- Joined
- Sep 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,103
Richard Homer has created my ideal mandarin spess glowball!!!
After much researching & searching, I reached out to him about a piece in his inventory, but it had sold, and so our correspondence began. I sent him a pic of my 'inspiration spess' - an ever so bright mandarin orange round concave cut stone. Not only was I looking for a gorgeous color that didn't brown out or shift to either a wonky yellow or red, but I was also looking for an eye clean stone in a large size, hopeful to one day find such an item at 8mm+
He was such a pleasure to work with and took a great deal of time corresponding about different potential pieces, answering my questions, and even educating me. After much correspondence and with a great deal of serendipitous luck, he searched through his inventory of rough one more time and happened to find a piece that was perfect for what I was after - an higher quality of color than I could have hoped for (perfect tone & without any red or brown), excellent clarity, and appropriate for a large round!
Having just received the spess, it exceeds my expectations in every way! It is a 2.78 carat round concave brilliant from Namibia and turned out to be a fantastic 8.4mm! The color is fantastic - a glorious, bright orange that holds in every way, shape, and form, regardless of the lighting environment (yep, spot on for Sunkist soda and even glows in shadows!). Its clarity is unbelievable for a spess - just a veil off in the periphery, which Richard's cutting camouflaged so well that I am beyond hard pressed to find it face up, even at just an inch or two away from the stone. And, I'm sure it goes without saying, but now having seen one of Richard's stones in person, his cutting is truly amazing! The stone just lights up and the radial pattern of the faceting is mesmerizing with the way that it mimics the sun! I couldn't be more pleased, and I would work with Richard again in a heart beat!
So, on with the pics! First up, the inspiration spess, then Richard's pics, and finally mine (I promise they're worth the wait!)

After much researching & searching, I reached out to him about a piece in his inventory, but it had sold, and so our correspondence began. I sent him a pic of my 'inspiration spess' - an ever so bright mandarin orange round concave cut stone. Not only was I looking for a gorgeous color that didn't brown out or shift to either a wonky yellow or red, but I was also looking for an eye clean stone in a large size, hopeful to one day find such an item at 8mm+
He was such a pleasure to work with and took a great deal of time corresponding about different potential pieces, answering my questions, and even educating me. After much correspondence and with a great deal of serendipitous luck, he searched through his inventory of rough one more time and happened to find a piece that was perfect for what I was after - an higher quality of color than I could have hoped for (perfect tone & without any red or brown), excellent clarity, and appropriate for a large round!
Having just received the spess, it exceeds my expectations in every way! It is a 2.78 carat round concave brilliant from Namibia and turned out to be a fantastic 8.4mm! The color is fantastic - a glorious, bright orange that holds in every way, shape, and form, regardless of the lighting environment (yep, spot on for Sunkist soda and even glows in shadows!). Its clarity is unbelievable for a spess - just a veil off in the periphery, which Richard's cutting camouflaged so well that I am beyond hard pressed to find it face up, even at just an inch or two away from the stone. And, I'm sure it goes without saying, but now having seen one of Richard's stones in person, his cutting is truly amazing! The stone just lights up and the radial pattern of the faceting is mesmerizing with the way that it mimics the sun! I couldn't be more pleased, and I would work with Richard again in a heart beat!
So, on with the pics! First up, the inspiration spess, then Richard's pics, and finally mine (I promise they're worth the wait!)
