- Joined
- Jun 30, 2014
- Messages
- 2,396
Barrett - I think you are VERY lucky to have access to those cobalt beauties and I suspect at better prices than many of us would be able to acquire them for (IF we could acquire them).
I fear cobalt spinel may be headed the same direction...there are many out there that lack the hauyne-like (or bic pen) color but are priced up because of their "cobalt" content. fwiw - my cobalt spinel was $600 (under 1/4 carat). A friend helped me buy it wholesale awhile ago and before that, I never dreamed of owning one. Price per carat, it's way more than any of my paraibas (or any other stone I own) - and I haven't seen any cobalt spinel of similar color/quality priced that low since. But I am not in the trade so not saying it's not out there.
If it were just for the color, my 3mm hauynes were only $260/pair on-line. Granted spinel is much more durable and heavier-but does that justify the price difference? For me it must have
Admittedly, I'm guilty of jumping on the bandwagon that has you shaking your head because like Arkteia suggested, I wanted some slightly larger paraibas without breaking the bank. While none of the latter purchases can be compared to the little paraibas in my original cluster ring, they still have a unique look/glow that others notice. (I also have cuprians that don't glow but as you suggest, they weren't and shouldn't be priced any different than a nice tourmaline.)
And while I share a different POV, I do understand what you are saying...since joining PS, I've learned to love smaller stones with great color (and cut) over larger stones....but I prefer wearing my stones and anything under 6mm get lost on my large fingers...even my beautiful cobalt spinel
. If I had joined earlier or had better access/connections, I guess I might be shaking my head at what folks are spending now for paraibas but same applies to other mined-out stones.
It's always nice to see new posts on beautiful rarities...there aren't enough of them. Looking forward to your upcoming posts so folks like myself can dream and drool.
I fear cobalt spinel may be headed the same direction...there are many out there that lack the hauyne-like (or bic pen) color but are priced up because of their "cobalt" content. fwiw - my cobalt spinel was $600 (under 1/4 carat). A friend helped me buy it wholesale awhile ago and before that, I never dreamed of owning one. Price per carat, it's way more than any of my paraibas (or any other stone I own) - and I haven't seen any cobalt spinel of similar color/quality priced that low since. But I am not in the trade so not saying it's not out there.
If it were just for the color, my 3mm hauynes were only $260/pair on-line. Granted spinel is much more durable and heavier-but does that justify the price difference? For me it must have
Admittedly, I'm guilty of jumping on the bandwagon that has you shaking your head because like Arkteia suggested, I wanted some slightly larger paraibas without breaking the bank. While none of the latter purchases can be compared to the little paraibas in my original cluster ring, they still have a unique look/glow that others notice. (I also have cuprians that don't glow but as you suggest, they weren't and shouldn't be priced any different than a nice tourmaline.)
And while I share a different POV, I do understand what you are saying...since joining PS, I've learned to love smaller stones with great color (and cut) over larger stones....but I prefer wearing my stones and anything under 6mm get lost on my large fingers...even my beautiful cobalt spinel
. If I had joined earlier or had better access/connections, I guess I might be shaking my head at what folks are spending now for paraibas but same applies to other mined-out stones.It's always nice to see new posts on beautiful rarities...there aren't enough of them. Looking forward to your upcoming posts so folks like myself can dream and drool.
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