Help me find a great blue spinel please.

[joy2theworld]

I have contacted Dan Stair about a spinel similar in color to bling addict''s and will wait patiently for him to find me something similar. However, my birthday is this week and I told my husband I want a spinel. I need some help finding a beautiful one that is a little over a carat or so. Something between 1 and 2 carats would probably be best as I don''t wear big jewelry. As for color, I just love blue, so, I''m not picky as long as the clarity and cut are great!

 

[Harriet]

Happy birthday! I have to warn you that a nice blue spinel is difficult to find. I just did a quick search on Pala''s site and came up empty-handed.

 

[FrekeChild]

All I'm going to say is this, "Good luck."

If you want to know the reasoning behind this, search for "Desperately Seeking Spinel".

 

[bling addict]

You could also try contacting Barry Bridgestock (Freke''s beautiful Spinel is from him) good luck with your search - hope you get something you like and it doesn''t take too long!

 

[joy2theworld]

I had no idea it would be so hard!! I am just new to this, so, I don''t know everywhere to look, so, I thought someone might know a secret. I''m kicking myself now for not buying one I saw a few weeks back on a site that is now sold

 

[bling addict]

Don''t worry Joy2theworld --- it will be worth it when you find one you love

 

[FrekeChild]

Awwww....they have become VERY popular lately, so much so that shortly after I bought my first blue oval from Dan (I returned it for a pink one), he bought a huge parcel of rough and they have been selling like hotcakes since then. My ering has one of Barry''s stones, but I still have a round of Dan''s in my gem box....

I think at one point I had about 6-7 cutters looking for one for me...sigh...

If you need any help, don''t hesitate to ask! A lot of us have been through the same thing (even if it''s not for spinel)! But it will probably take longer than a week. If it doesn''t, you are very very lucky indeed!

 

[Harriet]

Blues can be found. It''s just that I''m extremely fussy about colour. I hope Colormyworld lends a hand. He''s the resident spinel collector.

 

[T L]

I am not a spinel collector, but every blue spinel I have ever seen has a grey modifier. Here's a seemingly nice looking blue spinel (#692) which, admittedly, also has a grey modifier. Some people like the grey modifier. Good luck.

http://www.precisiongem.com/html/html/Spinel.html

 

[FrekeChild]

From my conversations with Gene, he told me that that spinel (the one that TL just posted) is pretty dark in real life. I considered it for my ering, but he thought it was too dark for what I was looking for. Just an FYI, since I don't know exactly what you're looking for.

Mine has a gray modifier. And I love it. my spinel also does this cool color shift thing. I didn't know if you've seen it, so here is a link to the SMTR thread: Click Here!

 

[Fly Girl]

John at GemRite describes this oval blue spinel as excellent. Link

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Joy2theworld, good luck! I''m looking for a blue spinel as well - try Barry Bridgestock. I really love many of his stones, and his spinels seem really nice (I''m thinking of buying one from him)

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 1/11/2009 11:31:10 PM
Author: Fly Girl
John at GemRite describes this oval blue spinel as excellent. Link

Good find FG, that one does look nice. But kinda pricey, no? Or am I mistaken and thats how much spinel goes for?

 

[marcy]

Blue spinels can be pricey. I hope your find something for your birthday. Happy Birthday too!

 

[Deedaa]

I have had this one bookmarked for a while. A little larger than you are looking for though. Look for the 2.35ct round blue spinel on this page:

http://www.planetarygems.com/bluesapphirepage.htm

I''m not an expert but I quite liked this one as a sapphire alternative.

 

[FrekeChild]

A note about that one that Deedaa posted--Chrono had looked at it and pointed out that the tweezer things holding the gem look white in that picture, and she felt that it probably had very strong light shining on it to get that color blue out of it, and she guessed that it would probably be much darker in real life than it appears in that photo. It''s been around for a while. If it looks like the picture I think it would be beautiful, but just a warning with that one...

 

[joy2theworld]

Thank you everyone. I knew you ladies would know more places to look that the few places I''ve been watching. I guess I better start buying them when I like them as they as popular as you are saying. There are a few smaller ones I was going to get, but decided to wait and then they sold. I like the ones that have a little lighter color, so, I think the gray undertone is probably not a bad thing for me as I like the softer blue. Also, I''m not a big fan of ovals unless they are chubbier ovals if you know what I mean. I don''t care for the long and narrow look just because my fingers are shorter. Also, I like more of the classic shapes. Some of the sites I have seen have some really odd shaped stones that would be hard to set. So, I suppose I prefer round, cushion, emerald, etc...
Thanks again for keeping an eye out for me. I am new to this group, but have found just by reading responses that all of you are so very helpful. That''s an uncommon thing online!

 

[chrono]

Date: 1/11/2009 11:31:10 PM
Author: Fly Girl
John at GemRite describes this oval blue spinel as excellent. Link

I've seen that one and it has a gray mask that is not apparent in the picture. It is also darker than what I expected, but then I am a very fussy blue spinel buyer. It may turn out to be something someone else may love.

I've been shopping for a blue spinel for nearly 3 years. I've only 1 that I love and it's not even a precision cut; the culet is very slightly off center but has a wonderful open blue colour. And I'm still looking for that bright sapphire blue spinel with NO gray... Those are not cheap.

A gray undertone does NOT make the blue a softer tone. It makes it darker and muddier looking. Spinels are also prone to extinction so you probably would want a blue spinel that has a hint of lavender/purple and something in medium to a light tone.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 1/12/2009 9:06:47 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 1/11/2009 11:31:10 PM

Author: Fly Girl

John at GemRite describes this oval blue spinel as excellent. Link

I''ve seen that one and it has a gray mask that is not apparent in the picture. It is also darker than what I expected, but then I am a very fussy blue spinel buyer. It may turn out to be something someone else may love.


I''ve been shopping for a blue spinel for nearly 3 years. I''ve only 1 that I love and it''s not even a precision cut; the culet is very slightly off center but has a wonderful open blue colour. And I''m still looking for that bright sapphire blue spinel with NO gray... Those are not cheap.

A gray undertone does NOT make the blue a softer tone. It makes it darker and muddier looking. Spinels are also prone to extinction so you probably would want a blue spinel that has a hint of lavender/purple and something in medium to a light tone.

Chrono, do you have any pics of the one spinel that you love?

I was e-mailing Barry the other night and he said he had one that looks like a sapphire, but unfortunately I missed out on it - it turned out he had another one and paired it up for earrings. But you should try asking him

 

[shinyrocks]

I feel your pain!

I thought blue spinel would be a nice alternative to sapphire, but I just haven''t been able to find anything that looks remotely like a nice sapphire (for less than a sapphire, anyway). Good luck!

 

[Harriet]

I've been searching for a year and have given up on finding a spinel that mimics that classic sapphire blue. As for the cobalt ones, I've been told that they are well nigh impossible.

 

[T L]

Here''s a pic of a cobalt blue spinel just in case anyone was wondering what they look like. I think this stone was originally on pala.

 

[Fly Girl]

Thegemtrader just sold this cute little cobalt blue spinel on eBay for $27. To be sure, this stone is only 0.08 ct, which kept it affordable.

 

[T L]

Here''s a 3 something carat color changer with a nice blue color (not crazy about the violet color though). This one is a bit more expensive!

http://wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/8312

 

[tommalle]

Date: 1/11/2009 11:09:06 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I am not a spinel collector, but every blue spinel I have ever seen has a grey modifier. Here''s a seemingly nice looking blue spinel (#692) which, admittedly, also has a grey modifier. Some people like the grey modifier. Good luck.

http://www.precisiongem.com/html/html/Spinel.html

What is a grey modifier?

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 1/12/2009 11:16:35 PM
Author: tommalle

Date: 1/11/2009 11:09:06 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I am not a spinel collector, but every blue spinel I have ever seen has a grey modifier. Here's a seemingly nice looking blue spinel (#692) which, admittedly, also has a grey modifier. Some people like the grey modifier. Good luck.

http://www.precisiongem.com/html/html/Spinel.html

What is a grey modifier?

It's not a pure shade of blue. It is slightly blue-grey. Tourmaline Lover can spot a tish of grey from a mile away. Most of the time I can't tell, which is kind of nice, because it means I like cheaper stones.

 

[T L]

Welcome to the world of colored gemstones!! A modifer is a secondary hue in a gemstone that can make a gemstone look nicer or uglier. Rubies, Emeralds and Sapphires that approach the more vivid spectral hues of red, green and blue respectively, are the most valuable because those gems are more prized without modifiers. However, most colored gems, being of a specific main color, like the blue spinels we''re discussing in this thread, might have a secondary hue that takes it a notch away from the pure color it is intended to be. I hope I explained that right. Some modifiers are not as desirable as others. A blue modifier in a green emerald for example, is more desirable than a grey modifier in a blue sapphire. I hope that makes sense.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/12/2009 11:20:53 PM
Author: Fly Girl

Date: 1/12/2009 11:16:35 PM
Author: tommalle

Date: 1/11/2009 11:09:06 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I am not a spinel collector, but every blue spinel I have ever seen has a grey modifier. Here's a seemingly nice looking blue spinel (#692) which, admittedly, also has a grey modifier. Some people like the grey modifier. Good luck.

http://www.precisiongem.com/html/html/Spinel.html

What is a grey modifier?

It's not a pure shade of blue. It is slightly blue-grey. Tourmaline Lover can spot a tish of grey from a mile away. Most of the time I can't tell, which is kind of nice, because it means I like cheaper stones.

Well then you would like the Hope diamond, it's graded a fancy grey blue!! I wouldn't call that cheap!!

Some people like grey modifiers. I have a violet tourmaline with a grey modifier, and I think it gives it an icey cool color. I don't like grey modifiers in other kinds of stones though.

 

[colormyworld]

Date: 1/12/2009 11:24:27 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Welcome to the world of colored gemstones!! A modifer is a secondary hue in a gemstone that can make a gemstone look nicer or uglier. Rubies, Emeralds and Sapphires that approach the more vivid spectral hues of red, green and blue respectively, are the most valuable because those gems are more prized without modifiers. However, most colored gems, being of a specific main color, like the blue spinels we're discussing in this thread, might have a secondary hue that takes it a notch away from the pure color it is intended to be. I hope I explained that right. Some modifiers are not as desirable as others. A blue modifier in a green emerald for example, is more desirable than a grey modifier in a blue sapphire. I hope that makes sense.

First things first. Happt b-Day Joy. With your critera I am sure you will find a blue spinel.

TD2, I am going to disagree with much of your post I quoted. I am under the impression that " pigeon blood" rubies are the most valuable coloir in ruby. These are distinctly purplish are they not? A slightly violet hue in sapphire does not hurt value at all. I am not sure about a blueish secondary in emeralds at this time but I am pretty sure it does not hurt. With tsavorites it is a plus. With spinels intensely colored orangey reds are more valuable than straight reds. Just trying to give good info here so others can make informed decisions in thier gem buying.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/13/2009 9:18:18 AM
Author: colormyworld

Date: 1/12/2009 11:24:27 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Welcome to the world of colored gemstones!! A modifer is a secondary hue in a gemstone that can make a gemstone look nicer or uglier. Rubies, Emeralds and Sapphires that approach the more vivid spectral hues of red, green and blue respectively, are the most valuable because those gems are more prized without modifiers. However, most colored gems, being of a specific main color, like the blue spinels we're discussing in this thread, might have a secondary hue that takes it a notch away from the pure color it is intended to be. I hope I explained that right. Some modifiers are not as desirable as others. A blue modifier in a green emerald for example, is more desirable than a grey modifier in a blue sapphire. I hope that makes sense.

First things first. Happt b-Day Joy. With your critera I am sure you will find a blue spinel.

TD2, I am going to disagree with much of your post I quoted. I am under the impression that ' pigeon blood' rubies are the most valuable coloir in ruby. These are distinctly purplish are they not? A slightly violet hue in sapphire does not hurt value at all. I am not sure about a blueish secondary in emeralds at this time but I am pretty sure it does not hurt. With tsavorites it is a plus. With spinels intensely colored orangey reds are more valuable than straight reds. Just trying to give good info here so others can make informed decisions in thier gem buying.

I agree that you want a bluish modifier in a tsavorite and it does help the value. Certain modifiers are necessary in stones. I have a book on rubies and sapphires by Renee Newman. It's been a while since I've opened that book, but I do believe that the closer a ruby comes to pure red and the closer a sapphire comes to pure vivid blue, the more valuable. In the end, it's about what makes you the most happy colorwise, but having an eye for fine color helps.

It's funny you mentioned the orange red spinel thing. I just received an orange red "neon" spinel from Burma. It didn't do a thing for me at all so I returned it after only viewing it for less than a day. However, to someone else, it might be the bees knees. It's all subjective in the end I guess.

ETA: This is what Richard Wise says about ruby in his book (I hope he doesn't mind my quoting him):

Although a visually pure red is the most desirable, pure hues are rarely encounted in nature; thus when describing gemstones in this volume we speak of primary and secondary hues . . . in Burma-type ruby, the predominant secondary hue is pink Experts disagree on which of the secondary colors is preferable. Many, of course, prefer a true-red red. . .