Seeking Advice for Choosing Spessartite Garnet

[agenova]

Hi there-

Orange is my favorite color and I have been looking at spessartites for a while. So many of the ones I see on your suggested vendor websites have already been sold, so I'm assuming that the good ones go quickly. It is depressing to see a stone that you like only to click on the link and find out that it has been sold! Stone dealers/cutters really need to move those stones to a "Sold" section so as not to disappoint potential customers like me!

I have it narrowed down to a selection of stones and was hoping to get some expert opinions on the options I have chosen. You will notice that there is a range of price points. I want to get the prettiest spessartite for the money that will look good set in a ring. I don't have a design yet but the shapes of the stones I'm looking at lend themselves to various options.

Options 1-4:

 

[agenova]

Options 5-8 :

 

[agenova]

Spessartite Option 9:



Other Beautiful Stones to Consider

 

[agenova]

Other Beautiful Stones to Consider:

 

[chrono]

What is the ideal orange to you? Pure orange? A little bit of yellow? Something with a touch of red?
I caution that citrine will look a bit glassy or dull compared to a garnet.
I also noticed that some of your options are not eye clean. Clarity isn't an issue?

 

[minousbijoux]

If you are considering multiple types of stones, I would guess that perhaps you have not seen many stones in hand? If that is the case, I would suggest that before you commit to a stone type based on the color online, that you go to see some in person - either in jewelry stores or better, at a gem show. Many places have frequent shows so I would google "gem show" for your area. I personally love spess - no other stone type will do it for me due to its color and the crystal (except maybe a clean, vivid, untreated orange sapphire and I'm not holding my breath for that). Good luck!