New little pink spinel

[LoversKites]

My first spinel and my first pink stone.

I bought it from anglegem on ebay -- this PSer had a good experience with them: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/magical-purple-spinel.198690/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/magical-purple-spinel.198690/[/URL]

The vendor pics were spot on. I'm really happy with it -- it's bright and pretty.

My photos are quite bad and desaturate the stone (and according to PS spell-check desaturate isn't a word ). Taken with some window light. I'll take some nicer ones outside.

 

[LoversKites]

I took the first pic on some pink highlighter to show the reddish colour more clearly.

Second pic was taken with flash on.

The cutlet is slightly off centre, though the third picture doesn't show that clearly (correct me if cutlet is the wrong word - I always forget these things). I'm glad that it has no bowtie, half-half extinction or any cut issues that are common in ovals (though this is more or a roundish oval).

Thanks for looking!

 

[LoversKites]

Specs are: 1.24ct, 6.2x5.3x4.5 mm., described as untreated, Tanzanian. Was $30.

 

[chrono]

$30? Are you sure you didn't rip the vendor off?

 

[minousbijoux]

Well done for $30. How noticeable are the inclusions and silk? The culet might be a bit off center, but not terribly apparent. All in all, it looks like you did very well.

 

[LoversKites]

$30? Are you sure you didn't rip the vendor off?

Is there any other point in buying gems?

Well done for $30. How noticeable are the inclusions and silk? The culet might be a bit off center, but not terribly apparent. All in all, it looks like you did very well.

The inclusion is noticeable from some angles in natural daylight, where the stone becomes a lighter pink. This leads me to believe it may be a crack that the light reflects off making it noticeable, but I'm not sure. Indoors or without too much light it just blends with the rest of the stone... those white spots are seen under close inspection (four or so inches from my eyes) but they are tiiiny. The silk is there - I haven't seen other silky stones to compare it's impact to, sorry! I'm quite fond of the silk in this case but I personally wouldn't want it in an expensive purchase. I like sparkle. And thanks!

It's called a culet and not a cutlet? Oops!

 

[minousbijoux]

Do you think the white spots could be crystal inclusions?

 

[LoversKites]

Do you think the white spots could be crystal inclusions?

I don't often see discussions about spinel inclusions so this is quite interesting to bring up - I guess because they are widely available clean. I don't have a loupe or any way to see the inclusions properly, unfortunately.

According to this link they could be cavities filled with calcite and dolomite inclusions: http://www.jewelinfo4u.com/Spinel_Identification.aspx#sthash.rR2C9rr9.rwuXz3sy.dpbs

Apatite is a common spinel inclusion and could be what is in mine.

But in all honestly I have no idea what they are.

 

[JewelFreak]

Sheesh, for $30 you did great! Look forward to outdoor pics. I had to go back to look for white spots, didn't notice them at first; they're so small, I doubt they'd be visible once it's set, if that's what you plan for it. Great buy, LK!

 

[minousbijoux]

Yes, I was thinking of both apatite crystals and the octahedral inclusions that always look like little space ships to me and my active imagination. Either of them could appear white under the right circumstances and lighting.

 

[minousbijoux]

Hopefully, TL will pop along with some good examples.

 

[LoversKites]

Some outdoor pics. You can see the inclusions more clearly. I'm positive that the big long one is a crack (see last pic of this post).

 

[LoversKites]

PS is giving me trouble attaching photos. I'll post the rest a little later.

Oh! One of them seems to have been added.

Thanks JF! As for setting, maybe one day but not for a while.

 

[chrono]

Most spinels are clean but yes, there are some that aren't so. The only ones I've seen personally look like "bubbles" to the naked eye but when magnified, are actually tiny octahedral crystals. This is not to be confused with flame fusion spinels' gas bubbles and curved growth markings.

The pictures below are courtesy of Jeffrey Hunt.

 

[minousbijoux]

Some outdoor pics. You can see the inclusions more clearly. I'm positive that the big long one is a crack (see last pic of this post).

Well it still looks like a great buy to me!

If the white inclusions you are talking about, LK, are making a horizontal line across the bottom third of the stone in the closeup you just posted, then no, they are not the octahedral "space ship" inclusions I was referring to...don't know what those are.

 

[LoversKites]

Some outdoor pics. You can see the inclusions more clearly. I'm positive that the big long one is a crack (see last pic of this post).

Well it still looks like a great buy to me!

If the white inclusions you are talking about, LK, are making a horizontal line across the bottom third of the stone in the closeup you just posted, then no, they are not the octahedral "space ship" inclusions I was referring to...don't know what those are.

Yeah, it was a great buy No, I wasn't referring to the white things, rather the horizontal line, which I suspect is a crack. The white things - who knows - could be a number of things.

Thanks Chrono for those cool pics.

 

[endless_summer]

LoversKites - you definitely had a GREAT find! It's a beautiful color, especially against your skin tone, and I am sure that it will be just gorgeous once you set it. Do you have plans for it yet?

 

[LoversKites]

LoversKites - you definitely had a GREAT find! It's a beautiful color, especially against your skin tone, and I am sure that it will be just gorgeous once you set it. Do you have plans for it yet?

Thank you Endless Summer I may set it one day but not for a while. I'm still trying to get a feel of what I like and don't like in gems -- time will tell.

 

[minousbijoux]

LoversKites - you definitely had a GREAT find! It's a beautiful color, especially against your skin tone, and I am sure that it will be just gorgeous once you set it. Do you have plans for it yet?

Thank you Endless Summer I may set it one day but not for a while. I'm still trying to get a feel of what I like and don't like in gems -- time will tell.

Smart move; can't tell you how many stones I set early on and now don't wear because they "bug" me.