IGL Lab Reports

[LD]

I have recently seen an item of jewellery for sale with an IGL lab report of a 14k ring containing an Alexandrite which purported to be from the Ural Mountains, Russia. This disturbed me greatly because there is virtually no Russian material on the market and if anybody has the book about Russian Alexandrite by Karl Schmetzer you will see that the material is heavily included - nothing like the Alexandrite in the ring. The ring is currently for sale on Ebay and contains an Alex of 1.12ct. IF this was Russian material, and clean, I would not expect to see it on Ebay. Also, why would you set it in 14k white gold?????? All the warning signs are there.

So, I emailed IGL asking how they test for origin with coloured gemstones and in particular gave them the report number of the one I had seen. So far I have not had a reply. The lab also states that they can convert a lab report into an appraisal for a fee - which again gives me cause for concern. The report can be viewed on the IGL website using report number 160010245. http://www.igl-labs.com/html/company_services.html After speaking with a couple of gemstones dealers, I have found out that IGL is not a lab with a particularly good reputation - something I hadn't been aware of.

I have also shown the lab report and photos of the ring to a specialist in Alexandrite and was told "the chances of this being a Russian Alexandrite are nil" which basically confirms my thoughts. Interestingly the ring also has a GIA report stating that the Alex was indeed an Alexandrite but there was no origin stated.

Whilst I may be totally wrong - I am alarmed that a lab may be stating origin when it may not have tested for it. As this is not a lab we see much of on PS, I thought it would be wise to start a thread to urge caution if you're buying a gemstone with one of these lab reports.

 

[Marlow]

LD - excellent!

I want to add:

"Russian Alexandrite" Dr. Karl Schmetzer

10.5 Separation of russian Alexandrite from other sources.

Russian alexandrite are the highest in Ta ( Tantal), Ge ( Germanium) . High in Sn ( Tin) and intermediate in Bor and Gallium.

So only a check with a LA-ICP-MS ( laser ablation Inductively coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) will give results ( Ta,Ge) !

 

[T L]

Thanks LD,
That's very disconcerting. Let us know if you hear back from IGL.

BTW, this is a very famous photo of a true Russian alexandrite, as an example of what the material looks like.

 

[LD]

Thanks LD,
That's very disconcerting. Let us know if you hear back from IGL.

BTW, this is a very famous photo of a true Russian alexandrite, as an example of what the material looks like.

That photo is of the Timo Hammid Alex isn't it? Apparently very few people have seen it in real life. I'd love to know if it really looks like that!

 

[T L]

Thanks LD,
That's very disconcerting. Let us know if you hear back from IGL.

BTW, this is a very famous photo of a true Russian alexandrite, as an example of what the material looks like.

That photo is of the Timo Hammid Alex isn't it? Apparently very few people have seen it in real life. I'd love to know if it really looks like that!

Yes, it's the Tino Hammid photo. I have a 20 pointer alex with a very similar color shift, so I don't think those colors are beyond the realm of alex color change, but who knows for sure if THAT particular stone looks like that.

 

[LD]

A couple of mine aren't far off that too TL.

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks, LD. You do us a great service.

 

[Marlow]

Thanks LD,
That's very disconcerting. Let us know if you hear back from IGL.

BTW, this is a very famous photo of a true Russian alexandrite, as an example of what the material looks like.

That photo is of the Timo Hammid Alex isn't it? Apparently very few people have seen it in real life. I'd love to know if it really looks like that!

Yes, it's the Tino Hammid photo. I have a 20 pointer alex with a very similar color shift, so I don't think those colors are beyond the realm of alex color change, but who knows for sure if THAT particular stone looks like that.

Any pictures??

 

[T L]

Thanks LD,
That's very disconcerting. Let us know if you hear back from IGL.

BTW, this is a very famous photo of a true Russian alexandrite, as an example of what the material looks like.

That photo is of the Timo Hammid Alex isn't it? Apparently very few people have seen it in real life. I'd love to know if it really looks like that!

Yes, it's the Tino Hammid photo. I have a 20 pointer alex with a very similar color shift, so I don't think those colors are beyond the realm of alex color change, but who knows for sure if THAT particular stone looks like that.

Any pictures??

No, it's impossible to photograph the color change.