Need your help guys - Oval Tourmaline vs. Oval Spinel

[LaurenThePartier]

So, Dan cut both of these for me over the weekend, and I''m leaning toward the purple spinel to go with my blue spinel. I really only need one oval, but I am really kind of loving this tourmaline, too.

So, what would you do - keep one over the other, keep both?

 

[LaurenThePartier]

One more pic of the tourmaline - 1.15 ct.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

And, another of the spinel.

 

[Kelli]

I''d have to keep them both, they''re both just TOO beautiful!!!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:14:05 PM
Author: Kelli
I''d have to keep them both, they''re both just TOO beautiful!!!

I suppose I could buy a second setting.

I''m really leaning toward keeping both of these, and along with that blue spinel, just having a backlog of projects to work on.

 

[mercoledi]

I would think about keeping them both if funds allowed, if not; that pink is electric!!!

 

[LD]

BOTH!!!!!

I might be totally wrong but the photos I''ve seen from Dan compared to photos on here tend to look lighter so it depends what tone you''re looking for? If the purple IS darker IRL then it may be too near your blue in colour?

They''re both beautiful though and it''ll be a tough choice!

 

[FrekeChild]

Stats?!

I''d have a hard time choosing and probably get both, but I''m a spaz...

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:26:53 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Stats?!

I'd have a hard time choosing and probably get both, but I'm a spaz...

From Dan's email . . .

The spinel weighs 1.26 carats and measures 6.08 x 7.98mm. This one is cut as a brilliant oval with a faceted girdle (something I only do on harder stones). It is a purple pink color that reminds me a lot of a medium Brazillian amethyst, and shifts to a sort of mauve (?) or orangy purple pink under incandescent light.

The tourmaline is a pretty good pink with slight reddish tones. It is not as "intense" in person as in the photos. Whatever the element is in pink tourmalines that gives them their color tends to be overly photogenic and look a bit oversaturated in person. It's a good pink, but not quite the raging hot pink that it looks like it is in the pictures. This one weighs 1.15 carats, measures 6.05 x 7.95 mm and is a brilliant oval with a smoothed off girdle rather than faceted like the spinel.

Both stones are about the same regarding clarity. Both have an inclusion out toward one end and a few tiny specks or bubble, but both seem to be eye clean. The sun hasn't been out here in days, so I can check to see if there is anything that shows under the most brutal of lighting conditions. I would say both are generally eye clean with neither showing any big, obvious flaws.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

One more pic by a window . . .

 

[FrekeChild]

Which are you leaning towards?

Which is most needed for the rainbow?

(I'd get the spinel, but I'm a cool color person.)

ETA: The faceted girdle is really nifty. He cut my blue spinel oval like that...

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:36:47 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Which are you leaning towards?

Which is most needed for the rainbow?

(I''d get the spinel, but I''m a cool color person.)

I need purple for the rainbow, and I have a square pink tourmaline that I was planning on setting in a rose gold version of my e-ring.

Cash flow isn''t the problem, but new drops abound during this time of month, and I don''t want to get too caught up in the gemstone euphoria.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:36:47 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Which are you leaning towards?

Which is most needed for the rainbow?

(I''d get the spinel, but I''m a cool color person.)

ETA: The faceted girdle is really nifty. He cut my blue spinel oval like that...

I think I''m leaning way toward the purple . . . but that pink is just so pretty, even if I take it down a notch or two in intensity.

 

[FrekeChild]

Can you sleep on it?

BTW, you're making it even harder on me than it was before because I'm jonesing for a new stone...

You could get both and send the pink to me so I can babysit it while you're trying to figure out what to do with it!

 

[Linda W]

Lauren, I

them both. I would keep them both, I couldn''t choose between the two.

 

[T L]

I like the spinel because it has more dichroic properties in that picture (violet to mauve-pink). That color tourmaline is common IMO, and you can always get one (even on ebay). It's harder to find a spinel that color. Both stones are lovely though.

 

[CharmyPoo]

They are both so beautiful. With the first few pics, I was going to say the tourmaline but the last pic .. I loved the spinel too. Tough choice.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:43:10 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I like the spinel because it has more dichroic properties in that picture (violet to mauve-pink). That color tourmaline is common IMO, and you can always get one (even on ebay). It''s harder to find a spinel that color. Both stones are lovely though.

My thought, too - especially because the color shift is so appealing to me.

I''ll probably end up with both because I''m a terrible decision maker.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:41:55 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Can you sleep on it?

BTW, you''re making it even harder on me than it was before because I''m jonesing for a new stone...

You could get both and send the pink to me so I can babysit it while you''re trying to figure out what to do with it!

Now, that''s a thought . . . we should start a gemstone rental/borrowing service!

 

[T L]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:45:30 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier

Date: 11/3/2008 3:43:10 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I like the spinel because it has more dichroic properties in that picture (violet to mauve-pink). That color tourmaline is common IMO, and you can always get one (even on ebay). It''s harder to find a spinel that color. Both stones are lovely though.

My thought, too - especially because the color shift is so appealing to me.

I''ll probably end up with both because I''m a terrible decision maker.

Well, then that''s the best decision of all!!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Keep both!!

They look like sisters - perfectly complementary to one another - you shouldn''t separate them

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 11/3/2008 4:38:30 PM
Author: Brown.Eyed.Girl
Keep both!!

They look like sisters - perfectly complementary to one another - you shouldn''t separate them

That was my thought, too!

I did it - I got them both! Thanks all!!!!

 

[coatimundi_org]

Good!

I''m late chiming in, but I say both--and I''m glad you did! haHA!

(Coati-always here to enable-mundi)

Plus, they''re just so pretty!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 11/3/2008 7:33:24 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier

Date: 11/3/2008 4:38:30 PM

Author: Brown.Eyed.Girl

Keep both!!


They look like sisters - perfectly complementary to one another - you shouldn''t separate them

That was my thought, too!


I did it - I got them both! Thanks all!!!!

Woohoo!!! Congrats!!

 

[neatfreak]

I like the pink personally but am glad you got both, they are gorgeous!

 

[marcy]

Glad you got both - they are gorgeous.

 

[FrekeChild]

Woot!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can''t wait for more pics!!!!!

 

[bling addict]

Date: 11/3/2008 3:45:30 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier

Date: 11/3/2008 3:43:10 PM

Author: tourmaline_lover

I like the spinel because it has more dichroic properties in that picture (violet to mauve-pink). That color tourmaline is common IMO, and you can always get one (even on ebay). It''s harder to find a spinel that color. Both stones are lovely though.

My thought, too - especially because the color shift is so appealing to me.


I''ll probably end up with both because I''m a terrible decision maker.

I too am a terrible decision maker - so if it was me, and funds allowed, I''m sure I''d keep both

If I had to pick one, I''d probably pick the Spinel because I love the look of the colour! Looking forward to seeing pics when you decide!

 

[T L]

Lauren,
We need to know, what kind of settings are you thinking of getting for them? Or are they going to be earrings, pendant (both in a pendant lariat would be cool)? What is your project?? Dying to know!!

 

[cushioncutnut]

YAY! I am glad you got both!

There was no way I could help you decide! They both have such beautiful characteristics to them!!!