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Thoughts on Alexandrite Engagement Ring

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Psyched

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 3, 2018
Messages
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I've been doing some research on getting an Alexandrite engagement ring for my soon to be fiance. She has the most delicate light green eyes and they slightly change color depending on what she is wearing. It's also her birth stone. I've read most of the posts on here about Alexandrite engagement rings, and I've decided that I'm still going forward with my project. I'm hoping that some of you can give me advice regarding reasonable expectations for a good stone. I don't want anything larger than 1/25 cts. I'm having a hard time finding a stone that demonstrates the right color green, without turning a muddyish brown in mixed lighting. I found this stone on multicolour http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?-1295057503 I love the medium/light green in the daylight, but the color change to incandescent is weak and I'm really afraid of what it would look like in mixed lighting. Is this something typical of lighter green stones? I wanted to keep the project around 5k, but understand I might have to go higher (especially with the stone I'm looking at). Any help would be appreciated.
 
8D9068DD-6737-448E-97A8-A069EA82CA67.jpeg F0F05326-DB1F-41E2-80E4-B78214BE4AEB.jpeg Hi, Alexandrite is one of the rarest and most expensive gems around.
As you can see on the Multicolour site, their 1.62 carat Alex with strong colour and good colour change is $22,600.
Alex’s over 1 carat are not only rare but very expensive so an eye clean (Alex’s are normally included as they are a Type 2 Gem like emeralds) with good green colour and strong colour change to purple red can be very expensive.
I found this ring on eBay (it’s a business seller with perfect feedback), already set into a beautiful ring and while the Alex size is only 1.15 carat I do think it’s a lovely Alex for the price $4,960. My view is that if you aren’t getting a good strong colour change, it’s not worth buying as the colour change is the reason why you are wanting an Alex in the first place.
eBay item is 253733336564.
 
What, 1/25 ct? I think the most reputable sellers that know their alexandrites won't work with such a small size stone. I mean, I know alexandrite is expensive per carat, but <1/25 ct means smaller than 0.04 carat, probably only 2mm in diameter! Maybe 1/25 is a typo?

Your link to multicolour shows a very reasonably priced gem for your price range. I personally think that gem could look really pretty in mixed light. Why don't you contact the seller and ask for a video? I think that multicolour would be willing to take a video of it to show you, and then you can post that to us on PriceScope to gauge people's opinions.
 
voce said:
What, 1/25 ct? I think the most reputable sellers that know their alexandrites won't work with such a small size stone. I mean, I know alexandrite is expensive per carat, but <1/25 ct means smaller than 0.04 carat, probably only 2mm in diameter! Maybe 1/25 is a typo?

Your link to multicolour shows a very reasonably priced gem for your price range. I personally think that gem could look really pretty in mixed light. Why don't you contact the seller and ask for a video? I think that multicolour would be willing to take a video of it to show you, and then you can post that to us on PriceScope to gauge people's opinions.
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I think he means 1.25 carat.
 
Before you buy the stone or ring, please get a feel for her tastes when it comes to the shape and setting, and whether she would want something that is custom-made or ready-made, maybe estate?

There's a lot more out there when you search for alex rings than for unset gems. If you do buy a ring, make sure it comes with certification from AGL, GIA, or GRS.
 
If you choose to search Ebay please check Toolhaus for accurate feedback results. You might be shocked.
 
I see no report on that eBay stone. And when they tout that it's real 18K gold and not 10 or 14K, that's not a good sign, imo! They give you an appraisal for $5200 -- commercial appraisals are at least 2-4X higher than the actual value. That color change in a 1.62 ct alex would be > $20,000, imo. Never buy from an all-superlatives eBay seller. "You will look like royalty," etc. Sorry.

Alex is over-rated as an eRing stone, imo. I think to get one with an excellent color change, pleasing warm and cool light performance, and acceptable mixed-light performance is almost unheard of and would be mid five figures at least. The online photography seems to set unrealistic expectations. This must be the most returned stone of them all. They are cool, though.
 
OP, have you considered color change garnets? With your budget, you could get a very nice color change garnet with a strong shift in a good size. It’s not her birthstone but I don’t think you’re as fixed on that as the sentiment of her eye color right? (While I have plenty of my birthstone, peridot, I would _not_ want that for my e-ring.)
 
peacechick said:
OP, have you considered color change garnets? With your budget, you could get a very nice color change garnet with a strong shift in a good size. It’s not her birthstone but I don’t think you’re as fixed on that as the sentiment of her eye color right? (While I have plenty of my birthstone, peridot, I would _not_ want that for my e-ring.)
Click to expand...

I strongly agree with this.
 
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