 - $400 and made an e-ring out of it, and she was thrilled. I think for an e-ring, you really need to look at sapphires and crysoberyls as alternatives because she''ll be wearing it everyday, and those are the most durable stones, aside from a diamond of course.

 

[MommaChristine]

Thanks!

Do sapphires appear lighter in pictures?!

 

[T L]

Date: 1/14/2009 11:22:39 PM
Author: MommaChristine
Thanks!

Do sapphires appear lighter in pictures?!

It depends on who is photographing them, but I think simplysapphires.com sapphires tend to look lighter than the pictures. If there are any you''re interested in, then email him about how the color appears in comparison to the picture. You should also post the ones you like here, and your budget, and people can help you to make an informed decision.

 

[marcy]

I think a sapphire in an ering would be lovely. Spinels are 7.5 on the mohs scale so might not hold up as well in a ring you wear everyday. You might also try customegemstones.com. He has some very lovely stones.

 

[Harriet]

What size and shape are you looking for?

 

[ma re]

Date: 1/14/2009 11:34:17 PM
Author: marcyc
I think a sapphire in an ering would be lovely. Spinels are 7.5 on the mohs scale so might not hold up as well in a ring you wear everyday. You might also try customegemstones.com. He has some very lovely stones.

I believe spinel is actually closer to 8 in hardness, but true, it''s not as durable a stone as sapphire.

 

[Swala Gem Traders]

Hello MommaChristine,

Both stones can be beautiful and are available in a whole rainbow of colors.

The refractive index of sapphires and spinels are both high. Basically, if they are well cut, they will be brilliant, not dull. Note that sapphires are usually not as well cut as spinels (they are traditionnally considered as higher end and recovery has often been privileged; not systematically, far from it).

Sapphires are very often either heated or treated. Spinel are never enhanced to modify the color. Between you and me (this is only personnal, each is entitled to his opinion), I would always avoid treated gems.
With spinels, you will always buy a natural stone. With sapphires, you''re not always sure; it will depend on what the merchant knows, is willing to reveal etc...

For equivalent quality, spinels should be cheaper. In both cases, you can purchase a nice gem for a few hundred dollars. They are however both considered as "high end".

Sapphires are harder but spinels are considered as hard as well (Moh''s scale).

FYI, red and pink spinels are the most expensive spinels. Blue and padparadsha (between orange and pink) are usually the most expensive sapphire hues.

I hope that helps.

 

[chrono]

Although I LOVE spinels, you are more likely to find a gorgeous blue sapphire than a blue spinel. To get a blue spinel that doesn''t have a gray modifier is like looking for a needle in the haystack and the pricetag will probably rival a blue sapphire anyway, so I''d save myself some grieve and just stick with blue sapphires. For those on a budget, I''d suggest a gently heat treated blue sapphire.