I almost bought a purple sapphire but decided against it because I have so run out of money ! 
But I had to post it here in case anyone else wants. It’s a perfect shade and so bright for a sapphire!
But I had to post it here in case anyone else wants. It’s a perfect shade and so bright for a sapphire!
OMG I've found it, it's so gorgeous!
I'm getting some small stones to try gem setting too! I set a 5mm blue-green tourmaline the other day into prongs. Going to get a couple 3mm fire opals from Yvonne for side stones.I received my ruby pair and iolite parcel last week but was too busy to post. Here are my (terrible) pictures.
IRL, the rubies are cute little glow-y stones--a little sleepy, and more pinkish red than I was expecting. The description given was "cinnamon candy red". Actual Red Hots (the candy) look more like red "closer to the orange side of red" red than these. These are more red "closer to the pinkish purple side of red" red. Hopefully, that makes some kind of sense. After I explained my color analysis to my husband, he looked at me and asked "Are you deranged?" Anyway, for the price I paid, I'm still thrilled.
The iolites are very purplish blue and most are on the darker side. Some show pleochroism, from violet to almost clear, but most don't. I'm not disappointed because they were, frankly, dirt cheap and I bought them for practicing stone setting. Overall, I'm quite pleased with my purchase.
I'm still heartbroken that I didn't buy that gorgeous blue sapphire, though... Sigh...
@natasha-cupcake you might want this: https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...ted-sapphire-from-gary-braun-in-platinum-ring
That blue sapphire is gorgeous for the price imo
This is the only gem I bought from this current sale. I had been eyeing it for quite some time. It’s ok. Sometimes I like it but I don’t love it. It does have a lot of fire scintillation that I couldn’t seem to photograph but for some reason I’m kind of meh about it over all. It does seem to like my bathroom lighting, the last two photos that show it as purple.
Pretty! Yes I’d love feedback on that stone as I am not knowledgeable about tanzanite at all.that's very pretty! i love unheated & color zoned tanzanite. maybe someone else can weigh in on whether it's worth snapping up, the price of tanzanite varies so much. but the cut on that stone is unusually beautiful. fwiw here is my birthstone ring with a similar color but native cut...it was about $350 including setting.
I picked up a red-orange spessartite that is super red and sparkly. It's going to be set as a gift for my mom. And I also got a pinky purple spinel that has lots of tiny crackley or crystaly (?) inclusions that looks like fizzy glitter inside the stone. I'm keeping it for myself. Still hunting for a stone for my sister; but she's never as enthusiastic about them as me, lol.
I wouldn't have bought them based on their pics but I would have on yours 
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