My newly acquired Alexandrite

[diamondhearts]

This is a 1.89 ct Cushion cut Alexandrite from Sri Lanka .I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any more gemstone for a month..Guess what ..Didn't work lol

The color change is strong and the range is from bluish green to purplish red .

 

[LD]

Looking at their Ebay store and the prices they are charging for not great quality alexandrite, I would hesitate to say whether you have a stone that will hold its value or increase in price over the years. Of course I could be wrong (hope I am).

The stone doesn't have 100% colour change (you can see that from the photos - at best it has 50%) and has an enormous window which will seriously affect the colour change. Many Alex have cut issues but if it detracts from the colour change/overall look of the stone, it devalues the stone. If the pictures are accurate, then I'm worried that the size of this window will detract from it's beauty.

If you love it then of course it should be a keeper BUT just in case it arrives and you want to carry on looking, I would strongly suggest that you look at www.multicolour.com who are the leading sellers of Alex with a wealth of knowledge. If you look at their stones you'll see that the quality is reflected in the price so you can get a good indication of whether something is at the higher or lower end. You can compare what you've bought to what they have.

A stone thats over 1ct - and nearer to 2ct - of good quality is likely to be a hefty drain on your purse I'm afraid. If you are looking to buy and have a few thousand to spare then you should get a very nice stone. BTW, prices of Alex have increased considerably in the last few years which is good news if you buy now and it continues to do so.

I hope this helps?

Edit:

Thought you might like to see the difference in price for nice quality (not top) or around the same size as yours - clearly the top ones are more than you've paid but it gives you an indication of quality to price ratio:

Very nice quality - has a window BUT you can see how the colour change isn't badly affected
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/alexandrite/zx165ab/&1624187289

Decent quality - you can see how this isn't as nice as the one above - you can clearly see that this stone doesn't have complete colour change.
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/alexandrite/yax625aa/&1624187289

You can see how the weak overall colour has affected price here - I suspect that although this shows weak colour overall, yours will be similar.
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/alexandrite/ax10041ac/&1624187289

Not good quality
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/alexandrite/ax10048ad/&1624187289

 

[diamondhearts]

Hey LD thanks for the post :+) I know you are Alexandrite crazed just like me :+)Actually the one I bought was in my eyes the nicest one because of both colors plus the fact that it has a VVS clarity .I didn't like the other ones because they kind of looked milky .I am pretty sure you noticed that as well.

However I disagree with you a little as far as the color change because the ideal color you want to end up is as close to the red shade ( possibly vivid) as possible not just purple as I own so many that do change color from bluish green to purple .This one just seems to have a stronger color change ,but then again I will give you a definitive answer when I get it .I will post more pictures when I receive it .

You too keep me posted on any new Alexandrite you might have gotten lately .

P.S.By the way I bought an Alexandrite from multicolour.com ( upon your recommendation :+) It did not have a strong color change but the colors were gorgeous .The one in your link is breathtaking but I just can't fork 8000$ right now .

 

[GregS]

I like the shape, but it does have an enormous window.

 

[diamondhearts]

Actually cushion is my favorite cut :+)Almost all my Alexandrites have a cushion cut .I know the window is bigger because cutters wanted to maximize the weight of the stone since its an Alexandrite but still guys , I mean look at that vivid hot pink color ..
I nearly fell down to my knees when I saw that color ..I am going to keep my fingers crossed .

 

[JaneSmith]

I was browsing in a nice jewelry store the other day and saw my first alexandrite. I don't remember the carat weight but it was big, it looked to be just a bit smaller than the Diana/Kate sapphire. It was a ring in that same setting. Anyway, it looked a murky forest green and changed to a murky reddish purple. My description isn't great, because it did look beautiful, and I thought that the colour shift was cool! But this stone blows it out of the water with that clear red! Even with that green window.
The ring was $60k.
I know I'm a noob, but I like this stone more than the overpriced ring.

Sorry to add my ignorance to the thread. I do think colour shifting stones are neat.

 

[diamondhearts]

God bless your kind heart Jane .I am relieved I am not the only one appreciating that beautiful color .I just wanted to share that beauty with everyone else on this forum .

And I am sure your ring must have cost a hefty price for a reason .

 

[GregS]

I'm glad you're happy with it, that's the most important thing. Post pictures once set, I'd love to see them.

 

[LD]

Good to hear that you're pleased with it but I'm sorry I have to disagree. That stone has nowhere near 100% colour change - its simply impossible because of the window. Alex is judged and valued by strength and percentage of colour change. I can tell from the photos that your stone has a weak change and what you're classing as "vivid red" really isn't - it's a pinky colour that you often see with weaker colour changers. Having said that, if you're happy then that's all that matters.

I've got to say that I'm surprised you're buying such low quality Alex if you have enough spare cash to buy a pure red natural diamond as you said you had in one of your recent threads! If I had that kind of money I don't think I'd be buying an Alex off Ebay!!!

 

[minousbijoux]

I'm sorry to say this - but I'll say it for others who might be interested in purchasing a high quality alex - but this stone is mediocre quality at best. Apart from the window, which is large and really minimizes the main reason people get alexs to begin with, what color there is in the edges only and is certainly no where near vivid. Medium saturation at best.

For those looking for quality alex, please do a search for it as there are many threads with breathtaking examples, many of them LDs.

Sorry to rain on your parade DH. You can always return it

 

[JaneSmith]

I'm sorry to say this - but I'll say it for others who might be interested in purchasing a high quality alex - but this stone is mediocre quality at best. Apart from the window, which is large and really minimizes the main reason people get alexs to begin with, what color there is in the edges only and is certainly no where near vivid. Medium saturation at best.

For those looking for quality alex, please do a search for it as there are many threads with breathtaking examples, many of them LDs.

Sorry to rain on your parade DH. You can always return it

Cheers, off to search I go!

 

[diamondhearts]

Thank you guys ...Now I am starting to have second thoughts :+) But that color ..I think that color can really be a subjective thing sometimes..I might end up returning if it doesn't have the color on the picture :+)

I know LD I spent way too much money on other Emerald and diamond jewelry ( tens of tens of thousands ) before I developed a serious interest in Alexandrites ..May be I will just go ahead and sell them and go to more reputable offline or online stores and get much better quality Alexandrites.
However aside from www.multicolour.com is there any other site that anyone would recommend?

 

[chrono]

I am with LD and Minou on this alexandrite. The colour change isn't strong, the colours are average and the poor cutting further takes away from its beauty. I would prefer to get a smaller stone but of higher quality as it will hold its value much better. Gem collecting can be expensive but you can minimize that by understanding what is good and what isn't and training your eye.

 

[diamondhearts]

Thanks for you comment LD.I am not the type to get easily offended but I don't know what LD meant with what she said about my red diamond and me buying things on ebay . My red diamond was sold to finish paying for another house . Believe it or not but there can also be lots of beautiful things on ebay .

 

[LD]

Thanks for you comment LD.I am not the type to get easily offended but I don't know what LD meant with what she said about my red diamond and me buying things on ebay . My red diamond was sold to finish paying for another house . Believe it or not but there can also be lots of beautiful things on ebay .

Not natural pure red diamonds!