Lavender spinel... keep or return?

[tand*m]

I'm pretty sure which way I'm leaning on this, but would appreciate input on anything I might be overlooking.

For a while I've been thinking about getting a stone for a RHR, frequent but not necessarily everyday wear. I am pretty good about taking off rings before I do any heavy work with my hands, so I thought a lavender sapphire or spinel would fit the bill. I also want to hand it down to my little one when she gets older, so that she can have it reset if she wants.

Luckily for my budget I prefer the more lavender purples compared to the highly saturated ones, mainly because it is more subtle for me to wear frequently in a work setting.

After some searching I found a precision cut lavender spinel, eye clean, 3.4cts, 10.5x8; after seeing it in person I actually like the color more than I thought-- it has gorgeous flashes of blue and is super sparkly indoors and out! I can't do the color justice in these photos.

The window is a lot more obvious than I thought though from the vendor pics and video, and I am afraid it will not close up during setting. My eye constantly goes to it and I feel like it would be the first thing I notice in a ring since it is right in the middle of the stone. The dark parts are not extinction, just reflections/shadows from me not being able to get a good shot with my left hand.

Do I send it back? Ask for a recut? Set it? The reason I went with precision cut in the first place was to minimize the chances of something like this happening, but are my expectations/understanding perhaps off? I understand spinels in this size are more rare esp eye clean ones.

Appreciate advice/thoughts. Thank you!

Outdoor shade


Sun

Indoors

 

[marymm]

I voted to keep it as I too really like its color moods and its size, and it really has lovely proportions.

I think the window would close up if you chose a setting with more of a closed-in type basket, like this:



as opposed to a more open-bottom basket, like this:

 

[Bluegemz]

I think it has a gorgeous color and size. Perhaps a recut if the window is really distracting to you?

 

[stracci2000]

I think it's stunning. I love the steely pale color. A very good looking stone!
Once it is set, it will be spectacular.

 

[T L]

Depends on the price as well.

 

[Burmesedaze]

As native cuts go, this window isn't half bad. Depending on the price, msy be worth keeping. I like this shade and would keep it

Marymm's basket suggestion is a good one.

 

[pregcurious]

Go with your gut. If you love it, I think you'll only love it more. If there's something you don't like about it, I think it will only get worse.

 

[tand*m]

Thank you all for your input!

@marymm thanks for the setting suggestions! Do you think simply having metal underneath the window would help to close it up, or does it need to be a basket type setting with the alternating open/closed areas to distract from the window? One of the settings I really like is this one; thoughts on whether it would work? (Sorry for link, pic did not want to upload)

http://sholdtdesign.com/sholdt-ring/r206-1hp/

@Bluegemz, @stracci2000 I was so surprised to get such a nice consistent lavender too! The color really speaks to me.

@T L, @Burmesedaze I agree... this was over 250pct which I thought was already quite a premium. I ascribed that price to the size and also the precision cutting. If it was a native cut I would be more forgiving, but then the price would not have been this high either.

Since it is precision cut, would you have expected the window to be smaller or less obvious? Or based on maximizing the brilliance, this is ok? It really is quite sparkly.

@pregcurious that makes complete sense. I guess I am having a hard time figuring out what my gut says... mainly I just want to be more comfortable about not overpaying.

Thank you all for helping me think through my dilemma! As the poll is tied I would love to see if there are more opinions on one side or another.

 

[Seaglow]

There is small window on some photos but I agree with marymm, a suitable setting will close it. Also depending on metal color it can highlight a hue or darken a stone.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Do you happen to know the depth? If it's deep enough, a pavilion tweak could certainly be enough to close the window. If you love the (face-up) size and color, then I'd explore that option. Send the info and some close-up pictures of various angles to a skilled lapidary and get their thoughts.

In my experience, I agree with Preg - if something initially bothers me about a stone it only worsens as time goes on.

Best of luck with your decision!

 

[marymm]

A recut will likely change the color IMHO.

Any kind of closed-basket setting would work - yes, the window should be minimized/eliminated by having metal underneath it.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

I wouldn't suggest a re-cut - only a pavilion tweak, if it's deep enough. The color question is something to ask the lapidary. I've done many pavilion tweaks and the color hasn't changed, but that's only my experience. Others might be different. Just trying to put all options out there to explore before you make a decision.

 

[chrono]

It was mostly likely precision cut that way for a reason...

It seems to not be windowed face up but the very slightest tilt shows a window, probably due to a flattish crown. I suspect the lapidary did his or her best with the shape of the rough.

 

[OTL]

It's a bit too greyish for me, and I don't favor the cutting it looks like to have a tilt window that can't be avoid most of the time. I would return it.

 

[lilmosun]

Great size and a tilt window isn't unusual given the shape - I've seen precision cut ovals with tilt windows. I voted return only because I've learned (the hard way) that if something bothers me before it's set, my eye will continue to be drawn to it even if its not obvious to others. But that's just me. On the other hand you love everything else about the stone, so the question is what you will see when wearing it - a beautiful large sparkly stone -or- a tilt window that others won't notice?

 

[T L]

Thank you all for your input!

@marymm thanks for the setting suggestions! Do you think simply having metal underneath the window would help to close it up, or does it need to be a basket type setting with the alternating open/closed areas to distract from the window? One of the settings I really like is this one; thoughts on whether it would work? (Sorry for link, pic did not want to upload)

http://sholdtdesign.com/sholdt-ring/r206-1hp/

@Bluegemz, @stracci2000 I was so surprised to get such a nice consistent lavender too! The color really speaks to me.

@T L, @Burmesedaze I agree... this was over 250pct which I thought was already quite a premium. I ascribed that price to the size and also the precision cutting. If it was a native cut I would be more forgiving, but then the price would not have been this high either.

Since it is precision cut, would you have expected the window to be smaller or less obvious? Or based on maximizing the brilliance, this is ok? It really is quite sparkly.

@pregcurious that makes complete sense. I guess I am having a hard time figuring out what my gut says... mainly I just want to be more comfortable about not overpaying.

Thank you all for helping me think through my dilemma! As the poll is tied I would love to see if there are more opinions on one side or another.

If the price isn't much more than $250/Ct, that's a fair price. It's a nice stone in certain lighting conditions, although less saturated in others. Stones over three carats usually demand a higher price per carat as well. The window isn't that bad to me, but others, including yourself, might be distracted by it

 

[Katesimone]

I would return - if you're already concerned about the cut I think it will continue to bother you. I've had the same thing and the more I look at it the more it bothers me and it becomes all I can see when I look at it.

 

[tand*m]

So much appreciate the input.

@Seaglow, thanks! I would go with WG or platinum most likely as I don't really wear other metals as much. It's been suggested to me that a shiner surface under the window would help minimize the appearance as well?

@SparkliesLuver, I estimate the depth is somewhere around 5 mm? I will ask about the pavilion tweak!

@marymm, thanks for bringing up potential color change, I will definitely ask about that as a consideration as well.

@chrono, thank you. Yes the culet is pretty flat but thin so maybe a small tweak could help close it up? I don't notice the window when it is in the box but primarily when it is on my hand.

@OTL, you have an amazing eye for color. Thanks for weighing in!

@lilmosun, that helps to hear you've seen other ovals with tilt windows too. I may need to look at it some more on my hand at normal hand distance to see how sensitive I am to the window.

@T L, thanks for the insight! indoors one end does tend to go darker...

@Katesimone, thanks! Especially since I would have to go with a custom setting for this, I should really make a decision before I go farther down that path.

I am so glad to have PSers to rely on, thank you!