How do red Mahenge spinels compare to the Burmese ones?

[innerkitten]

Hope I''m not over posting here. But this might be a question that comes in handy to other people searching for gems. I wanted to type in red and hot pink in the title BTW but didn''t have enough room.

 

[chrono]

You are not going to get a red Mahenge in sizes under 5 carats. If you are very lucky, you might find one under 5 ct with a very red hue but it’s going to be a long wait. Most Mahenges under 5 ct tend to be pink or show a combination of red and pink. In terms of price and availability, it’s easier and less expensive to get a hot pink and red Mahenge than a hot pink and red Burmese spinel of equal saturation at the moment.

 

[innerkitten]

You weren''t kidding about the price difference! I contacted a vendor that deals in Burmese gems and he said for loup clean ( really I only need eye clean) hot pink, well cut Burmese he could find one for around 2000 per carat. I don''t have anything to compare it too as far as Burmese stones go. But Mahenge sounds like the way to go right now.

The ban on Burmese stones probably isn''t helping.

 

[Arkteia]

I don''t think that the ban has anything to do with it. I suspect that Burmese deposits are soon to be exhausted, that is all.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Dumb question but is mahenge just defined as coming from mahenge? Is any color from there called a mahenge spinel or only the pink ones? Are all the pink ones mahenges or only the vivid ones?

 

[innerkitten]

It''s based on the place.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Date: 2/27/2010 5:58:05 PM
Author: innerkitten
You weren''t kidding about the price difference! I contacted a vendor that deals in Burmese gems and he said for loup clean ( really I only need eye clean) hot pink, well cut Burmese he could find one for around 2000 per carat. I don''t have anything to compare it too as far as Burmese stones go. But Mahenge sounds like the way to go right now.

The ban on Burmese stones probably isn''t helping.

I may be mistaken, but the ban only affects ruby and jade. I am pretty sure that spinels aren''t under the ban.

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 2/27/2010 5:58:05 PM
Author: innerkitten

The ban on Burmese stones probably isn''t helping.

The ban applies only to jadeite and ruby. Red spinel and other stones from Burma are not affected although sometimes U.S. Customs officials mistake red spinel for ruby.

Burmese Mogok and Namya red spinels set world color standards for spinel in my opinion. Their prices reflect it.

Richard M.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I was actually going to ask a similar question myself.

What about the hot pink Mehenge spinels and Burmese spinals, are there any differences?

 

[chrono]

Firecracker,
Is your question comparing a hot pink Mahenge to a Burmese pink or to a Burmese red spinel?

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Mahenge pink to Burmese pink

 

[chrono]

Mahenge pink wins hands down. The saturation of a top Burmese pink will never achieve that level of eye popping neon-ness a Mahenge pink does.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Date: 3/1/2010 9:49:05 PM
Author: Chrono
Mahenge pink wins hands down. The saturation of a top Burmese pink will never achieve that level of eye popping neon-ness a Mahenge pink does.

Thanks. That is helpful.

 

[Richard M.]

Mahenge pinks are often "sleepy" due to microscopic inclusions that scatter light inside the stone. The fine pinks from Namya in Burma are very transparent and exhibit fluorescence similar to top Burmese rubies.

These images from Vicent Pardieu''s excellent article on red/pink spinel show fine gems from both locations (Namya in Burma at the top; Mahenge bottom). In judging color keep in mind the difference in backgrounds.

Production from Namya is sporadic due to seasonal mining conditions. Mahenge stones are probably more available currently due to the finds of two exceptionally large crystals several years ago that yielded considerable gemmy material.

Richard M.

 

[chrono]

Richard,
Fine Mahenge stones can also be very transparent and fluorescence as well. I have seen a few that are very transparent and also some that fluorescence.

 

[LD]

My Mahenge is clean and fluoresces it''s little head off!

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 3/2/2010 4:03:17 PM
Author: Chrono
Richard,

Fine Mahenge stones can also be very transparent and fluorescence as well. I have seen a few that are very transparent and also some that fluorescence.

I didn''t say there were no transparent Mahenges. I made a statement of fact about the tendency of some stones from that location to be "sleepy." Should I not have? I was simply presenting a visual comparison of the two.

Richard M.

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 3/2/2010 4:11:08 PM
Author: LovingDiamonds
My Mahenge is clean and fluoresces it''s little head off!

Well yippee-skip! I hope it doesn''t hurt its little self.

 

[colormyworld]

Oh Z snap up !

 

[LtlFirecracker]

In the picture Richard M put up the burmese and the Mahenge seem to have similar saturation - I do notice some slight differences, but it is hard to explain them.

 

[Harriet]

Wow! I''ve been waiting for a quality Mahenge, but I may change continents.

 

[innerkitten]

From the photos they look pretty similar and they both look very pretty. I do see a bit more transparency in the Burma photo. Maybe it''s something you need to see in person in order to know what to look for.

 

[chrono]

I''d love a Namya pink but those are now incredibly difficult to find.

 

[T L]

Some collectors go out of their way to find sleepy spinel material as well, since the silk inclusions impart what appears to be a soft glow in certain lighting. This can be quite attractive, and they tend to be more affordable than the pure transparent material, which makes them truly a "sleeper" stone (in a monetary sense that is

). Regardless of what kind of locale you purchase one from, it''s always a plus to get a spinel with UV fluor as well.

 

[T L]

Slightly OT, but since we''re talking about pinks spinels, some Tajikistan spinels are quite beautiful. Not neon, but they often have a lavender secondary and they impart blue flashes of color when well cut. Here''s one from AmericanThai.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Date: 3/2/2010 10:06:55 PM
Author: Chrono
I''d love a Namya pink but those are now incredibly difficult to find.

I saw a whole tray full at Pala right before I moved away from San Diego. But they were $$$$. And the ladies were saying that the prices were too low and they were going to talk to Bill about raising them.

.

 

[sleepyspinel]

*Some collectors*

definitely love that sleepy version of Mahenge and how can one complain when the price is even less!

Date: 3/2/2010 10:11:40 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Some collectors go out of their way to find sleepy spinel material as well, since the silk inclusions impart what appears to be a soft glow in certain lighting. This can be quite attractive, and they tend to be more affordable than the pure transparent material, which makes them truly a ''sleeper'' stone (in a monetary sense that is

). Regardless of what kind of locale you purchase one from, it''s always a plus to get a spinel with UV fluor as well.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 3/2/2010 10:06:55 PM
Author: Chrono
I''d love a Namya pink but those are now incredibly difficult to find.

Patience, m''dear. That''s what collecting is about.

 

[T L]

Date: 3/2/2010 10:55:04 PM
Author: sleepyspinel
*Some collectors*

definitely love that sleepy version of Mahenge and how can one complain when the price is even less!

Date: 3/2/2010 10:11:40 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
Some collectors go out of their way to find sleepy spinel material as well, since the silk inclusions impart what appears to be a soft glow in certain lighting. This can be quite attractive, and they tend to be more affordable than the pure transparent material, which makes them truly a ''sleeper'' stone (in a monetary sense that is

). Regardless of what kind of locale you purchase one from, it''s always a plus to get a spinel with UV fluor as well.

LOL, yes, a certain collector came to mind when I thought of sleepy spinels.

I guess your Pricescope handle says it all!!