Alexandrite? Which lab should I use?

[sunrise_2011]

I recently bought a ring with what appeared to be alexandrite. I just want to know if it looks like I should spend the money to send it to lab and if so are there any good trust-worthy labs in Texas? (if its real I don't want to send it to far away
The first picture shows what the stone looks like inside.

In natural light (it was very hard to get this pic):

Under LED white light:

The stone is eye clear and I know in some of the pictures it has little dust particles, but when cleaned it is clear to the naked eye. I've had a friend test the hardness of the stone which read at about 8.5 (I had someone tell me it was quartz and not to waste my time). I bought the ring at an antique store for $13 so its not to much of a hardship to get it tested but I just wanted to be sure it wasn't a man made color change stone before I sent it off. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[FrekeChild]

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ly-got-an-alexandrite-read-this-first.179784/

 

[sunrise_2011]

Already read it a while back.

 

[eastjavaman]

Looks beautiful, but read through through the article supplied by Freke , you will probably conclude that it looks like a synthetic Alex.

 

[LoversKites]

It is extremely unlikely that your Alex is a natural one. Too clean, too big, too perfect a colour change, too cheap. Just no way. Its still a beautiful stone imo and I would enjoy it for what it is. I wouldn't bother with labs.

 

[chrono]

The perfection of the stone (enormous size, perfect purple and blue green colouration, the full colour change, and the extreme clarity) all points towards the very high likelihood of it being a synthetic stone. I would continue to wear it and enjoy it for what it is.