Thoughts on this Alexandrite?

[Chrisuws]

Hello, I'm new here and really don't have much knowledge of gemstones, so I was hoping to get some feedback, good and bad. What is positive about it, what is negative?

(to see more pictures and video click on the "ended" picture and the original listing will show.

The stone is listed as: (though I think it may be color-change chrysoberyl?)

PRODUCT NAME NATURAL ALEXANDRITE
QUANTITY PC (S) 1
WEIGHT (CTS.) 0.90 CTS
SIZE (MM) 5.60 X 5.15 X 3.80 MM
SHAPE OVAL
COLOR BLUISH GREEN CHANGING TO REDDISH PURPLE
CLARITY VVS1
ORIGIN ANDRAPRADESH INDIA
HARDNESS 8.5
TREATMENT NONE
LUSTER GORGEOUS

I'd be very appreciative to hear whatever you may think about it.

 

[Bron357]

It looks lovely. I just don’t like the way they show the change under incandescent light. The aspect of colour change greatly affects the value of the gem. Without being able to see if it “fully” changes under incandescent light makes it impossible to evaluate whether it’s a complete or close to complete colour change. Is it certified? It looks pretty clean and given that there are a lot of excellent synthetic Alex’s about, you want proper certification. I personally don’t like the depth of the gem, you lose a lot of “face up” size for the carat weight and if setting in a ring, the head will be quite high off the hand to accommodate the depth.

 

[minousbijoux]

It has a beautiful, seemingly not too dark, green/teal colorway, but the "red" colorway is really more of a brownish with some reddish glints here and there, leaving much to be desired (for me). If I wanted to buy an alex, I'd make sure it had two gorgeous colorways that I really liked, and that its color change would be as close to 100% as possible.

 

[Nosean]

Nice Alexandrite. I love the shape. The silky area is o.k.

1899 Dollar is not cheap for 0,90 ct. If you buy be picky with the color change - check it in different light conditions.

You will love the daylight color but only with a strong chance it is worth the money.

 

[Chrisuws]

Bron357 thanks for your input. I hadn't really thought about the color change being under incandescent light. I have seen other videos where people show the color change under natural light and I suppose those would indeed be better conditions to see the change. The dealer said they would get the gem GIA certified before I would purchase it, but it hasn't been yet. The depth is another thing I hadn't thought of, I already have a ring, so hopefully it wouldn't fit too awkwardly.

It looks lovely. I just don’t like the way they show the change under incandescent light. The aspect of colour change greatly affects the value of the gem. Without being able to see if it “fully” changes under incandescent light makes it impossible to evaluate whether it’s a complete or close to complete colour change. Is it certified? It looks pretty clean and given that there are a lot of excellent synthetic Alex’s about, you want proper certification. I personally don’t like the depth of the gem, you lose a lot of “face up” size for the carat weight and if setting in a ring, the head will be quite high off the hand to accommodate the depth.

 

[Chrisuws]

That was my biggest concern too. I couldn't really tell how deep the color was, especially on the color change. I wonder if it has something to do with the power of the light that is hitting it, or if it naturally just washes out a bit on color change.

It has a beautiful, seemingly not too dark, green/teal colorway, but the "red" colorway is really more of a brownish with some reddish glints here and there, leaving much to be desired (for me). If I wanted to buy an alex, I'd make sure it had two gorgeous colorways that I really liked, and that its color change would be as close to 100% as possible.

 

[Chrisuws]

The dealer said they would get the stone GIA certified and then I'd have time to return if need be, so hopefully that would give me a better chance to really examine the color change in person. My girlfriend is probably less decerning than even me (which is pretty remarkable in this case) so I guess I have to weigh things like the beauty of the color change, cut, and future value of the gem, vs the fact that I know that she'd be happy with the size and just seeing it change color!

Nice Alexandrite. I love the shape. The silky area is o.k.

1899 Dollar is not cheap for 0,90 ct. If you buy be picky with the color change - check it in different light conditions.

You will love the daylight color but only with a strong chance it is worth the money.

 

[T L]

The cloud like inclusion is distracting for me.

 

[Chrisuws]

Would that be the vertical line that appears on the right side/middle towards the end of the video?

The cloud like inclusion is distracting for me.

 

[T L]

Would that be the vertical line that appears on the right side/middle towards the end of the video?

Yes, it's best seen in the top photo though. In a larger stone, it might not be such a distraction, but this stone is below a carat, and has a small face up size due to the depth. I am of the opinion that alexandrite is not worth the price unless you get a top notch stone. Lesser qualities, at least to me, are not worth it. I don't feel this way about other gems, but I do about alexandrite. If this stone was at least 50% off, it might be worth it as a collectible.

 

[Nosean]

Yes, I have seen it too - not only one "stripe" . Wouldn't buy this one.

 

[Bron357]

And don’t forget that the size is small. Mine is bigger at 7.2mm x 5.2 mm and here it is on my finger for scale (mine is set in a little pendant). And these iPhone photos better show how much “change” there is from daylight to candlelight. This is what you need to see to be able to assess the “strength” of the colour change. The important thing is how much and how intense the candlelight photo is re the purple / red change. Alexandrite are amazing.

 

[Chrisuws]

Really beautiful photos! It's been an interesting ride to go from having no idea what alexandrite is to learning about the color strength, inclusions, cut, face, etc.

I know the size won't be massive but size isn't a big concern (pardon the pun).

And don’t forget that the size is small. Mine is bigger at 7.2mm x 5.2 mm and here it is on my finger for scale (mine is set in a little pendant). And these iPhone photos better show how much “change” there is from daylight to candlelight. This is what you need to see to be able to assess the “strength” of the colour change. The important thing is how much and how intense the candlelight photo is re the purple / red change. Alexandrite are amazing.

 

[Bron357]

Colour change is more important in Alexandrite than clarity. Ideal is green/ blue (teal) colour in daylight to purple / red in incandescent light. The more “bits” that still show green/ blue under incandescent means less colour change % (ie less valuable) or if the change is more brownish / orangish rather than purple /red then it’s worth less also. Looking at that video, while the daylight colour is fabulous, the incandescent demonstration isn’t at all special or spectacular. Also, it’s very hard to buy Alex’s by photo or video. You can see from my photos that you can get a different colour every time you take a photo. You really need to see them in person. So if buying online, make sure the vendor has a good return policy ie if you don’t like it “in the flesh” you can return it for a full refund no problem.

 

[Nosean]

I have seen many indian alexandrite in real life - most have a weak to medium CC ( gorgous daylight and a change to greyish purple or purplish grey). I know some here love indian alex and there are gorgous items but there are (was) several mines. That is why the vendors brazilian stones are much more expensive.

In this stone the inclusion are a problem course so many in different orientations. t
here is an effect called "Tyndall effect" - you know this from a room with cigarette smoke or fog when a sunbeam comes in - the inclusion look like this and exsp. in stronger light you will see it.

For this money I wouldn't buy.

My advise for Chrisuws : Buy a 1-2 ct synthetic alexandrite and learn how this ones behaves in different light conditions- it is usually a high quality with top CC, clarity and nice cutting. NOT a synthetic sapphire - a lab created alexandrite. On watcheditem.com search for alexandrite and you find them.

This one is 50 Dollar...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lab-Create...9255-0%26rvr_id%3D1403726615359&ul_noapp=true

A natural counterpart would be much much more.

 

[Chrisuws]

That is a really smart idea! I will buy the synthetic gem, and potentially the other, and then I can compare them in person to see the color change difference and the inclusion difference.

Question: Everyone keeps pointing to the price as high for an alexandrite of this size. Does anyone know of any vendors where I could get a similar size at a similar price but of better quality?

I have seen many indian alexandrite in real life - most have a weak to medium CC ( gorgous daylight and a change to greyish purple or purplish grey). I know some here love indian alex and there are gorgous items but there are (was) several mines. That is why the vendors brazilian stones are much more expensive.

In this stone the inclusion are a problem course so many in different orientations. t
here is an effect called "Tyndall effect" - you know this from a room with cigarette smoke or fog when a sunbeam comes in - the inclusion look like this and exsp. in stronger light you will see it.

For this money I wouldn't buy.

My advise for Chrisuws : Buy a 1-2 ct synthetic alexandrite and learn how this ones behaves in different light conditions- it is usually a high quality with top CC, clarity and nice cutting. NOT a synthetic sapphire - a lab created alexandrite. On watcheditem.com search for alexandrite and you find them.

This one is 50 Dollar...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lab-Created-Pulled-Alexandrite-True-Color-Change-Oval-Loose-stone-4x2-35x25mm-/251740853831?var=550666857756&rmvSB=true&ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-53200-19255-0%2F1%3Ftype%3D4%26toolid%3D10014%26campid%3D5336193084%26customid%3Dsearch%26mpre%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FLab-Created-Pulled-Alexandrite-True-Color-Change-Oval-Loose-stone-4x2-35x25mm-%2F251740853831%3Fvar%3D550666857756%26srcrot%3D711-53200-19255-0%26rvr_id%3D1403726615359&ul_noapp=true

A natural counterpart would be much much more.

 

[Nosean]

It is not the size - alexandrite is first color change than color change and than cut and clarity.

The price steps in an eyeclean oval with 0,80 ct can be dramatic with better colorchange and better daylight / incandescent light color.

One has a top daylight C, but the incandescent l.C. is not so fine. Another one ( same rough quality) super ILC but DLC is not so fine - orientation unfortunately plays a big role in alexandrite.

You will see it playing with the synthetic stone. But remember - the synthetic is nearly perfect and a natural counterpart is expensive and rare!

In "your" stone the inclusions sucks - I would never pay 1900 $ - even for half the price I will find stones I would prefer.

 

[LD]

The stone isn't bad but as TL said, the inclusion would be distracting especially when set because you would be seeing the stone face on. At the moment, the inclusion is partially hidden because of the way the stone is laying on the surface.

Please bear in mind that prices jump over 1ct. Under 1ct stones are not that expensive.

It's a decent stone and I know that prices have escalated but I don't think I would pay nearly $2k for a sub-1ct stone.

 

[LD]

And don’t forget that the size is small. Mine is bigger at 7.2mm x 5.2 mm and here it is on my finger for scale (mine is set in a little pendant). And these iPhone photos better show how much “change” there is from daylight to candlelight. This is what you need to see to be able to assess the “strength” of the colour change. The important thing is how much and how intense the candlelight photo is re the purple / red change. Alexandrite are amazing.

Bron357 - have you ever had this stone checked out? I know that the photos are from an iphone but the blue colour bothers me. You never see this in an Alex. I do understand it could simply be the photography but it might be worth getting it checked out. x

 

[Chrisuws]

I appreciate the response. I've had a hard time finding anything of similar size and quality at a comparable price. I've seen some over 1ct. that have really big inclusions or very transparent color, and I've seen better quality stones half the size for the same price, but nothing in the same range of equivalent or better quality yet. If anyone has ideas on where I might be able to look for one I'd love to poke around and see what I can find.

The stone isn't bad but as TL said, the inclusion would be distracting especially when set because you would be seeing the stone face on. At the moment, the inclusion is partially hidden because of the way the stone is laying on the surface.

Please bear in mind that prices jump over 1ct. Under 1ct stones are not that expensive.

It's a decent stone and I know that prices have escalated but I don't think I would pay nearly $2k for a sub-1ct stone.

 

[LD]

Chrisuws - this is one of my alex (1.5ct) and I wanted to show you how the silk can affect the look head on. Silk actually can help colour change so it's not a "no no" in the Alex world of collectors but if you like your gemstones to be clear then silk may become an irritant for you.

 

[jewelsforalltosee]

Hey OP, just a thought that the stone up for consideration is cut really deep. You could get a similar face-up size (mm) for a lower weight. You did say you had found some smaller stones of better quality? Were they better cut?

 

[Chrisuws]

Here is a sampling of what I'm finding. If they are big, the color tends to be very light.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIA-CERTIF...809488?hash=item5904465cd0:g:V8QAAOSw4CFYqC01

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-04-Carat...169945?hash=item2a91c40859:g:avoAAOSwQ61Z5EVT

https://www.gemsny.com/loose-alexandrite/0.80-Carat-Round-Alexandrite-AL98028RD/
(this one looks pretty similar in size and color, and it also appears to have a line like inclusion)

Hey OP, just a thought that the stone up for consideration is cut really deep. You could get a similar face-up size (mm) for a lower weight. You did say you had found some smaller stones of better quality? Were they better cut?

 

[jewelsforalltosee]

The eBay gems seem very cheap for the weight. I'd like to hear what others think of those choices, beacause to my (completely undiscerning) eye, the second eBay listing looks really good for the price. But no GIA cert. I'm personally wary of buying gems off eBay.

Is the Alex on Jeff White's page completely overpriced? Because it looks like a really nice stone. First on the page at the top.
http://www.whitesgems.com/availablegems.html

 

[LD]

Here is a sampling of what I'm finding. If they are big, the color tends to be very light.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIA-CERTIF...809488?hash=item5904465cd0:g:V8QAAOSw4CFYqC01

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-04-Carat...169945?hash=item2a91c40859:g:avoAAOSwQ61Z5EVT

https://www.gemsny.com/loose-alexandrite/0.80-Carat-Round-Alexandrite-AL98028RD/
(this one looks pretty similar in size and color, and it also appears to have a line like inclusion)

The first Ebay stone only qualifies as an Alex (rather than a Chrysoberyl) because it has a colour change. However, the colour change is not what you would expect from an Alex.

The second Ebay stone looks like mud. It's a really horrible stone (sorry - just my personal opinion).

The third stone has an orange colourway - not the green/purple you see. This affects the value and it's incredibly overpriced for what it is.

I want to show you what a good Alex in a similar carat weight to what you're looking at is like (and you can see how expensive it is). http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax852ad/&1244716636

In the $2k range (and just a bit more) how about these? http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/xax320bn/&930512007 or http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax373aa/&930512007 which has a strong colour change and I suspect will look very good in real life. http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/ax10012ad/&930512007 moderate colour change but I know David's photos and this will be much better than the photos show. This one is right on budget and has size, clarity and a moderate to strong colour change http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax154aa/&930512007

If you want to be budget friendly ..........

Have you thought about something like this? http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/ax10337aa/&1244716636 This will give finger coverage. The colour change is green/gray but does go to a pink/orange.

I have to admit that although this stone has a weak colour change, for the money it's incredibly pretty http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/ax10337ac/&1244716636

Hope that helps

 

[Chrisuws]

Wow thank you for taking the time to send those over. I do really like this one you sent over http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax154aa/&930512007 but I have the band already that will require a pretty circular stone. I guess I'm finding out that everyone has slightly different opinions on what they, in particular, are looking for. Certainly within the price range I am looking at I am going to have to make some compromises be it in color, color change, cut, or inclusions. I did do like Nosean suggested and bout a lab alexandrite that I can use to compare to others. I am still considering buying the first stone if only to get an honest look at it up close.

The first Ebay stone only qualifies as an Alex (rather than a Chrysoberyl) because it has a colour change. However, the colour change is not what you would expect from an Alex.

The second Ebay stone looks like mud. It's a really horrible stone (sorry - just my personal opinion).

The third stone has an orange colourway - not the green/purple you see. This affects the value and it's incredibly overpriced for what it is.

I want to show you what a good Alex in a similar carat weight to what you're looking at is like (and you can see how expensive it is). http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax852ad/&1244716636

In the $2k range (and just a bit more) how about these? http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/xax320bn/&930512007 or http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax373aa/&930512007 which has a strong colour change and I suspect will look very good in real life. http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/ax10012ad/&930512007 moderate colour change but I know David's photos and this will be much better than the photos show. This one is right on budget and has size, clarity and a moderate to strong colour change http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax154aa/&930512007

If you want to be budget friendly ..........

Have you thought about something like this? http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/ax10337aa/&1244716636 This will give finger coverage. The colour change is green/gray but does go to a pink/orange.

I have to admit that although this stone has a weak colour change, for the money it's incredibly pretty http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/ax10337ac/&1244716636

Hope that helps

 

[LD]

Chrisuws - don't waste money on a synthetic - sorry to contradict what you've been told - but it will never look like an Alexandrite unless you add a couple of zeros to your budget. Just a thought but David Weinberg (of Multicolour) actually makes settings so if you sold the one you have he would be able to make a ring for you including the stone. He also has ready made rings on a separate website with Alexandrite he's sourced. https://www.davidwein.com/

The stone in my avatar was bought from him and it was also one of his settings (sorry for the poor quality photo but hope you can make it out).

Just a thought ........ have you thought about a colour change garnet? Some (very few) have the same colour change as an Alex and are very sought after. David has one set into jewelery https://www.davidwein.com/jewelry/c...ellow-gold-ring-00105040/overview/211640/10/5

 

[Bron357]

Bron357 - have you ever had this stone checked out? I know that the photos are from an iphone but the blue colour bothers me. You never see this in an Alex. I do understand it could simply be the photography but it might be worth getting it checked out. x

It’s just the way it photographs. I wanted to show how weird and hard to photograph Alex’s can be. I can’t actually see that “blue” or the pale pinkish colour that the iPhone captured in real life. That’s why I say always see an Alex in person. Fascinating gems.

 

[ringo865]

You FB ring may be able to be modified fo other shape stones. Depending on the head/crown construction. Can you post a pic?

 

[qubitasaurus]

What about something like these? You'd have to make a bipass ring, or turn them into side stones (similar to this ring). But both colour ways look good (at least to me).

Does your existing setting have a peg head, which can be removed and replaced? Otherwise the rule of thumb is that you have approximate 0.2 mm leeway -- so for instance if it accommodates a 6 mm round we would need to find you something in the range 5.8-6.2 mm. And we would have to check the depth. Otherwise it wont fit.