Hello all!
Doth my eyes deceive me or is there windowing occurring on this spinel? Ok I know the lighting isn’t the best but I’ve tried filming this in direct sunlight, indirect, and artificial and I’m getting the same issue. In person it looks much better than on camera.
Unfortunately, it does seem to have windowing.
When you are visually observing it, are you using same conditions as in the images? Or are you holding the stone with tweezers?
Agree with Troy. You can check the pavilion angles to see if that’s the reason
In the same conditions as the ones pictured it looks better. But even with tweezers it still seems to have the windowing. Whats your take on setting it? Yes or no
Yes, it can be set. Some different styles of closed-back bezels or baskets could be used to help de-emphasize the windowing effect. Choice of metal would also play into that decision, based on the stone’s hue and saturation.
@bobdrbob is right!. The problem is with the pavilion cut angles and most-likely from the effort to retain stone weight.
I hesitate to suggest recutting the stone, but depending on how much it changes the valuation, it could offset any losses from it currently being a less than ideal proportioned stone. It is a spinel, though, so it may not be cost effective to recut.
There will be many who would suggest to re-cut the stone, and honestly, I cannot disagree with that option.
I personally would take it to a reputable cutter. Not just faceter like myself but a faceter that is a recut specialist. One who does a lot of recutting stones very similar to yours. They will be able to tell you almost exactly how much weight you will lose and how much more the stone will be worth. I don’t know where you are located but there are a half dozen or so people that would be qualified to give you the true weight lose and value. Again not just a great cutter. I myself am a Master cutter but don’t do recuts enough to consider myself qualified to help you with this. If you are really interested in presuing this let me know and I can help you find someone that is definitely qualified to help you. First with the potential weight lose and second the potential valuation increase.
Here is the setting intended for the stone (attached).
I live in the Phoenix area. I actually can still send this stone back but I really quite love the color so I’m not so sure I want to give up on it yet.
Since you already have the setting handy. I would test fit the stone to see how much of the metal color affects the presentation. If it looks good, that is not a bad thing.
If it doesn’t look right, then I would definitely consider a re-cut, as Bob had mentioned.
I like the color, too! I think it will pop out even more in the gold setting.
John Dyer is a great person to ask about a recut. But here is the thing that matters. If you love the stone don’t worry about value. Just be happy and love the stone. I think the setting will help diffuse the window also. Gemstones are about happiness. So I think you love the stone. Set it and enjoy it!!!
I have been faceting since 1996. This is a relatively small window and could be fixed with a small loss of weight by any competent commercial faceter who does recuts. I am being quoted $150 for the total cut of a ring sized stone from rough, so $100 to $200 should do it for a recut. They will probably charge you higher, as a retail customer, than I get charged as a wholesale customer, but I wouldn’t think it should be more than $200, esp. if this isn’t a very expensive stone. -royjohn
I agree with Roy John on the price of a recut and the minimal loss of weight. You have never said how the stone looks in the setting and if you love it if it really matters.
