May I have your opinions on this spinel please

[innerkitten]

I''ve been after a pink spinel for a while and I just can''t seem to find the right color. I bought this one from a cutter and received it yesterday. It''s very well cut with lots of fire but the color isn''t exactly whatI I was after. It matches my skin a little to well or something. It''s not super shifty like some spinels. Looks a little better in indoor lighting than outdoor. I haven''t seen it in bright sunlight because we haven''t had any. I am on a budget so couldn''t afford anything much more expensive. But I''m wondering if a pink rhodolite or tourmaline might satisfy me more. I might ask the cutter if I could do an exchange.
What do you think?

 

[mercoledi]

It''s a nice cut, but I agree, the pink could be more saturated (or whatever the term we''re supposed to use is, Pinker). I don''t know what your budget is like, but this sapphire trillion is a deep pink and this spinel is a little darker than the one you have, though the cut looks a little wonky.

 

[Kismet]

It does kind of disappear against your hand all by itself but you have to keep in mind what sort of setting you''ll be putting it in. If you bezel it and set it north/south, I imagine it would contrast more with the metal/accent stones of the ring than your hand than if you prong set it east/west (where you''d see more stone and less metal).

 

[innerkitten]

Right now I''m thinking that whichever stone I wind up with I''d like a east west setting. If I go with yellow gold, I''d probably go without diamond accents. I love simple yellow gold settings. If it is a white metal I might have a small halo or small diamonds on the shank, slightly larger as they approach the center stone could be kind of cool.

But right now I''m still not sure about this stone. I''ll give myself an afternoon to think about it.

 

[Pandora II]

I''ll quantify my post first by saying that very few spinels have ever really jumped out at me - and so they have therefore never been a stone that has hugely interested me. I''m not loving that one for the same reasons you are wondering about it.

I would think you''d find a really good rhodolite garnet to be more to your taste - and probably very doable with a limited budget.

 

[movie zombie]

depending on what you paid for it, it may be a bargain. quality spinel goes for thousands per carat.

however, if you''re not happy with it, you''re not happy with it. i''m not seeing a lot of extinction in your photo nor a window which counts lots for me.

have you considered setting it in pink or red gold? if you''re going to have side stones anyway, perhaps the color will be fine.

movie zombie

ps admittedly, i like a stronger color and, more importantly, i''m not a pink person.

 

[Harriet]

If the colour is not what you want, don''t settle. Pink spinels (with the exception of the hot pink ones) are not that difficult to find. Yet.

 

[coatimundi_org]

yah, I''d exchange and find a different gem in the color you really want.

 

[innerkitten]

Thanks guys! I''ll contact him and see what he says.

 

[AmberGretchen]

I think if you''re ultimately going to end up with something in that color range, I''d consider setting it in a setting with some rose gold - I feel like that would really set off the color beautifully.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/6/2009 5:57:00 PM
Author: Pandora II
I''ll quantify my post first by saying that very few spinels have ever really jumped out at me - and so they have therefore never been a stone that has hugely interested me. I''m not loving that one for the same reasons you are wondering about it.

I would think you''d find a really good rhodolite garnet to be more to your taste - and probably very doable with a limited budget.

Ditto for me as well.

I find that too many spinels have a substantial grey mask, even the pink ones. The ones that are very nice are often really super expensive. I agree that a nice small pink Malaya garnet or a rhodolite (although they tend to be on the dark side) would be a nicer alternative. A pink tourmaline is nice as well, but it won''t have the same refractive properties of a garnet or spinel, and 99% of them tend to go murky in certain lighting. However, they are usually inexpensive in that shade of pink.

 

[chrono]

If you don''t like it, no one can make you like it.

I would caution you that pink toumalines tend to get muddy and rhodolites can have quite a bit of extinction or be too dark overall, but then again, you probably already know that too.

 

[marcy]

If you don''t like it I would continue to look for something you do like.

 

[innerkitten]

I''m not easily satisfied when it comes to gems. I wish I was

My favorite purchases over the last year were a very nice orange spess with no brown tones and an aqaumarine. Both look good in most types of light.
I''m pretty sure the muddy tones of a pink tourmaline would bug me. Are the green ones like that too or just the pink ones? I love the look of chrome tourmaline, but don''t actually own any. I''ve seen some very rich looking rhodolites on this site. I''d be interested in one if it wasn''t too dark.

We''ll see. This will probably be my only project this year since finaces are tight.

 

[mariedtiger]

Hi Innerkitten,

I bought this pink spinel from John at Gemrite. It is a gorgeous pink, warmer than in the picture, I''ll try to take a pic later this afternoon. I know he has a bit of rough left, although I don''t know the size. This one is included, but you have to strain to see the inclusions because of the saturation. In my opinion, seeing the stone, it was a bargain

 

[ma re]

Rose gold setting is what came to my mind too, but I see that''s old news already

It would probably make it more pink, especially if bezel set, and if you''d use white metal for the rest of the ring (shank), you''d also get some contrast with the skin. You can also bezel the rose bezel with white one

Pink tourmalines usually do have a more saturated color, just don''t expect a miracle out of clarity. And rhodolites are a completely diferent kind of pink if you ask me - when they''re lighter in tone they tend to have a lot of grey in the mix so are not as brightly colored.

 

[mariedtiger]

Now I have more time, and want to comment on the spinel on your hand. I personally like it a lot, but I see what you mean about it being close to your skin tone. What I love about lighter pink spinels is that they are so sparkly! And in a setting it wouldn''t be as close to your skin. But if you don''t love it now, you probably won''t later on, I know I haven''t.

I looked for the perfect pink for such a long time and found mine in a pale pink but supersparkly spinel.

Here is a pic of the spinel I posted about earlier. It is much more neon in person but maybe it''ll give you an idea.

 

[innerkitten]

mariedtiger, yours is a perfect color. What are your plans for it? I have a very small pink spinel in a really beautiful hot pink. It looks great in any type of light, no greys or browns. I bought it years ago and am realizing those perfect pinks are VERY tough to come by these days.

 

[innerkitten]

I don''t mind that rhodolites are a darker pink. I think the deep rape is very beautiful in it''s own way. But I''m not totally stuck on pink. BTW would you wear a tourmaline in a right hand ring.

 

[mariedtiger]

My plans change daily

And I have a few projects in line before it, but stacking rings is one of my favorite. This one with its sister and a spessartite.

If you like this color, John from Gemrite has some rough in the same shade. Ad when you said that you''re not stuck on pink, have you checked out Dan Stair''s latest cut tourmaline? I love that mint! I would definitely (and do) wear tourmaline in a right hand ring. My problem with pinks is just how murky some of them are in different lights

I don''t know how you can tell that before buying a stone.

 

[innerkitten]

You did get a good deal on that one. Here is a photo of my bright pink one next to the new one which is a more rose color. It''s not as saturated as yours. It was really cheap about 5 or 6 years ago. It''s kind of a funky cut but the color makes up for it. Since I bought it I''ve been on the hunt for another in a similar color.

 

[mariedtiger]

Gosh Innerkitten, in my book that is the perfect pink!The second stone I mean

 

[ma re]

Your cat is into gemstones too?