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What do you think of these probably Mahenge pink spinels?

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
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Aug 27, 2019
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75
Hi guys,

So I just got these two pink spinels from a smaller vendor on Etsy , listed as Mahenge, and I was wondering if they were worth keeping. I’m trying to get a vivid hot pink stone and since the prices are high these days, not sure if this is the best I can do.

Smaller one is 1.2 carat (~$1200) and the bigger one is 1.5 ($1600). Both have cutting problems, but the smaller one’s is super obvious - the pavilion is very lopsided so one side is deeper than the other and there’s definitely extinction. The bigger one has a nice color but does this count as glowing? In lower light it looks a little sleepy and it looks better in sunlight. The smaller one has more purple but more brilliance.

Now, I give you photo spam: took these photos with my phone in my car in afternoon.

61490C91-4B1E-4C71-9E8B-44D9FA4CDA35.jpeg D7E9902D-040B-49E9-AE5D-BD9BF0FF1E01.jpeg 749DC3B5-7E0F-45D5-A6BB-C496C08526B3.jpeg B4B08518-29CB-407A-8F05-B9E79B10CCC8.jpeg 7B081E0D-32CA-4B72-BE53-076DC5E444A3.jpeg 560585FA-9934-469C-AE18-CF94BA38D0D9.jpeg

Thanks in advance for your advice!!
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
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75
More pictures this time in indoor sunlight next to a window

C33A08AF-F151-4E67-9ED8-60602151EBFE.jpeg 5EE43872-73E9-408A-B779-6B604D391B4A.jpeg

Indoor fluorescent light :

1E5FFB8E-C222-42E7-986D-14035B6E0CCC.jpeg

6A5C5C34-55B6-4887-B3C2-AC07724FFB9E.jpeg
 

SparklePolo

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 9, 2019
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Hi, fellow Mahenge spinel seeker here, although I'm looking for pinkish red :razz:

The larger (1.5 ct) one looks more hot pink than the smaller one. Do you have a UV light to test the fluorescence?
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Messages
75
:D I agree about the larger one being more hot pink. I don’t have a UV light yet but I shall get myself one.

Any mahenge experts out there? My dreams are a color like these:

77AE1568-7D76-41D7-AC2F-5082E6276FDE.jpeg
 

PieAreSquared

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Dec 18, 2014
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Nobody else can determine what YOU are seeing in real life. Does what you see on your hand look to you like the dream color picture you posted?
 

icy_jade

Ideal_Rock
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I found that my spinel was a shade more intense/darker after setting if it helps? I think the new mahenges just aren’t as intense as the initial ones from what I’ve seen.

I like the bigger much more than the smaller one.

Mine has a wonky cut and lots of inclusions. Pics of before and after setting...

Before
B8CD3D58-8DE1-4355-A27F-3464939D0094.jpeg
3A6ADE11-0B92-4BD3-ABFD-4F9D3BA0A5F4.jpeg
I never managed to accurately capture the color irl but this came close imo in reflecting the mix of orangey-pink I saw irl:
BBE50504-524F-4174-9CEC-892A153F9483.jpeg

After
And after setting I stopped seeing orange, just pink and more intense looking:
1EFC77DE-8BD9-4D56-A313-76AEFAB21050.jpeg
42A08DE1-6A80-4262-B1EE-3F23537D4C9A.jpeg
FA5F7216-51E5-4030-9F05-43DFC8824D68.jpeg

Agree with checking for UV but depending on what you want, it will be difficult to find a mahenge spinel as glowy as some I’ve seen here. Or you can but pay a mind boggling price...
 

qubitasaurus

Brilliant_Rock
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1,653
I'd keep the big one, send back the small one.

Reason being that they are hard to find at the moment, and I predict you'll pay at least 2k per ct if you want a super nice coloured one above 1.5 ct (unless you have the patience for one to turn up on loupetroop. Waiting for this would probably take at least 12 months unless you get lucky).

AJS gems had some nice looking ones from memory. You could also ask juliab jewelery as I think that is where your inspiration photo comes from. Or ask the person selling katharath's spinel on loupetroop -- can someone else remember the link for that one though? However it is at least 2.5 k from memory. I think katharath's mahenge stones were actually from the cliche of juliab's mahenges you are using as inspiration (at least I think some of them came from that lot. She had several).
 

mellowyellowgirl

Ideal_Rock
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I like the big one. I feel like it's a more true pink and the bigger size doesn't hurt either!
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
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Aug 27, 2019
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Thanks for the input so far. Def thinking about keeping the bigger one but intrigued by the mention of katharath’s spinel. If someone finds the link I would be thankful! In the meantime I’ll search through loupetroop and see if I come across it.

Jade, seeing pics of yours is definitely helpful. Looks like they may not all be so intense. It sounds like it would be hard to find one as intense these days :cry2:
I’m open to being patient and waiting for the right one to come along on loupetroop...
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
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75
Is katharath’s mahenge the one with the tulip setting by Julia b? If so I found it- emailed seller.
 

qubitasaurus

Brilliant_Rock
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Yes it is this one

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...guese-cut-mahenge-spinel-18kyg-ring-by-juliab

You'll have to find the current seller though. As this was the first time it was listed on loupetroop, now it has been relisted by the person who purchasee it.

I went back to look again and was no longer sure if your inspiration picture came from juliab's site as her current listing is this one

https://www.etsy.com/listing/186234725/neon-pink-red-mahenge-spinels?ref=shop_home_active_195&frs=1

(For some weird reason I thought I had seen the picture you posted before, so assumed it was the one used in the listing above. Edit ok I think I found your inspiration photo http://cecileraleydesigns.blogspot.com/2014/10/mahenge-spinel-revisite.html?m=1 in which case you want to look at what prima gems is carrying as that likely would have been the original source.).
 
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arkieb1

Ideal_Rock
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They are expensive for the size and a nice but not a top pink.
 
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T L

Super_Ideal_Rock
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I hate saying this, but I don’t think the mahenge coming out of the mines these days is worth the price per carat. The old mine material was really exceptional, so I would look to other locations for the best hot pink spinel you can afford.

Honestly, the old mine material was much nicer than those stones you said were your ideal color. Those are purplish pink, and the old mine material was a hot pink ior pinkish red.
 

qubitasaurus

Brilliant_Rock
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Yes it is this one

https://loupetroop.com/listings/loo...guese-cut-mahenge-spinel-18kyg-ring-by-juliab

You'll have to find the current seller though. As this was the first time it was listed on loupetroop, now it has been relisted by the person who purchasee it.

I went back to look again and was no longer sure if your inspiration picture came from juliab's site as her current listing is this one

https://www.etsy.com/listing/186234725/neon-pink-red-mahenge-spinels?ref=shop_home_active_195&frs=1

(For some weird reason I thought I had seen the picture you posted before, so assumed it was the one used in the listing above. Edit ok I think I found your inspiration photo http://cecileraleydesigns.blogspot.com/2014/10/mahenge-spinel-revisite.html?m=1 in which case you want to look at what prima gems is carrying as that likely would have been the original source.).

Finally found the current listing

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings/1-dot-58ct-mahenge-spinel-ring-in-18k-yg-size-9;27596
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Messages
75
Thanks guys! Sent the person with katharath’s ring a message. Hopefully this will work out.

I hate saying this, but I don’t think the mahenge coming out of the mines these days is worth the price per carat. The old mine material was really exceptional, so I would look to other locations for the best hot pink spinel you can afford.

Honestly, the old mine material was much nicer than those stones you said were your ideal color. Those are purplish pink, and the old mine material was a hot pink ior pinkish red.

What other locations-Are you talking about Burma spinel? Do you have some examples of PS folks’ with the old mine material? I was looking through some older threads and drooled over Xrises collection. I wish I could buy just one of his spinels off of him lol.
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Messages
75
Hi guys, I’m incorrigible on the hunt so here’s another mahenge I ordered from Yvonne Raley. Very clean but I was hoping it would be a cooler toned pink? Whaddya guys think?

Her pics:

2AAEF0ED-C7CE-482D-B6B3-D52BC3C006E6.jpeg 78551973-11EB-43D0-A4F6-D468448C7D9B.jpeg

My really bad indoor fluorescent light pic:

1B90331D-FA8A-4635-BCF7-B8AE51D314AB.jpeg

Under UV light:

A2F2B61B-45AD-4EED-82F4-CAB9AE8F637D.jpeg

It doesn’t look like it fluoresces much, eh? A little concerned about that and whether this is standard red pink balance for mahenge or more on warmer side.

Will do more natural light pics tomorrow.
 

chrono

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Strong orange secondary if that's something you like.
 

T L

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Sep 20, 2008
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25,160
Hi guys, I’m incorrigible on the hunt so here’s another mahenge I ordered from Yvonne Raley. Very clean but I was hoping it would be a cooler toned pink? Whaddya guys think?

Her pics:

2AAEF0ED-C7CE-482D-B6B3-D52BC3C006E6.jpeg 78551973-11EB-43D0-A4F6-D468448C7D9B.jpeg

My really bad indoor fluorescent light pic:

1B90331D-FA8A-4635-BCF7-B8AE51D314AB.jpeg

Under UV light:

A2F2B61B-45AD-4EED-82F4-CAB9AE8F637D.jpeg

It doesn’t look like it fluoresces much, eh? A little concerned about that and whether this is standard red pink balance for mahenge or more on warmer side.

Will do more natural light pics tomorrow.
If it looks like it could pass as a pinkish garnet, it isn’t a high quality mahenge, but the newer mine material. Does it at least get more vivid in sunlight?
 

icy_jade

Ideal_Rock
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I don’t like the extinction pattern
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Messages
75
Yeah, the extinction pattern is not the best. Maybe I'm just new at it and I didn't think about it before you mentioned it.

Took some more photos in natural light this morning. Less orange for sure.
These are in the shade inside my car
IMG_3587.jpg IMG_3589.jpg

These are in more direct sun through the window:
IMG_3588.jpg IMG_3590.jpg
 

T L

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
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Messages
25,160
Well does it knock your socks off, or are you meh about it? If you’re focusing on extinction patterns, it doesn’t sound like you’re excited about the color.
 

voce

Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
5,161
It's possible to be excited about the color and still not like the extinction pattern. For example, I am thrilled with the color of my avatar ruby, but I can still criticize the extinction pattern in some lighting (though this is probably shadowing, not true extinction).
IMG_0428.JPG IMG_20190703_085657009.jpg
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
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I love the sparkle all the time and I sometimes lose my socks on the color when it's in brighter lighting. Because I like the color in the bright parts, I think the shadowing might actually be why it's a little questionable in lower lighting.
(I keep taking it out of my purse repeatedly at my desk to check again how it looks in the office lol. I'm so productive.)
 

voce

Ideal_Rock
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I think it sounds like if you keep taking it out to look at it, it's a keeper. Also, I like your pics both in the sun and indoors better than Yvonee's pics. This one looked like an especially dreamy color to me.
img_3589-jpg.714196
 
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Arkteia

Ideal_Rock
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Dark but large. Then, the light is dark. 85DCA54E-281B-46AD-AEA5-666F2653C3E6.jpeg I think maybe a slight recut would work.
 

polarisfire

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Messages
75
Sooo, I'm now the proud beneficiary of katharath's mahenge ring. I've joined the PS circle of life HAHA. I loveee it!

IMG_3679.jpg IMG_3667.jpg

IMG_3664.jpg

and now (if you've seen me elsewhere around here), hoping the neon stone gods will smile on me for a unicorn paraiba someday...
 
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distracts

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 11, 2011
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6,131
Sooo, I'm now the proud beneficiary of katharath's mahenge ring. I've joined the PS circle of life HAHA. I loveee it!

IMG_3679.jpg IMG_3667.jpg

IMG_3664.jpg

and now (if you've seen me elsewhere around here), hoping the neon stone gods will smile on me for a unicorn paraiba someday...

Amazing! That’s one of my favorite mahenge rings here. Look at that color!
 

IslandBB

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Messages
117
Sooo, I'm now the proud beneficiary of katharath's mahenge ring. I've joined the PS circle of life HAHA. I loveee it!

IMG_3679.jpg IMG_3667.jpg

IMG_3664.jpg

and now (if you've seen me elsewhere around here), hoping the neon stone gods will smile on me for a unicorn paraiba someday...
Gorgeous! Katharath has great taste! I was the lucky beneficiary of her Vietnamese blue spinel stacker and I’ve never seen another color like it!
Enjoy!
 
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