Still on a mission to find a hot pink / mehenge spinel

[two_little_birds]

So I have the itch again to find myself a hot pink spinel - the more vivid the better!

I was lucky enough to attend the Toronto PS GTG recently, and although I found a stone I loved during our shopping trip I would never fork out what they were asking. That being said, I can't stop thinking about this stone (or getting one similar).

Here are some I've been looking at...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111307814948?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321356869749?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251484990647?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Thoughts? Can any of the other CS experts chime in... or find me any alternatives?

 

[Niel]

I've been a fan of this one for a while. I've bought from them the color was accurate, they are willing to consider offers, and its comes with a cert doesn't it?

 

[FrekeChild]

As far as secondhand, there is this one:

http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/andrew-gulij-mahenge-spinel

 

[RTFrog]

Hi Two_Little_Birds,

Tried finding something close in the same color/hue - not sure if this fits but I thought it may be close:



http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10943/15236

Or are you looking strictly for an oval/roval shape?

 

[two_little_birds]

Hi Two_Little_Birds,

Tried finding something close in the same color/hue - not sure if this fits but I thought it may be close:



http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10943/15236

Or are you looking strictly for an oval/roval shape?

Oh this is VERY nice!

I'm not limited to ovals.

 

[two_little_birds]

I've been a fan of this one for a while. I've bought from them the color was accurate, they are willing to consider offers, and its comes with a cert doesn't it?

My concern with this one though is the "hot mess" in the center - sorry don't know colored gem terminology. LOL

But now that I've outlined it I can help but think it looks like a man's pen*s.

 

[FrekeChild]

Lol! It's a tilt window. From that angle at least. Might be a full fledged window....

 

[chrono]

This is my idea of what a hot pink Mahenge should look like and I'm sure it has the price tag to match too.
http://wildsglobalminerals.com/vivid-pink-mahenge-spinel-oval-2-carat-eye-clean-tanzania-2/5-2-62a/

 

[chrono]

Wimongem - no idea about the vendor.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111307814948?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Colorgemstore - no idea about the vendor. Stone is on the shallow side by my calculation, hence the easily seen tilt window you've noticed. It could also have a true window but I cannot tell since he/she did not post a straight on picture. The fact that the spinel is right on the 1.00 carat mark supports my guess that the spinel was cut to hit the 1 carat mark and is likely to be windowed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321356869749?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

My experience with Export Gems is that their pictures look WAY better than the stone itself. If it looks HOT in the picture, it'll look just okay (regular) in hand. If it looks just okay in the picture, it'll look blah in hand. The stone is overly deep so it faces up smaller than it should. Unfortunately, I suspect a low crown on this one despite the deep pavilion, based on past experience.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251484990647?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

A few keywords caught my attention so I dug into it a bit further.
"Clean and bigger-than-weight-looking Mahenge spinel" - red flag that the stone is shallow. By my calculations, it is very shallow and once I realized that, I took a better look at the photo and found the window. Given that it is a step cut, the tilt window will be even larger and more obvious. You can barely make it out in the first picture due to the glare but once you see it, you cannot un-see it. I really cannot recommend this stone.
http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10943/15236

 

[two_little_birds]

Wimongem - no idea about the vendor.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111307814948?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Colorgemstore - no idea about the vendor. Stone is on the shallow side by my calculation, hence the easily seen tilt window you've noticed. It could also have a true window but I cannot tell since he/she did not post a straight on picture. The fact that the spinel is right on the 1.00 carat mark supports my guess that the spinel was cut to hit the 1 carat mark and is likely to be windowed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321356869749?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

My experience with Export Gems is that their pictures look WAY better than the stone itself. If it looks HOT in the picture, it'll look just okay (regular) in hand. If it looks just okay in the picture, it'll look blah in hand. The stone is overly deep so it faces up smaller than it should. Unfortunately, I suspect a low crown on this one despite the deep pavilion, based on past experience.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251484990647?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

A few keywords caught my attention so I dug into it a bit further.
"Clean and bigger-than-weight-looking Mahenge spinel" - red flag that the stone is shallow. By my calculations, it is very shallow and once I realized that, I took a better look at the photo and found the window. Given that it is a step cut, the tilt window will be even larger and more obvious. You can barely make it out in the first picture due to the glare but once you see it, you cannot un-see it. I really cannot recommend this stone.
http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/10943/15236

Thanks Chrono! I appreciate the feedback on the stones that have been posted so far... that's helpful.

This is the stone I fell in love with in Toronto - http://www.cynthiafindlay.com/jewellery/rings/spinel/antique-red-spinel-ring.html#.Uy41AUqG95Y.email

The picture doesn't do it justice IMO as the stone is even more vibrant and magenta/hot pink than pictured. But the $2300 price tag is a BIG turnoff.

It doesn't have to be a mehenge per say, and I'm open to all shapes. I'm more interested in the color and ensuring it's vibrant.

 

[chrono]

Unfortunately, hot pink spinel prices are on the up and up, easily doubling what it was a few years ago. Also, given the price of gold and the setting is 22k (almost pure gold), all in all, perhaps the price is not so unreasonable as initially thought.
$2300 = pure gold setting ($1K) + 1.35 ct spinel ($1k/ct) if I attempt to work it backwards.

 

[two_little_birds]

Unfortunately, hot pink spinel prices are on the up and up, easily doubling what it was a few years ago. Also, given the price of gold and the setting is 22k (almost pure gold), all in all, perhaps the price is not so unreasonable as initially thought.
$2300 = pure gold setting ($1K) + 1.35 ct spinel ($1k/ct) if I attempt to work it backwards.

I don't want the setting, I'm only interested in the stone. So if I can't find any other options I will see if the store is open to just selling me the stone.

 

[FrekeChild]

I was just poking around...

http://www.forevergemstones.com/proddetail.php?ProdID=2867

http://www.ajsgem.com/gemstones/spinel/spinel-1.74-carats.html

http://www.ajsgem.com/gemstones/spinel/spinel-1.34-carats.html-0

http://www.ajsgem.com/gemstones/spinel/spinel-1.08-carats.html-3

 

[two_little_birds]

I was just poking around...

http://www.forevergemstones.com/proddetail.php?ProdID=2867

Thanks FrekeChild, I just sent Marty an e-mail about this stone.

 

[Niel]

I was just poking around...

http://www.forevergemstones.com/proddetail.php?ProdID=2867

Thanks FrekeChild, I just sent Marty an e-mail about this stone.

Is there a thread where someone has purchased from them? I'd like to see only because all their stones seem too good to be true.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Several PSer's have bought Mahenge spinels from Prima. Just let him know your specs and Jaimeen will contact you when he gets one in. Many stones are sold before they ever make it onto the site, so just email or call.

http://www.primagems.com/

 

[two_little_birds]

I heard back from Marty, and he also provided a few additional pictures as requested. I have also put the stone on hold.

Thoughts? Opinions? Does the pricing seem fair?

Here is the original picture from his website.


Here is a photo of the stone in it's gem box outside (overcast).


Lastly, here is a picture in hand... taken outside as well.

 

[FrekeChild]

I was just poking around...

http://www.forevergemstones.com/proddetail.php?ProdID=2867

Thanks FrekeChild, I just sent Marty an e-mail about this stone.

Is there a thread where someone has purchased from them? I'd like to see only because all their stones seem too good to be true.

People have purchased from them before, there have been posts in the past, but nothing recent that I know of. I did have a friend who was inquiring about some of their stones recently, and she was pleased with the customer service, but did not end up purchasing, as she was looking for something very specific, and they didn't have it.

I don't really see any of their stuff as being "too good to be true" - their pricing seems very in line with the current market rates. They also offer a 21 day money back guarantee - which is better than most vendors out there, I think.

I don't see any harm in checking it out TLB!

 

[Niel]

Just most of their stones have quite a glow to them. Maybe they only get mostly good quality rough. I'm sure that's possible. But I saw these and then I did a Google image search. Most other examples I find of that gemstone don't seem to glow that red.

http://www.forevergemstones.com/prodlist.php?ProdCatID=19

If they have a good return policy I would go for it. I was just asking because I saw a stone or two I liked, I was just hoping someone had some RL photos.

 

[katharath]

I love that gem, that was the one I specifically liked the best in this thread. I think pricing is pretty in line with the current market, assuming the pics are correct. And I have a couple of small mahenges that look extremely similar to those pics, so I think that the pics certainly *could* be accurate , if that makes sense.

 

[chrono]

I've been curious as well as to what their gems look like IRL.

 

[two_little_birds]

Just an update...

It's down to these two, the original 1.10 red spinel that caught my attention and this 1.46 burmese spinel.

Comparison of the two:


Close-up of the burmese spinel:


Hand shot of the burmese spinel:


Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[Niel]

I prefer and orangy red over pink so I would get the round. But if you were trying to get pink I'd say get the oval.

 

[NKOTB]

Well, that's a bit like asking me to choose between a butter tart and a Nanaimo bar. Both look lovely. However, the oval is quite a bit more expensive than the round, especially factoring in the exchange rate - do you like it that much more? Which shape do you generally like better?

 

[T L]

Do they both have fluorescence?

 

[Xrisus]

@ NKOTB...if it wasn't the fact I'm from Seattle (close enough to Canada), I would have never known what a Nanaimo bar was; and they are delicious! I would pick the Nanaimo bar hands down!

But seriously, is there any color shifting when the ambient light source changes? Likely not, but if there is, that may also weigh into your decision. Either way, I think they are both very nice, and are great choices to be stuck with.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I think two_little_ birds deserves two little stones. They are both gorgeous- buy them both.

 

[chrono]

The quality difference is reflected in the price, hence the 1.46 ct oval is more expensive than the 1.10 ct round. To me, the round looks very orangish red when placed next to the oval. However, the key is to get the colour you like so my choice doesn't matter at all. The other thing to consider, as the rest mentioned, is whether the spinels fluorescences and their colour shifts indoors.

I've found mixed reviews, some good and some not so. On the positive side, returns and refunds appear quick and hassle-free.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/have-you-purchased-anything-from-forevergemstones.108142/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/have-you-purchased-anything-from-forevergemstones.108142/[/URL]

 

[two_little_birds]

The quality difference is reflected in the price, hence the 1.46 ct oval is more expensive than the 1.10 ct round. To me, the round looks very orangish red when placed next to the oval. However, the key is to get the colour you like so my choice doesn't matter at all. The other thing to consider, as the rest mentioned, is whether the spinels fluorescences and their colour shifts indoors.

I've found mixed reviews, some good and some not so. On the positive side, returns and refunds appear quick and hassle-free.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/have-you-purchased-anything-from-forevergemstones.108142/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/have-you-purchased-anything-from-forevergemstones.108142/[/URL]

Thanks Chrono, I will go back to him with a few more questions... I'm very new to coloured stones, so I don't want to buy a dud or overpay for it.

 

[Xrisus]

Here is a thread regarding a red spinel purchased from Marty that you can compare multiple pictures of the stone to gauge what you could expect in hand...taken with the grain of salt that every stone is different. Maybe it will be helpful to help delineate what you might see in person.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/normal-that-my-new-mahenge-spinel-does-not-fluoresce.197444/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/normal-that-my-new-mahenge-spinel-does-not-fluoresce.197444/[/URL]