Vanadium Chrysoberyl - color uniqueness and availability

[Double E]

I don't know about vanadium chrysoberyls but some alexandrites fluoresce deep red under SW UV due to their chromium content. I'd imagine like any other stone if there's enough iron impurities the fluorescence will be quenched. So an alexandrite with little or no iron would be the best candidate, but they would be expensive.

PS I wish I could post an accurate photo showing the colour of a small gem alexandrite crystal from Brazil I have here. It's a beautiful mint green in daylight, looking just like the photos of vanadium chrysoberyls on here. The camera just sees a watered down blue-grey-green. I wonder if there's vanadium as well as chromium in it?

Your Alex sounds like a gorgeous stone I could be wrong, but if it shows that green at some time and lighting, I will bet it consists of vanadium. Vanadium is the chemical causing green colour, isn’t it?

that said, yellow to yellow green chrysoberyl consists of considerable amount of iron causing the yellow, that makes me believe their fluorescence is either weak or negligible.

Unless there are other chemicals which cause fluorescence other than red.

 

[Double E]

Yes its comparable. Vanadium chrysoberyl has higher RI and sparkles more because of that. Its also more durable as tourmaline as the hardness is between spinel and sapphire.

So am I right vanadium chrysoberyl is even pricier than paraiba?

 

[Double E]

Tourmaline tends to chip more in my experience. Chrysoberyl is tough!!!

I agreed. And the “more common” chrysoberyl is so underrated that I want one before it get more expensive~

 

[Double E]

And how about the locality or origin of chrysoberyl? Are there differences on the colour or property of the stone from different places?

 

[T L]

And how about the locality or origin of chrysoberyl? Are there differences on the colour or property of the stone from different places?

I’m partial to Tanzanian material.

 

[Double E]

I’m partial to Tanzanian material.

Do you find it’s more neon looking? Oh then am I right the ones you shown are from Tanzania?

 

[Double E]

I am grateful for the amazing information I got in the thread. I am narrowing it down to 3 places to get a chrysoberyl with below requirements:

Shape: Round
Size: 2ct and 7mm up
Color: neon highlighter lemon yellow with true vivid saturation, which means yellow as the primary hue, with slight lime or greenish making it a bit chartreuse. NO BROWN or Grey HUE
Cut: PRECISION Brilliant cut as I think the desired colour is bright as default, and a brilliant cut is more suitable to maximise its brightness and glow (from its colour), and hopefully help to remain these in most lightings.

To get the stone from:
1) Adamant int’l ltd (Sri Lanka base, inventory record shows constantly offering vivid chrysoberyl)
2) Inoro Gems (US cutter directly sourcing rough in Sri Lanka)
3) Jeff White (No introduction needed~)

Any thoughts are welcomed

 

[Nosean]

Chrysoberyl is mostly colored by iron, sometimes together with chromium and/or vanadium.

Vanadium chrysoberyl has a very low iron content and Ratio vanadium > chromium.

To much iron –> the stones gets more and more Yellow to brown.

Low iron and increasing vanadium with low chromium –> no fluorescence and the desired bluishgreen color.

Increasing vanadium –> the stone becomes deeper green without colorchange.

increasing chromium –> from the same light bluishgreen color with fluorescence up to borderline V–Chryso to alexandrite.

Very low iron, vanadium and chromium –> near colorless up to icy very light bluishgreen.

 

[Double E]

Chrysoberyl is mostly colored by iron, sometimes together with chromium and/or vanadium.

Vanadium chrysoberyl has a very low iron content and Ratio vanadium > chromium.

To much iron –> the stones gets more and more Yellow to brown.

Low iron and increasing vanadium with low chromium –> no fluorescence and the desired bluishgreen color.

Increasing vanadium –> the stone becomes deeper green without colorchange.

increasing chromium –> from the same light bluishgreen color with fluorescence up to borderline V–Chryso to alexandrite.

Very low iron, vanadium and chromium –> near colorless up to icy very light bluishgreen.

Thank you for summarising these~Vivid Vanadium chrysoberyl is beautiful, definitely! Regret it’s not in my budget. However the yellow side of this species is equally amazing, and I failed to find other high hardness gems with the same vivid lemon yellow~

 

[Nosean]

Chrysoberyl is gorgous in every color

 

[T L]

Do you find it’s more neon looking? Oh then am I right the ones you shown are from Tanzania?

I think they tend to have more neon material, whereas other locations have more golden material. My own stones are Tanzanian

I remember when the Tanzanian deposit was uncovered, and the stones coming out were so neon. I’m not sure if it’s still producing the same quality.

 

[T L]

Chrysoberyl is gorgous in every color

Except it can be too brown in some cases.

 

[T L]

I forgot to mention, some really brownish chrysoberyl can go a little more yellow in certain lighting. Some unscrupulous vendors claim this is alexandrite, in order to sell low cost material at sky high prices.

 

[Nosean]

Except it can be too brown in some cases.

No!!! There are beautiful brown one or honey colored ones…

Maybe you have an allergie to brown

 

[T L]

No!!! There are beautiful brown one or honey colored ones…

Maybe you have an allergie to brown

Color is subjective, but in the trade, brown is a less valuable and undesirable modifier.

As for me, I have an “allergy” to brownish yellows, lol, but some people love them.

We all like what we like.

 

[Double E]

No!!! There are beautiful brown one or honey colored ones…

Maybe you have an allergie to brown

Like at Adamant, they pick some nice brown ones to offer in their list. Some are primary brown while several with brown as secondary hue mixing with other colours. Putting price and value aside, they could be unique to people who appreciate them^^ Sometime rarity is not related to beauty.

Color is subjective, but in the trade, brown is a less valuable and undesirable modifier.

As for me, I have an “allergy” to brownish yellows, lol, but some people love them.

We all like what we like.

Exactly! So I feel lucky that I am not into pigeon blood ruby and royal blue sapphire

 

[Double E]

To get the stone from:
1) Adamant int’l ltd (Sri Lanka base, inventory record shows constantly offering vivid chrysoberyl)
2) Inoro Gems (US cutter directly sourcing rough in Sri Lanka)
3) Jeff White (No introduction needed~)

Any thoughts are welcomed

Apologies to bring up this question again, do wish for some second opinion.

Which way do you guys think is better to go for? I have a feeling that it’s not a good idea to enquire or initiate a stone sourcing through more than one vendor at the same time. Another consideration is, under current pandemic, would it make it harder and pricier to source through a US based vendor, compared to the other two who are directly working in Sri Lanka?

thanks so much for everyone’s input~

 

[T L]

Like at Adamant, they pick some nice brown ones to offer in their list. Some are primary brown while several with brown as secondary hue mixing with other colours. Putting price and value aside, they could be unique to people who appreciate them^^ Sometime rarity is not related to beauty.


Exactly! So I feel lucky that I am not into pigeon blood ruby and royal blue sapphire

I know, I actually prefer cool gems (violets, blues, greens, etc) , so red or pinks don’t really do as much for me, although that color is more highly coveted.

 

[Double E]

Do you guys have your chrysoberyl, not vanadium type, certed by reputable lab when purchase?

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Apologies to bring up this question again, do wish for some second opinion.

Which way do you guys think is better to go for? I have a feeling that it’s not a good idea to enquire or initiate a stone sourcing through more than one vendor at the same time. Another consideration is, under current pandemic, would it make it harder and pricier to source through a US based vendor, compared to the other two who are directly working in Sri Lanka?

thanks so much for everyone’s input~

Did you ever buy a chrysoberyl?

 

[Double E]

Did you ever buy a chrysoberyl?

I have had a vendor looking for one for me. No luck so far however~

 

[Autumn in New England]

I have had a vendor looking for one for me. No luck so far however~

Hoping you find the perfect stone soon! To answer your question, yes, I have everything certified, even if I am 100% sure of composition/treatment on my end. It's just a "mind clean" thing for me, and in case I want to sell after setting. Also, I definitely engage more than one vendor at a time when gem hunting. In fact, I engage as many as possible. If a prospect is found, I let everyone else know I may be on to something and to halt the search. The only thing I wouldn't do, naturally, is ask a dealer to cut some rough for me, unless I were absolutely purchasing the finished stone. Of course, you usually need to put a deposit down anyway for that exact reason. Good luck!

 

[Double E]

Hoping you find the perfect stone soon! To answer your question, yes, I have everything certified, even if I am 100% sure of composition/treatment on my end. It's just a "mind clean" thing for me, and in case I want to sell after setting. Also, I definitely engage more than one vendor at a time when gem hunting. In fact, I engage as many as possible. If a prospect is found, I let everyone else know I may be on to something and to halt the search. The only thing I wouldn't do, naturally, is ask a dealer to cut some rough for me, unless I were absolutely purchasing the finished stone. Of course, you usually need to put a deposit down anyway for that exact reason. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I realised you found your chryso, and congrats for that

I absolutely understand the “mind clean” thing you mentioned, but at least I need to find my stone first…:p It took certain time already, and the latest situation in Sri Lanka does hinder my hunt with the vendor I have been “talking” to, and we did talk a lot~pleasantly~

I thought about engaging a bit more vendors for gem hunt, but felt unsure and had concern that would it be a chance vendors trying to get the same stone and make it complicated. Though I have no idea how likely this will happen.

However I am now considering reaching more vendors for the Spess if I continue with my plan. The vendor making the piece ( who also made my last three stone ring and is a dealer at the same time), or Anton you mentioned. I just very much regret the original Spess didn’t work out, it’d have been a precision cut very nice gem. I kind of feel that I missed something that’s so hard to come by.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I realised you found your chryso, and congrats for that

I absolutely understand the “mind clean” thing you mentioned, but at least I need to find my stone first…:p It took certain time already, and the latest situation in Sri Lanka does hinder my hunt with the vendor I have been “talking” to, and we did talk a lot~pleasantly~

I thought about engaging a bit more vendors for gem hunt, but felt unsure and had concern that would it be a chance vendors trying to get the same stone and make it complicated. Though I have no idea how likely this will happen.

However I am now considering reaching more vendors for the Spess if I continue with my plan. The vendor making the piece ( who also made my last three stone ring and is a dealer at the same time), or Anton you mentioned. I just very much regret the original Spess didn’t work out, it’d have been a precision cut very nice gem. I kind of feel that I missed something that’s so hard to come by.

Oh you'll absolutely find the perfect spess for you (and your wife) eventually, without doubt. I know some collectors revel in the hunt (and I understand why). But, for me, it's very frustrating... likely because of my OCD tendencies! But you're doing all of the right things in search of both gems, and were wise to return the first spess. In my experience, if you have concerns with a new gem, those concerns only seem to magnify down the road. With spess, there's no need to settle. You can find top material at reasonable price points. With chryso, depending on the variety you seek, it may take a bit more time. But they all come along in due time. Again, good luck!