Help with a red spinel

[Atwater]

I am considering a red spinel. The posted pictures look nice to me. The description says the very best color of a Burmese red spinel, highly saturated, super strong fluorescence. There’s no dark-field to be observed in this stone.

Indoor indirect natural light, no artificial light:




The description says strong fluorescence:


I crop the following two pictures from an indoor video and an outdoor video.
outdoor:


Indoor:


I am buying a red spinel for the first time. Your opinions will be much appreciated!

 

[lovedogs]

Is there a certificate? How much is the vendor asking?

 

[Atwater]

The vendor says it looks similar to a Jedi; it won't black out in various light conditions; the clarity is quite good for this color, some tiny inclusions and fissures, close to eye clean.

I saw something at the 11~12 o'clock location in this picture. I asked about it; no reply yet.

 

[Atwater]

Is there a certificate? How much is the vendor asking?

Oh, I actually have not asked about the certificate yet. The vendor asks for $1300/ct, so this is $1600.

 

[Atwater]

I got reply about that "something" at 11~12 o'clock. The vendor says it is the refraction or reflection from the silver cross. The inclusion can hardly be seen without a loupe.

 

[Atwater]

Is there a certificate? How much is the vendor asking?

No, there is no lab report or certificate. The vendor says it is returnable anytime if found synthetic or treated.

 

[pwsg07]

The indoor photo looks good to me. The price seems fair

 

[Atwater]

The indoor photo looks good to me. The price seems fair

The two indoor pictures really got me; however, the lighting is bright although they are labelled as indoor natural light. The stone looks quite alive in the outdoor video as well, which I really like. But it looks muted and not so lively in the indoor video. Is this normal? What about the so-called glow? Am I unrealistic to expect a red spinel to have glow in indoor shaded lighting?

 

[pwsg07]

Indoor lighting is supposed to be the worst lighting to observe a gemstone. If the stone looks good indoor, I think the stone will look good. Also check the stone under different kinds of light bulbs. Red garnets usually look brown under fluorescent light. To take an accurate photo of the colour indoor using iPhone, I need strong light and I don't know why.

I am not sure about the glow. When the uv rays of the sunlight hits the chromium in the spinel, the spinel will fluoresce. I think this is the glow they are talking about.

 

[voce]

It looks a little sleepy indoors, which makes me think there might be clarity enhancements. Seems a risk to buy without a lab report, but it is a beautiful stone. The question I ask myself is, am I going to regret it if I don't give this stone a chance and don't find a similar one later? Make sure to get a lab report if that's important to you.

 

[ShinyPink]

Can you share the video? The photo on the crown bothers me for some reason.

 

[Atwater]

It looks a little sleepy indoors, which makes me think there might be clarity enhancements. Seems a risk to buy without a lab report, but it is a beautiful stone. The question I ask myself is, am I going to regret it if I don't give this stone a chance and don't find a similar one later? Make sure to get a lab report if that's important to you.

I have no idea about spinel clarity enhancement. If I buy it, I most likely will get a lab report by myself. The vendor did say it is returnable anytime if found synthetic or treated. I will return it if it turns out to be synthetic or treated.
I do like the color, but it is smaller than I prefer. I also asked if the vendor has something similar about 2ct and was told this (1ct+) is already considered a relative big size for this color.

 

[Atwater]

Can you share the video? The photo on the crown bothers me for some reason.

Instagram does not allow me to save it. I tried screen recording, but this website does not allow me to upload the video: "the uploaded file does not have the allowed extension". The screen recording generates a .mp4 file.

 

[chrono]

No restocking fee? How easy is it to send the stone back?

 

[Atwater]

No restocking fee? How easy is it to send the stone back?

It is returnable anytime if the stone turns out to be synthetic or treated as specified in the lab report, the vendor will provide full refund and pay for the shipping (did not specify if it includes return shipping though).
Otherwise it is returnable in 24hrs, the vendor will return the money excluding the shipping cost and service fee if charged by a third party (e.g., paypal).

The vendor is located in Shanghai, China.

 

[lovedogs]

I think this is the same vendor I got my spinel from. If so, I had no issues (though I decided I didn't want to send for a lab report bc the setting I wanted was also made by a company in China , so it was easier to just get it set). The vendor took PayPal, shipped fast, and was very nice.

 

[Atwater]

I think this is the same vendor I got my spinel from. If so, I had no issues (though I decided I didn't want to send for a lab report bc the setting I wanted was also made by a company in China , so it was easier to just get it set). The vendor took PayPal, shipped fast, and was very nice.

@lovedogs : Yes, it is the same vendor; I actually found this vendor from your post regarding your search for a red spinel (thank you!). Will you share your opinion on this spinel? How does it compare to yours? How truthful is this vendor's picture/video?

 

[Atwater]

Instagram does not allow me to save it. I tried screen recording, but this website does not allow me to upload the video: "the uploaded file does not have the allowed extension". The screen recording generates a .mp4 file.

Any suggestions from those who can upload videos?

 

[lovedogs]

@lovedogs : Yes, it is the same vendor; I actually found this vendor from your post regarding your search for a red spinel (thank you!). Will you share your opinion on this spinel? How does it compare to yours? How truthful is this vendor's picture/video?

I thought the vendor descriptions were really honest. I don't have a uv light so can't exactly check flour, but I definitely see glow in sunlight and love my stone. No complaints at all. Mine definitely isn't eye clean, but I specified that color was more important than clarity so it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[lovedogs]

Also, I would ask the vendor if it's a "Jedi" spinel or not. According to him or her, the Jedi label usually means more chromium/glow (at least in how this vendor describes the stones).

 

[Atwater]

I thought the vendor descriptions were really honest. I don't have a uv light so can't exactly check flour, but I definitely see glow in sunlight and love my stone. No complaints at all. Mine definitely isn't eye clean, but I specified that color was more important than clarity so it doesn't bother me at all.

Thank you! I really hope the color I see in the images is the color I will get. How does yours look in indoor shaded light? It is also a bit muted or sleepy?

Also, I would ask the vendor if it's a "Jedi" spinel or not. According to him or her, the Jedi label usually means more chromium/glow (at least in how this vendor describes the stones).

The vendor says "I am not claiming it a Jedi spinel, it's just simply a very top red." So it is not a Jedi. The vendor also says it looks similar to a Jedi; it won't black out in various light conditions, has super strong fluorescence. I suppose not a Jedi means it is less vivid as a Jedi would?
Also, is $1300/ct still reasonable for a not Jedi red spinel?

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you! I really hope the color I see in the images is the color I will get. How does yours look in indoor shaded light? It is also a bit muted or sleepy?


The vendor says "I am not claiming it a Jedi spinel, it's just simply a very top red." So it is not a Jedi. The vendor also says it looks similar to a Jedi; it won't black out in various light conditions, has super strong fluorescence. I suppose not a Jedi means it is less vivid as a Jedi would?
Also, is $1300/ct still reasonable for a not Jedi red spinel?

The term "jedi" is a weird one bc it means different things to different people. I think the one I got was $1500/ct? Maybe? Or $1600? Not 100% sure. But to me, I was ok paying extra for the extra pop of color. But obviously that's totally up to you/the buyer. Does the vendor have any they would consider "Jedi"?

 

[voce]

I think most Jedi spinels that are red/pink were mined in Namya or Man Sin, and the visually purer red ones come from other mines? The mines are all located near Mogok, where rubies were mined, and it can get pretty confusing.

I wouldn't worry about trade name labels like that, just whether it is a natural gem and what treatments it has had.

 

[Atwater]

The term "jedi" is a weird one bc it means different things to different people. I think the one I got was $1500/ct? Maybe? Or $1600? Not 100% sure. But to me, I was ok paying extra for the extra pop of color. But obviously that's totally up to you/the buyer. Does the vendor have any they would consider "Jedi"?

I did not specifically ask it he/she any other Jedi, but I did ask if there are close to 2ct ones or if he/she can find a smaller pair (pear shape preferred) that I can use with this one. The answers are no to both. He/she thinks it is very hard to find neither with this color.

 

[Atwater]

I think most Jedi spinels that are red/pink were mined in Namya or Man Sin, and the visually purer red ones come from other mines? The mines are all located near Mogok, where rubies were mined, and it can get pretty confusing.

I wouldn't worry about trade name labels like that, just whether it is a natural gem and what treatments it has had.

Does the pictures suggest treatment to you? @MrsKMB also mentioned the photo with the crown bothers her for some reason.

 

[Atwater]

I am ok with the price if the color is really that in the photos, of course assuming natural with no treatment. If I buy it, probably it will be the only red spinel for me. So I do prefer a larger (maybe 2ct) one, but will $3000 even be enough for a 2ct one in such color?

 

[T L]

I think it has nice color, but my concern would be the clarity and any fillers, surface fractures, etc... A lab report may not talk about clarity enhancement, especially a smaller Asian lab. If you do decide to get it, never ever ever put it in an ultrasonic cleaner, and tell your jeweler the same.

 

[Atwater]

I think it has nice color, but my concern would be the clarity and any fillers, surface fractures, etc... A lab report may not talk about clarity enhancement, especially a smaller Asian lab. If you do decide to get it, never ever ever put it in an ultrasonic cleaner, and tell your jeweler the same.

Will AGL brief specifies clarity enhancement if there is any? Or it has to be a prestige report?

 

[voce]

I think what could be "bothersome" is the lack of precise flashes returned through the table of the stone. The first photo of the gem in the gem holder, you could think it's blurry due to the focus of the camera not being set right. However, in the crown picture, everything around the spinel is in focus, but the spinel itself, looks a little silky/sleepy instead of flashy in a way where you can see the facets distinctly.

In my own limited experience, when rubies look like that, it is because they have inclusions. This doesn't necessarily mean that it's clarity enhanced, but often times inclusions like fractures will get filled in to make the gems more stable and hide the visual impact of inclusions.

And re: AGL brief, yes, the AGL brief should tell you if they detect a clarity enhancement, and they will often times say something about the stability of the clarity enhancement i.e. excellent or otherwise.

 

[T L]

Will AGL brief specifies clarity enhancement if there is any? Or it has to be a prestige report?

I believe so, but I would check with them, as it’s been a long time since I obtained my last AGL brief. The prestige report would for sure, and it would also probably tell you the stability and type of filler. I don’t know if that’s worth it. The gem brief should suffice. Just be careful with cleaning it if it is enhanced, no ammonia based cleaners, ultrasound, or steam.