Help me find the perfect "raspberry"...

[MJO]

Pic of my 12.8 ct spinel I rediscovered after years missing after moving. The pic was taken in my car in indirect light.

 

[voce]

@lovedogs @Rfisher I think even the best vendors won't be able to supply real-performer-in-regular-lighting red garnets. I've bought red garnets from Finewater Gems and Litnon and was disappointed with both, as they were darker, more extinct-looking under sunlight than what was photographed in the studio shots, in which they looked absolutely perfect to me. I had to return the one from Finewater, and decided to keep the one from Litnon because it was 8mm and only $50. I set the Litnon red garnet, which was an Umba garnet and not the crap pyrite, but I still don't end up wearing it that much. I just don't think I am a fan of red garnet in general, even if they photograph well, because they just don't perform in person. I'd rather have a smaller, even orangey, red spinel over a large pure red garnet just so I don't have a stone that blacks out under the sun. Same thing with purple garnets. The only garnets I like/love are the pastel colored ones like green grossular (aka tsav) or spessartite.

Edit: I should remember that some spinels are overdark and look garnet-like, too. But, overall I'd sacrifice the color purity for not blacking out under the sun.

 

[AV_]

Digressing,

Never knew why are they called rasp-berry of all things; nothing 'rasp' about them.

@MJO You are holding a very large, very red, very dark berry!

 

[MJO]

I know I used to buy the largest good color stones of almost anything I could find. I have sold off most of my collection but still have a few. Campbell Bridges bought all my 3+ ct tsavorites that were not dark. I sold them way to cheap 10 years ago at $800/ct and some were 6 to 11 cts

 

[lovedogs]

That is true!
But there’s many out there just like his listings.
This was more so of what I experienced as a large red family garnet, as it was mentioned as a possibility upthread.
The real-performer-in-regular-lighting -really-red-garnet is more scarce then hens teeth.

oh yeah I totally agree. Red garnet tends to go dark indoors, which is why I don't think I'd recommend it for OP, especially if he wants "true red" rather than red/orange (which can be found in spess).

 

[lovedogs]

@lovedogs @Rfisher I think even the best vendors won't be able to supply real-performer-in-regular-lighting red garnets. I've bought red garnets from Finewater Gems and Litnon and was disappointed with both, as they were darker, more extinct-looking under sunlight than what was photographed in the studio shots, in which they looked absolutely perfect to me. I had to return the one from Finewater, and decided to keep the one from Litnon because it was 8mm and only $50. I set the Litnon red garnet, which was an Umba garnet and not the crap pyrite, but I still don't end up wearing it that much. I just don't think I am a fan of red garnet in general, even if they photograph well, because they just don't perform in person. I'd rather have a smaller, even orangey, red spinel over a large pure red garnet just so I don't have a stone that blacks out under the sun. Same thing with purple garnets. The only garnets I like/love are the pastel colored ones like green grossular (aka tsav) or spessartite.

Edit: I should remember that some spinels are overdark and look garnet-like, too. But, overall I'd sacrifice the color purity for not blacking out under the sun.

yeah I agree. But like I said above I think OP should get a spinel rather than a garnet (though red/orange spess garnets like the ones that Mastercut has right now can be amazing and keep color in lower light, but they aren't "pure red", which is likely why they don't go as dark.

 

[chrono]

The questions is: what is the OP willing to sacrifice?

He wants it under $8K, that much is very clear.
Is mm size negotiable?
Is colour negotiable?
Is treatment negotiable?

As of this point, I don't think he has given us any idea what he is willing to compromise on. Until then, I have no idea what to look for.

 

[PinkAndBlueBling]

@AV_ Thanks for the article! Glad to know I have some "female rubies."

 

[Rfisher]

OP I know three stone was your target later on maybe?
How about red sidestones?
https://www.thegemtrader.com/160-ct-red-spinel-matched-pair-the-gem-trader-rare-gems

 

[voce]

OP I know three stone was your target later on maybe?
How about red sidestones?
https://www.thegemtrader.com/160-ct-red-spinel-matched-pair-the-gem-trader-rare-gems

Those are marked as reserved already from a few weeks back. I think Brad doesn't update the website often, but I looked on July 4 and was contemplating purchasing those, decided not to contact Brad because it's listed as reserved from the newest inventory page.

 

[AV_]

Nb. at the same address, there exists a Flame Spinel of more substantial mass - there do exist some mesmerizing tokens of the type & they are overlooked IMHO

 

[Rfisher]

Darn! It didn’t show up as reserved on mobile.
Sorry!

 

[lucky_in_love]

The questions is: what is the OP willing to sacrifice?

He wants it under $8K, that much is very clear.
Is mm size negotiable?
Is colour negotiable?
Is treatment negotiable?

As of this point, I don't think he has given us any idea what he is willing to compromise on. Until then, I have no idea what to look for.

Size is negotiable but remember she's very tall and has a size 8 finger.
Colour is not really negotiable.
Treatment, heated is fine.

 

[voce]

there's many many treatments for ruby
Take a look at the following article, then tell us which treatments you'd be OK with.

https://www.gemrockauctions.com/lea...on-gemstones/how-do-they-treat-ruby-gemstones

 

[Rfisher]

Assuming we are sticking with ruby-
I’m going to assume that you’ve already nixed the three 2+carat rubies from the gemfix site that are under 8k?

 

[deorwine]

When you say "color is not negotiable," realize that PSers see in very very fine gradations of color, finer than you probably do.

For example, is a tiny bit of orange in the red all right? That alone will open you up to a lot more (and larger) stones than you can get by only looking at "pure" reds.

 

[elizat]

I have never bought here before but what about this:

https://www.adamantgems.com/spinel/

It's the 4.06 red orange spinel. Is it too orange?

 

[elizat]

This is a pear ruby from a trusted vendor. I don't know if you like it. It's a nice size.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/709540007/unheated-pear-ruby-1-ct-ruby-vivid-red

 

[Lovinggems]

How about a lab created gem? Maybe have a look at the coloured gem beauties thread under Fabulous Fashion Jewelry section. Lab created gems seem to be more popular these days. Not sure how hard it it is find one in the shade you’re looking for though.

 

[chrono]

I'd like to point the OP's attention to the various ruby treatments. It's not as cut as dry to just say "heat only" because there is a huge subset of treatments that fall under heat only.

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/page-2
http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/foreign-affairs.htm
http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/flux_healing_mong_hsu_ruby.htm

 

[AV_]

Buying such things is like joining a club in a foreign country (did not work well) - or a pursuit not to be rushed.

Is there a deadline?

 

[voce]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/666641...atural-ruby-oval?ref=shop_home_active_9&frs=1

If you don't mind treatments, clarity treatment can be fairly stable, and this is a much better price and look than your $9.5k ring. It's very very affordable.

 

[lovedogs]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/666641...atural-ruby-oval?ref=shop_home_active_9&frs=1

If you don't mind treatments, clarity treatment can be fairly stable, and this is a much better price and look than your $9.5k ring. It's very very affordable.

And it's from a trusted vendor.

 

[GliderPoss]

https://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=11699

You mentioned this one earlier - I really like it and Litnon is a reputable vendor. This to me is very "Raspberry" in colour, it's the right shape and within budget....

 

[hwm]

The loupetroop red spinel is having a discount now...
https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...th-lotus-report-please-watch-the-videos;30007