BWise
Brilliant_Rock
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Is This Alexandrite Real?
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Shiny_Rock
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Richard Sherwood
Ideal_Rock
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I notice that the color comes out a bit odd on the photos my camera takes as well. For some reason it doesn't capture the green very well, and shows more blue than is actually there. I have photos very similar to that shown here of some natural stones.
You can't really tell definitively from these photos. The indentification of natural versus synthetic alexandrite is an ID based on the nature of the inclusions under microscopic examination.
I think you can safely rule out the most common alexandrite imitation, synthetic color change sapphire. The color change pictured is nothing like that of synthetic color change sapphire.
It also doesn't appear to be color change garnet as well.
The cutting of the stone is a slight indicator of natural. Only an indicator, mind you. It is what's referred to as "native cut", which usually, but not always, would be a slight, non-definitive indicator of natural. Synthetics usually have a different look in their cutting. Usually, but not always. A native cutter could just as easily cut a synthetic with that natural looking native cut as well.
The flawlessness of the stone could go either way. Like Richard says, there's plenty of eyeclean alexandrites out there. And a multitude of eyeclean synthetics. I don't think the eyecleanness would rule out it being a natural though.
If the stone is being offered by a reputable seller as a natural, I would tend to think that's probably the case. If the seller is an unknown quantity, then you'd definitely want to take some steps to protect yourself in the purchase.
Not a bad looking stone, by the way. Is it represented as Sri Lankan, or Brazilian?
You can't really tell definitively from these photos. The indentification of natural versus synthetic alexandrite is an ID based on the nature of the inclusions under microscopic examination.
I think you can safely rule out the most common alexandrite imitation, synthetic color change sapphire. The color change pictured is nothing like that of synthetic color change sapphire.
It also doesn't appear to be color change garnet as well.
The cutting of the stone is a slight indicator of natural. Only an indicator, mind you. It is what's referred to as "native cut", which usually, but not always, would be a slight, non-definitive indicator of natural. Synthetics usually have a different look in their cutting. Usually, but not always. A native cutter could just as easily cut a synthetic with that natural looking native cut as well.
The flawlessness of the stone could go either way. Like Richard says, there's plenty of eyeclean alexandrites out there. And a multitude of eyeclean synthetics. I don't think the eyecleanness would rule out it being a natural though.
If the stone is being offered by a reputable seller as a natural, I would tend to think that's probably the case. If the seller is an unknown quantity, then you'd definitely want to take some steps to protect yourself in the purchase.
Not a bad looking stone, by the way. Is it represented as Sri Lankan, or Brazilian?
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I wish there was a way to ''test the pictures'' or at least to produce perfectly credible ones. In theory, it could be done... but no one has taken that up yet.
Perhaps I gave this one the benefit of the doubt based on pictures if it is small (under a carat) or slightly larger (above 1 carat but not much) and there would be good reason to believe the colors and color change is overstated by the pictures. Sometimes other pictures presented by the same source help guessing just how far or close to reality they are on average.
But no picture-based reality check I know of beats appraisla & certification and the seller''s credible pledge to make purchase conditional on the above one way or the other.
Of course, how important all these are depends on price too. I don''t think I''d wonder if it is not worth to. For alexandrite visible without magnification
it is usually worth asking the Q.
All IMO - as usual.
Perhaps I gave this one the benefit of the doubt based on pictures if it is small (under a carat) or slightly larger (above 1 carat but not much) and there would be good reason to believe the colors and color change is overstated by the pictures. Sometimes other pictures presented by the same source help guessing just how far or close to reality they are on average.
But no picture-based reality check I know of beats appraisla & certification and the seller''s credible pledge to make purchase conditional on the above one way or the other.
Of course, how important all these are depends on price too. I don''t think I''d wonder if it is not worth to. For alexandrite visible without magnification
All IMO - as usual.
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Shiny_Rock
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Richard Sherwood
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I''ve cut quite a few small natural alexandrites over the past few years, including some very clean ones, and there are several indications this stone is natural. The Asian-style cut has been pointed out, and the internal "fogginess" is a clue too. That indicates the presence of internal "silk" that probably isn''t obvious to the naked eye but shows up as billowy patches in photographic lighting.
If enough "silk" (very tiny included crystals of rutile, probably) are present the stone would be cut as a cat''s-eye. But silky areas occasionally show up in faceted alex''s. They affect value only insofar as they detract from a stone''s overall appearance and can be valuable clues to natural origin -- I''m not aware of any synthetics with silk other than a distinctive type produced in Japan a few years ago.
The only thing I doubt in the description is the Russian origin. I have a strong hunch it''s from a different location. but quality not origin should determine value: alex quality should be judged only by personal inspection IMO. I know obtaining accurate photos is exceptionally difficult from personal experience, and in my opinion any alex images should be considered only suggestions of actual color.
Richard M.
If enough "silk" (very tiny included crystals of rutile, probably) are present the stone would be cut as a cat''s-eye. But silky areas occasionally show up in faceted alex''s. They affect value only insofar as they detract from a stone''s overall appearance and can be valuable clues to natural origin -- I''m not aware of any synthetics with silk other than a distinctive type produced in Japan a few years ago.
The only thing I doubt in the description is the Russian origin. I have a strong hunch it''s from a different location. but quality not origin should determine value: alex quality should be judged only by personal inspection IMO. I know obtaining accurate photos is exceptionally difficult from personal experience, and in my opinion any alex images should be considered only suggestions of actual color.
Richard M.
Richard Sherwood
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Lightbender
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It is not possible to determine from a photograph the authenticity of a given stone. It still won''t be next month, either.
The price might be indicative. If it was cheap, I''d bet on synthetic. There are few fools involved in the gem cutting business, meaning a real stone, as it passes throgh many hands, is not going to slip through their hands un-noticed and be sold cheaply.
IF I had to guess, I would say it is synthetic alexandrite grown by the floating point method. This material is grown in Novosibirsk and readily available to many cutters. Your photos look exactly like my photos of that material, which I hve cut from time to time. In real life, the blue is alittle more green, or depending on the orientation of the origianl material when being cut may actually be a turquoise color. I cut a fancy square recently that goes from dark cranbery to a mix of cranberry and turquoise. Very strange.
Good luck, it IS pretty!
Lightbender
The price might be indicative. If it was cheap, I''d bet on synthetic. There are few fools involved in the gem cutting business, meaning a real stone, as it passes throgh many hands, is not going to slip through their hands un-noticed and be sold cheaply.
IF I had to guess, I would say it is synthetic alexandrite grown by the floating point method. This material is grown in Novosibirsk and readily available to many cutters. Your photos look exactly like my photos of that material, which I hve cut from time to time. In real life, the blue is alittle more green, or depending on the orientation of the origianl material when being cut may actually be a turquoise color. I cut a fancy square recently that goes from dark cranbery to a mix of cranberry and turquoise. Very strange.
Good luck, it IS pretty!
Lightbender
Richard Sherwood
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TopazzAngel
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Hi, newbie here
I was saerching for answers to do with some other alexandrites (Ithink ) I have, when I came across this thread.
I was wondering , when one takes a stone, a pendant as I did to a gemologist to another state. Do they always do a chemical alalysis?
And I''d hate to think, just because it is lg & clean, it was assumed synthetic. Surely it was tested.
When I received it back via mail, all it said was (synthetic sapphire) not a word more, zilch. I only had only taken it for identification, & apprais if authentic stone.
To me it seemed too bold of colors to be real, but these pics are bold as well.
My pendant came from Turkey is set in (heavy) solid 18k gold w/ quality small white diamonds.
( i''ll post bout my other elsewhere of course)
I was saerching for answers to do with some other alexandrites (Ithink ) I have, when I came across this thread.
I was wondering , when one takes a stone, a pendant as I did to a gemologist to another state. Do they always do a chemical alalysis?
And I''d hate to think, just because it is lg & clean, it was assumed synthetic. Surely it was tested.
When I received it back via mail, all it said was (synthetic sapphire) not a word more, zilch. I only had only taken it for identification, & apprais if authentic stone.
To me it seemed too bold of colors to be real, but these pics are bold as well.
My pendant came from Turkey is set in (heavy) solid 18k gold w/ quality small white diamonds.
( i''ll post bout my other elsewhere of course)
Richard Sherwood
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Angel. The tests which distinguish synthetic "alexandrite like" sapphire from natural alexandrite are fairly straightforward with conclusive results.
Although I supply quite a bit more information on my gem ID's (like refractive index, optic character, fluorescence, filter reactions, characteristics seen externally & internally under magnification, spectral analysis and photo), the appraiser's ID is probably fine, as most large "alexandrite like" stones coming out of Turkey are almost always synthetic sapphire. Turkish vendors are notorious for selling these stones and failing to mention that they are lab created.
Although I supply quite a bit more information on my gem ID's (like refractive index, optic character, fluorescence, filter reactions, characteristics seen externally & internally under magnification, spectral analysis and photo), the appraiser's ID is probably fine, as most large "alexandrite like" stones coming out of Turkey are almost always synthetic sapphire. Turkish vendors are notorious for selling these stones and failing to mention that they are lab created.
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