help with an alexandrite

[junemoon]

I need help! I have an alexandrite ring that was inherited from my maternal great-grandmother. My mother took the ring when she owned it to a jeweler in the 80's who told her it was fake and offered her $75.00 for the gold. Thankfully she was smart enough to say no. We learned a few years ago that the man who designed it made a set of 7 rings one for each day of the week. They primary stone in the center was a precious stone flanked by 4 white sapphire (chips) 2 on each side of the center stone. It's setting is in an Art Deco design in hat I believe is stamped 14 kt. Unfortunately noone can get me the name of this designer and when he designed the rings. I need help in how to find a reputable jeweler.I would like to be able to authinticate this ring and have it appraised.

 

[distracts]

You can use the "Resources" tab on PS to find an independent appraiser near you. An independent appraiser is always a better option than another jeweler because they don't have the conflict of interest of selling jewelry.

However you should be prepared for the possible answer that the alexandrite is synthetic. There's a lot of synthetic and simulated alexandrite around. This is not a professional opinion, but given that it is 14k with white sapphire, I too would suspect merely from that that it is probably synthetic or simulated. As well, if it is from the art deco period, at that time they were using a lot of synthetic stones in fine jewelry. Which is, of course, why you need an appraiser with appropriate skills who can give you an answer based on something other than wild guesswork.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I suggest you find a reputable appraiser familiar with gemstones and have your Alexandrite evaluated. The one thing that concerns me is that your ring has sapphire side stones. An authentic Alexandrite of good quality is very expensive and the side stones are usually very expensive as well. I would expect to see diamond side stones vs sapphire chips for an authentic alexandrite. Let us know how this turns out.

 

[junemoon]

Thank you for your suggstions. Im not really expecting the miracle that it is real, I couldnt imagine where my grandmother would have had that type of money back when she purchased it. However I do believe that if it is part of a designers set it would have held a better value than $75.00 even in the 80's. I will take your advice and seek an appraiser. I would like to know if wearing it every day as Ido is wise or not

 

[junemoon]

My mother said thats what her mother believed them to be thats one reason why we were looking for someone who could help us. I do believe the stone could be simulated. The clarity is to good. But the colors it changes to with the light and sometimes the tmperature are gorgeous.

 

[chrono]

Based on the information you have shared, it points to a very likelyhood of the stone being a alexandrite simulant, most likely be a lab created colour change sapphire.
1. Date given (it was very popular at that time) and available in large quantities
2. Good clarity
3. Excellent colour change. Most natural alexandrites do not have full colour change and the ones that are gorgeous both ways are also incrredibly rare and expensive.
4. Setting used. Expensive stones are usually set with diamonds, rarely with white sapphires

Whether a simulant, synthetic or real, the stone is durable enough for everyday wear. Both alexandrite (lab created or real) and sapphire (lab created or real) have good MOH and are often used as e-ring stones.

 

[Pandora II]

Is the colour change green to red or purple to blue?

If the stone is a synthetic colour-change sapphire, the value is likely to be in the setting if it is by a well-known designer rather than the stone itself.

 

[LD]

I do hope that you have a real alexandrite but like others, I would suggest you prepare for the worst. One of the things that you've said is that the stone changes with temperature. I'm afraid that Alexandrites don't do this. Also, synethetic corundum was often used in period jewellery and was mistaken for Alexandrite. If you search this forum I'm afraid you will find a number of threads where people have posted an almost exact replica of yours. In nearly all cases (unfortunately) they haven't turned out to be real.

Also what size is your stone? That's a real giveaway.

 

[junemoon]

Ive never noticed what order in which the colors change but it is a rich green in sunlight and a dark purple inside. At times I have nioticed it at times to be a rose color and an icey blue gray when it does start changing colors. The lady who saw my ring while I was at work who owns the emerald version told me of the set. She recieved her emerald in an inheritance but couldnt recall the name of the designer that was on the certificate and appraisal. I do believe that at sometime the setting may originally held a real alexandrite but was replaced with a simulated stone before my grandmother found it. The stones clarity is too too good on bright days you can see thru it. The stone is also massive in terms of an alexandrite close to 2.5 to 3 carats.

 

[LD]

2.5-3ct in Alexandrite times isn't massive (I have a number in that size). However, if it's inclusion free then it does become less easy to find. When you say you can see through it do you mean to your finger behind the stone or do you mean like a diamond (i.e. that it's not cloudy)?

Settings can be replicated and often are and, unfortunately, being a designer setting isn't a guarantee of anything. However, most designers have hallmarks inside the shank - does yours have any?

 

[Pandora II]

Do you have any photos?

 

[LD]

I'm guessing it's the one in your avatar?

 

[junemoon]

Yes it the one on the avatar. The jeweler that wanted to buy it from my mother for the gold told her it was too big to be an alexandrite from this period. He said a three carat was massive for that time. That was how he pretty much based his decision it was fake. And madea us wonder of his interest in it. If the light is bright enough you can see thru to my finger in the center of the stone. All other times reflects light. I live in the hills of Tennessee and am having issues finding an appraiser that isnt also a jeweler. Thought about mailing it to GIA myself. Has anyone not a dealer ever use their services and was it worth it?

 

[LD]

Yes it the one on the avatar. The jeweler that wanted to buy it from my mother for the gold told her it was too big to be an alexandrite from this period. He said a three carat was massive for that time. That was how he pretty much based his decision it was fake. And madea us wonder of his interest in it. If the light is bright enough you can see thru to my finger in the center of the stone. All other times reflects light. I live in the hills of Tennessee and am having issues finding an appraiser that isnt also a jeweler. Thought about mailing it to GIA myself. Has anyone not a dealer ever use their services and was it worth it?

Okay, well the first thing I can tell you is that the gemstone has a large window - do you see the open space in the centre of the gem where there is less colour than the sides? That's a window. That makes me think that this may be a natural gemstone rather than a synthetic HOWEVER, that's just by looking at the photo. Is it an Alexandrite? I don't know. IDing anything from a photo is nearly impossible especially colour changing gemstones. The only thing that I can see is that the gem is very clean and so I doubt this is an Alexandrite. Even if it is, the value will be reduced because of the cut I'm afraid. I suspect it's very shallow - can you see the gemstone from the side and perhaps take a photo of it? IF it's an Alexandrite, it would benefit massively from a re-cut BUT if it's too shallow, you may lose so much weight that it may not make sense.

I would highly suggest that you find a jeweller who specialises in coloured gemstones (not diamonds) to carry out a few basic tests that may rule in/out some gems. However, the only way to be really sure if you don't have a jeweller who can help nearby is to send the gem to AGL (not GIA). The problem is that you'll need to find out the cost and weigh up whether you want to spend the money on getting an ID. If it's an Alexandrite then it's worth it probably. If it's not then it may be a lot of money to get it appraised.

The alternative is just to enjoy it for what it is - a mystery stone!

 

[junemoon]

These are the best shots I can get of tbe ring. Its hard to get the stones depth because of its reaction to light. The stone does however almost rest on my finger. The one shows its clarity, which is why but I have questioned the type of stone.

 

[junemoon]

This is its clarity

 

[Lady_Disdain]

The term "designer" jewelry doesn't really say much. A designer can mean someone like, say, JAR (huge, huge name in the finest jewelry), someone like Paloma Picasso (some nice pieces but overhyped and overpriced), Pierre Cardin's latest piece or nothing at all. It is often used to create a feeling that a piece is more exclusive and, therefore, more desirable.

My honest opinion is that your ring is nice but the design is nothing special. I really doubt you could get a premium reselling it based on the designer label. It is a cast piece, the sidestones aren't particularly fine and the setting is of commercial quality (for example, there would be very little metal around the sidestones in a fine piece). This points to a mass produced setting, which would rarely have a fine, natural gemstone, specially with the "days of the week" theme.

 

[junemoon]

Thats what I kept looking at on the side stones to. That it was chips covered by the setting itself. My mother keeps insisting it is an alexandrite though and I was trying to find something out either way. Theres to many oddities.

 

[Pandora II]

Can you get a photograph showing the green at all? The one with the rose is looking very purple on my monitor.

 

[chrono]

Can you get a photograph showing the green at all? The one with the rose is looking very purple on my monitor.

Ditto - I have not seen alexandrite looking that purple before. Usually it is slightly purplish red but the dominant hue is red. Not only that, the outdoor colour is supposed to be blue (or slightly greenish blue). The indoor colour should be slightly purplish red.

 

[Pandora II]

Most of the ones I have seen are a teal green in daylight (no purple) to a cranberry in incandescent.

Just on the 'guess for fun' rather than informed opinion (need stone in hand for that) I'm thinking cc sapphire (natural). I'd say synthetic but they don't usually have such big windows which lends me to think it's natural and a shallow piece of rough. I will be very suprised if it is alex - it's just not giving me any suspicions in that direction...

Can you do a photo in incandescent light as well? Which colour is more red... outside or inside?

 

[LD]

It's actually easy to photograph an alex to show this purple. Even ones with weak colour change can look like this in a photo so unfortunately it doesn't "say" anything. However, the fact that the clarity is so good (from what can be seen in the photo) and this stone is nearly 3ct (?) then I doubt it's an alex (even with the native cut). I suspect that if this was an alex it would also be in a much more expensive setting. Like Pandora I'm pretty sure this is a natural gem (because of the cut) but what it is? No idea but would be interested to know!

 

[RedSpinel]

So if the alexandrite in the OP might be fake because of fantastic color change and all, does that mean the the 15ct flawless Alexandrite pendant set in silver with perfect color change of red-green that my Mom bought might also be fake? Even though it cost $50?

Are you sure?

See, I wouldnt think a perfect 15 carat Alex would be all that rare and valuable!