your experience with multicolour.com?

[LD]

Alex???

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/xax317ab/&1244716636

You need windex - for the window!!

That is truly horrible (the colour as well). These only just about get the name of Alex because of the colour change but this is such a good example of yuckiness (to me anyway )

Marlow some of the best Alex I've seen have been Indian rather than Brazilian. The reason I say this is because the daylight green of some of the Indian material is beautiful whereas the Brazilian stones can be very dark and even when you add in the blue component they aren't as beautiful!

 

[Marlow]

Yes, the indian stone have a super daylight color - even with a weak CC they are pretty - some are "vanadium" chrysoberyl course of the
ratio V:Cr. We talked about it!

Unfortunately I haven't seen one with a good change but the exist - think the lots with indian alex are not the top production.
They picked out the good ones - I know gem dealer who spent hours to pick extremely fine tsavos or spessartine out of thousands others.


But a bluishgreen indian alex compared to a CC garnet ( best quality) - forget the garnet - no chance!!

 

[the_mother_thing]

Seeing what is available now, I am soooo glad we bought my Alex (from MC) when we did. I love the bluish green color it has, and found it to be more vivid in person than the pictures showed on the listing/site. And while it had a window, I found it to thankfully close up considerably once set when I wear it. When I am not wearing it, in certain lighting and certain angles, yes, I can see the window, but I don't worry about a window that I can't see when I am not wearing it.

The pictures show it more green than bluish-green, but it's really hard to photograph accurately. In person it is just gorgeous, and one of my favorite purchases ever.

 

[Marlow]

Beautiful ring - and your pic is much better - I don't like MC pics.

What about the color change? A small window is o.k. - chrysoberyl as a single crystal has a shape which is difficult ( flat) .

But the first I posted has a large window, terrible colors and is overprized.

 

[the_mother_thing]

Beautiful ring - and your pic is much better - I don't like MC pics.

What about the color change? A small window is o.k. - chrysoberyl as a single crystal has a shape which is difficult ( flat) .

But the first I posted has a large window, terrible colors and is overprized.

All the pictures I captured in incandescent light made it look more purple than the mauve color. IRL, it's just a little bit darker than the MC incandescent color. But I usually see the mixed and regular lighting colors. May be because of the limited light due to the closed setting/halo.

The only problem I had with the transaction was hiccups in getting my initial emails. Not sure if the messages were going to their spam box, or weren't getting through or what. Once I was able to connect with David directly, all was well and the transaction went smoothly. He even sent me a holiday/new year card this past year which was nice.

 

[dm-smith]

once again, thanks for all! astonishing replies. I love u guys

I think I'm down to these two gems (unless someone can point out some beautiful alex):
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/single/alexandrite/ax10143aa/&930512007
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?51787960

The first stone seems to have a complete color change, but it is PR/RP*2/2 under incandescent light (does anyone has a sample picture for PR/RP*2/2 color?)
The second stone seems to have better color, but it's more included and had <100% color change ( the pick shows some blue color remain under incandescent light )

do you think having a GIA cert (for an addition of $120) is a good idea for these stones? I hate the idea of 1 1/2 hours drive to carlsbad. Is there any different between GIA cert that come from thai lab with the one from carlsbad?

 

[Marlow]

My personal opinion.

I would not buy one of them but if I have to do the second one.

From this vendor you don't need a certificate - 10 % a the price ( with is to high imo)!!

Better a smaller stone with a strong change - you buy COLOR and COLOR CHANGE - not size and clarity in in Alexandrite!!!

If you want I will check the other stone and send you some links to think about.

 

[Marlow]

My personal opinion.

I would not buy one of them but if I have to do the second one.

From this vendor you don't need a certificate - 10 % a the price ( with is to high imo)!!

Better a smaller stone with a strong change - you buy COLOR and COLOR CHANGE - not size and clarity in in Alexandrite!!!

If you want I will check the other stone and send you some links to think about.

I checked them - there are not really any interesting stones - I would wait.

This one I like - smaller and much more expensive but a very good quality at all + certificate.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?846995851

 

[T L]

This is nice too, but it's less than half a carat, and is $6K/ct.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax725ab/&930512007

Most of the rest are pretty unattractive, and/or have ginormous windows.

Wow, like padparadscha, it's really hard to find a nice and sizable alexandrite these days.

I would wait it out, or look for one pink stone, and one green stone, and wear them as stackers.

 

[Marlow]

This is nice too, but it's less than half a carat, and is $6K/ct.

http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax725ab/&930512007

Most of the rest are pretty unattractive, and/or have ginormous windows.

Wow, like padparadscha, it's really hard to find a nice and sizable alexandrite these days.

I would wait it out, or look for one pink stone, and one green stone, and wear them as stackers.

Yes, two stones in one ring - so you can turn off and on.

 

[soberguy]

Tanzania has produced some really nice alexandrite. Richard Wise had a nice one.

 

[dm-smith]

Tanzania has produced some really nice alexandrite. Richard Wise had a nice one.

wow, how much did he asked for this stone? btw, did anyone has ever purchase any alex from ajsgem? which one do you prefer to buy alex? multicolour or ajsgem? I'm not sure if the picture is accurate, but these stones look good

http://www.ajsgem.com/chrysoberyl/alexandrite/alexandrite-1.05-carats.html-6
http://www.ajsgem.com/chrysoberyl/alexandrite/alexandrite-1.15-carats.html

 

[Marlow]

AJS - not enough information and photoshopped pictures.

Don' t like both stones.

Could you explain what you want? Size, color and change and/or clarity?

 

[chrono]

You seem to consistently select a green to brown change; is this due to budget or you like these colours?

 

[dm-smith]

Well, I did prefer something more green than blue. My old tanzanite is blue, so I want to have some other color. So, green is my 1st choice,and blue is the alternative. I prefer green to pink color change (not brown). I dont have any budget limit, but I just want something cheap as my 1st alex. If possible I want it to weight at least 1ct

 

[Marlow]

It is not a problem to find a nice daylight green or bluish green in in alexandrite - the problem is the incandescent color.

If a 0,90 ct stone is 2000pct it is 1800.

The same quality with 1,10 ct is maybe 2600 pct so 2860 - you pay for 0,2 ct 1060 more!

But the difference in size is small!

Better a smaller stone with exc. change then a larger with a brownish tone. Alex is a gem for specialist - many beginner are disapointed when they see them first - dark, ugly colors and ....

 

[dm-smith]

It is not a problem to find a nice daylight green or bluish green in in alexandrite - the problem is the incandescent color.

If a 0,90 ct stone is 2000pct it is 1800.

The same quality with 1,10 ct is maybe 2600 pct so 2860 - you pay for 0,2 ct 1060 more!

But the difference in size is small!

Better a smaller stone with exc. change then a larger with a brownish tone. Alex is a gem for specialist - many beginner are disapointed when they see them first - dark, ugly colors and ....

I see. How about these four stones?
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax391aa/&1244716636
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax699aa/&1244716636
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/zx120aa/&1244716636
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/alexandrite/yax681aa/&1244716636

color wise, I prefer the second one. However the depth of the stone only 2.83mm. do you think it will affect the way it sparkle? Additionally, the color change in the gia certificate of that stone is described as "Green changing to Grayish purple" which doesn't match the color description in multicolour

 

[Marlow]

The second one is very flat ( 4 mm minimum!) and has a moderate CC

Forget weak or moderate change - strong should be minumum too.

 

[dm-smith]

The second one is very flat ( 4 mm minimum!) and has a moderate CC

Forget weak or moderate change - strong should be minumum too.

Just curious, what's wrong with 2.83mm stone? (I'm sorry I'm new to the world of gemstone). does it effect the spark of the stone? How do you define moderate and strong color change?

one more question, the color of the second stone in multicolour and gia cert is quite different. do you think multicolour photoshop his picture? if the different is due to the difference in source of color, which one do you think closer to the real stone?

 

[Marlow]

The second one is very flat ( 4 mm minimum!) and has a moderate CC

Forget weak or moderate change - strong should be minumum too.

Just curious, what's wrong with 2.83mm stone? (I'm sorry I'm new to the world of gemstone). does it effect the spark of the stone? How do you define moderate and strong color change?

one more question, the color of the second stone in multicolour and gia cert is quite different. do you think multicolour photoshop his picture? if the different is due to the difference in source of color, which one do you think closer to the real stone?

First - you will have a window. That means you have a large area in the center of the stone without sparkle.

Second - look at the pear of JoCoLen - same stone - there you see the difference.

Have you ever seen an Alexandrite in real live?

The is a problem because two elements are responsible for the color - chrome and vanadium. Chrome is also responsible for the change.
You could have stones with a similar daylight color ( Cr + V = maybe 0,5 %) but one has a good change ( Cr is 0,4 and V is 0,1) and one with a weak change ( Cr is 0,27 and V is 0,23) .

(( THIS IS NOT EXACT - only an example to understand the mechanism!!))

 

[Andelain]

If you're even considering doing busines with them, you need to read their entire return policy page. Ine of the things to note is " If you are dissatisfied, we are happy to offer a full refund or exchange on the return of any merchandise within 10 days of the shipment date excluding any shipping, insurance, or auction charges where applicable". that deadline might be hard to meet, since the stone is coming from Thailand.

 

[chrono]

Have you ever seen an alexandrite in person? With your budget and size requirement, I think you might have to make some sacrifices. You probably have to go with a weak colour change and/or less desired colour-ways. I'm with Marlow that most alexandrites I looked at were underwhelming but the nice ones are so terribly expensive.

A flat, pancake or shallow stone has the bonus of looking big but the downside is the window. A window is the area where it is dead (no sparkle) because its very shallowness does not allow light to travel back to the eye but instead leaks straight through so you will see your finger or whatever object behind the stone instead of colour.

 

[dm-smith]

Have you ever seen an alexandrite in person? With your budget and size requirement, I think you might have to make some sacrifices. You probably have to go with a weak colour change and/or less desired colour-ways. I'm with Marlow that most alexandrites I looked at were underwhelming but the nice ones are so terribly expensive.

A flat, pancake or shallow stone has the bonus of looking big but the downside is the window. A window is the area where it is dead (no sparkle) because its very shallowness does not allow light to travel back to the eye but instead leaks straight through so you will see your finger or whatever object behind the stone instead of colour.

yeah i've seen one yesterday when I visited my friend yesterday. it's a 3.88ct old stone i guess, it has several cert, and one of them is 1996 gia cert. it change from beautiful dark green to dark ruby like red. However, he wanted to trade that stone with my silver harmonica pistol. there's no way I can accept that trade

Regarding the return policy, I can be careless about it. as long as the stone is authentic (100% natural / not treated), I won't return the stone

 

[digdeep]

If I was looking for an Alex right now, I would check out this gem: Strong color change and AGL cert. Reputable vendor too. First gem in this section........

http://www.finewatergems.com/other-gemstones.html

 

[T L]

If I was looking for an Alex right now, I would check out this gem: Strong color change and AGL cert. Reputable vendor too. First gem in this section........

http://www.finewatergems.com/other-gemstones.html

Isn't that a huge window though???

So far, I haven't seen anything in this thread, currently for sale, that makes me go "oooooh" and "ahhhh" - especially for these prices. Ugly colorways, and/or too small, and/or bay door windows and/or and the middle colorways are probably muddy.

Here's an example of a gorgeous one, but it's not for sale. I think for this kind of money, you might want to reach for higher quality. The prices for mediocre stones is awful. I normally don't want to say, 'buy the best,' but in the case of alexandrite, are the lower qualities worth it??????

 

[digdeep]

I think the first two photo's are facet reflections that look large.......the last photo may show a smaller window which I wouldn't bet on until I saw it first hand and how everything "plays" together..........light, cut, color(s)

 

[T L]

If the photo is accurate, I love this one. Yes it's $24K, but honestly, I rather pay $24K for something gorgeous than $3K for a muddy stone.

http://www.ajsgem.com/chrysoberyl/alexandrite/alexandrite-2.03-carats.html

 

[Starzin]

Wow TL - that IS gorgeous! Definitely worth the name alexandrite if it's anything like that - and the price would suggest it is.

 

[T L]

Wow TL - that IS gorgeous! Definitely worth the name alexandrite if it's anything like that - and the price would suggest it is.

Yes, it's 12K/ct, but it's perfectly cut, decent size, great colorways, and 100% color change, if the photos are accurate. I hear AJS isn't the most accurate for photos though. However, if it is all that it claims to be, it's a gorgeous gem. It really puts all these others to shame IMO that are currently for sale. Now, that's really expensive, more than a two carat white diamond, so it's a major investment. However, it pains me to spend thousands per carat on such muddy looking gems. Maybe I'm just not feeling it with any of them. While there are certain gems that you can spend far less on and get a great stone, take blue sapphire for example, this just doesn't seem to be the case with alexandrite?????

Here's a pic of the AJS stone in question for $24K. It's 2.03 carats and has a GRS report.

 

[Starzin]

I'm pleased you posted the photos because yesterday I spent some time in some old threads and yes - dead links and no pictures

I don't know about AJS photo realism unfortunately, haven't seen many declared purchases from them lately to compare (or perhaps I'm not paying attention). However I hear what you're saying about a dearth of good colour change material if the photos are anything to go by there and elsewhere.

It's what puts me off most alex - that far too often people go ga-ga over the colour change and rarity without realising there are other stones that do that better than most alex which turns out just plain muddy.

Then there's JoCoJenn's lucky strike.

As you say though this stone is on another planet altogether if the colour change is representative. As was the previous picture you posted.

If the photo is accurate, I love this one. Yes it's $24K, but honestly, I rather pay $24K for something gorgeous than $3K for a muddy stone.
Agreed - providing money was no object