Question on Alexandrites
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kristy_lyn
Shiny_Rock
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Really good ones are definitely rare. How much are you willing to pay? $1,000? $10,000? $25,000?
Lower-grade stones are available now in some quantity due to new sources in Asia. By any standard alexandrites in even lower grades (meaning small size, some inclusions and 50-60% color change or so with one color usually less than ideal) are still rare stones. Supply and demand set the price. Already some of the new mines are closing and unless new sources replace them the current market overhang will disappear and even low-end stones will again be hard to find.
Richard M.
When looking on the internet, I have seen so many different color changes. green to orange, green to pink, green to brown, green to violet, green to orange. Yet, all info on alexs say green to red. Haven''t seen any like that ( green to red) yet. What is the MOST desired color change. There is one stone I am looking at about .78 pt, 80% color change very clean, color change bluish green to dark plum purple, very few inclusions, about $1,100.00. Do you think that would be a good buy? Thanks guys you all are great.
Richard M, I was just wondering where in Asia are the new mines. I haven''t seen anything about that. I have read that there are mines in India and Brazil. Thank you guys for all the info, it is so wonderful to just be able to ask a question and get so many answers. Thanks for taking the time to answer.
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Last I heard, India is in Asia, lol. That''s where most of the stones you''re seeing are coming from. Mining there is very spotty and, while it''s hard to obtain specific information, some of the major Indian mines have already been worked out. But it''s always possible new ones will be found -- that''s what makes the colored stone market different from diamonds.
Diamond supplies available to consumers are steady but carefully limited by the diamond cartel, no matter how many new sources are found. That keeps prices steady and rising just ahead of the inflation rate (a LOT ahead of the inflation rate lately, it seems). The cartel was formed because there was an oversupply of stones even in the early mining days, long before huge new sources were found in Australia, Russia and Canada.
But with the exceptions of a couple of stones (tanzanite and ametrine come to mind), no such cartels exist in the colored stone market so supplies (and prices) fluctuate with the usual supply/demand cycle. The big Brazilian alexandrite find at Nova Era is mostly history. A few new stones trickle into the market but nothing even close to the quantity in the 1980s and early 90s. Really fine stones are held in vaults by top sellers and a few find their way back to consumers via major auction houses.
Some nice alexandrites are coming to market from new finds in Tanzania and Madagascar. So is much material from those locations that should be sold as "color-change chrysoberyl," not alexandrite, because the color change -- while being nice and very collectable -- isn''t green-to-red. Only stones with color change in that hue range can be called "alexandrite."
Richard M.
Whoops, I guess you are right Richard. India is in Asia. LOL I always consider just China and Japan as Asia. Anyway, so if a stone is green to dark purple instead of red you would not consider it an alexandrite? If you would consider it an alex, do you think a 78pt aprox. with 80% color change, very clean, a good buy for about $1,100. Am considering whether I should get it or not. Thank you again for your patience and excellent advice.
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Gemmal,
Without actually seeing the stone I couldn''t advise you on a purchase.
As for your color question, chrysoberyls are considered alexandrites when they change from a daylight color of blue Green, very slightly blue Green, Green, slightly Green or yellow Green to an incandescent/candlelight color of orange Red, Red, slightly purple Red, Purple Red, Red purple or Purple red. Remember that the capitalized color is dominant over the lower-case color.
Note I said daylight, not ''daylight-type fluorescent'' or ''fluorescent'' light. Very few fluorescent lights are equal to actual daylight. Alexandrite color change depends on the amounts of red or blue in light. Many fluorescent lights have far too much red for judging color. Also avoid judging color where daylight and incandescent light are mixed, such as near a window: you''ll often see a blend of the daylight and incandescent hues.
An 80% color change should be very definite but you''ll have to judge that when you inspect the stone. Just be sure the lighting is correct as above.
Good luck with your search.
Richard M.
Without actually seeing the stone I couldn''t advise you on a purchase.
As for your color question, chrysoberyls are considered alexandrites when they change from a daylight color of blue Green, very slightly blue Green, Green, slightly Green or yellow Green to an incandescent/candlelight color of orange Red, Red, slightly purple Red, Purple Red, Red purple or Purple red. Remember that the capitalized color is dominant over the lower-case color.
Note I said daylight, not ''daylight-type fluorescent'' or ''fluorescent'' light. Very few fluorescent lights are equal to actual daylight. Alexandrite color change depends on the amounts of red or blue in light. Many fluorescent lights have far too much red for judging color. Also avoid judging color where daylight and incandescent light are mixed, such as near a window: you''ll often see a blend of the daylight and incandescent hues.
An 80% color change should be very definite but you''ll have to judge that when you inspect the stone. Just be sure the lighting is correct as above.
Good luck with your search.
Richard M.
gemmy1
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In my opinion the determining factor should be the visual extent of color change (blue green to purple is "common" in nice alex -the green to red stones are mostly mythical) and the overall attractiveness of the stone. Many alexandrites have a definite color change but just don''t look pretty- some are overdark or have secondary hues that make them muddy. They are interesting, but when you are going to spend a grand (or alot more), you should get something with eye appeal. And this is something, unfortunately, that is rare within a rare species. As such, nobody can tell you if this particular stone is a good buy although it certainly could be. Just make sure that you have full right of return and solid authentication.
Kavaldzhia
Rough_Rock
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A great deal of natural "internet" alexandrite is of fairly low quality,
deceptively photographed, coming from relatively new sources in Asia and Africa.
Good quality alexandrite from anywhere (...I have seen beautiful examples from all over the world)
will not be inexpensive. I have my personal preferences as to countries of origin,
but it must be remembered that all localities have produced a lot of potch as well.
deceptively photographed, coming from relatively new sources in Asia and Africa.
Good quality alexandrite from anywhere (...I have seen beautiful examples from all over the world)
will not be inexpensive. I have my personal preferences as to countries of origin,
but it must be remembered that all localities have produced a lot of potch as well.
maxspinel
Shiny_Rock
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One time I ordered an Orissa Alexandrite from a TV shoppint network. It was supposed to be a 1.2 min Alex with moderate color change and it was on sale for an unbelievable price of $600 (reduced from $2400). I was so excited until the moment that I received it. There is a huge window in the center of the stone that makes it look like a piece of glass. It was greenish gray in day light without any eye visible inclusions. In incandescent light, it changes to purplish gray color. However, the greenish/grayish/purplish colors were very muddled between all the lighting and I really doubt that the color change can be considered as moderate. Well, what do you expect for $600? Anyway, I returned the stone even though at first I thought it was a big bargain for a 1.2ct Alex. They have a lot of commercial grade "Alex" out there and they are not cheap, just not attractive.
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