Alexandrite real or lab

[Shazbo]

Would lI've some advice about my rings.

Tried to show colour changes don't know if any of you great experts have any opinions about if my rings may be natural or not.

Also the stamps??



Thank you.

 

[Bron357]

Hi, I replied under the other thread. Lovely rings but unlikely to be natural alexandrite. The hallmarks are Middle Eastern (arabic) I believe, I think for 12kt gold.

 

[Shazbo]

Thank you for the feedback, I think for a definitive answer, I definitely have to test. I though that synthetic don't have the range of colour changes? I couldn't actually capture the green colour very well, but it does have a distinctive green that can't be seen in the pics. I'm still loving the wonderful rainbow I meet every day when I wear it.

Thanks for the info about markings, I saw it was 12k on another forum actually so you are definitely right and I don't seem to be able to get the information about the third symbol.

Will post here when the GIA person local to me has given me an answer about testing.

Thanks again

 

[ChristineRose]

Color change sapphire was often sold as alexandrite, especially in Alexandria, Egypt, and it has a much narrower range of color change. But I think it looks like synthetic alexandrite, which I think has a better range of color change than most natural stones.

The symbols look like fake Egyptian hieroglyphics, which would also point to Alexandria. The Alexandria the stones were named for was a Russian Czarina, and alexandrite is not mined in Egypt.

 

[rockysalamander]

This might be helpful...

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ly-got-an-alexandrite-read-this-first.179784/

 

[WinkHPD]

There are the flame fusion synthetic alexandrite-like sapphires and also synthetic alexandrite that are made by several companies using various methods. The flame fusion normally are an easy ID with a distinctive color that I have also seen in natural alexandrite, but only rarely. Under the microscope it is usually possible to find curved striae in the synthetic sapphire, which are 100% proof positive of synthetic origin. As Christine Rose stated, the flame fusion synthetic sapphires have a narrower range of colors than you could see in a genuine color change alexandrite. For example, I have yet to see a flame fusion sapphire with any green in it. I do not think they exist, yet, but someday, who knows?

Some of the synthetic alexandrite made by such methods as flux fusion are incredibly realistic looking and much harder to differentiate from the natural.

Wink

 

[Shazbo]

There are the flame fusion synthetic alexandrite-like sapphires and also synthetic alexandrite that are made by several companies using various methods. The flame fusion normally are an easy ID with a distinctive color that I have also seen in natural alexandrite, but only rarely. Under the microscope it is usually possible to find curved striae in the synthetic sapphire, which are 100% proof positive of synthetic origin. As Christine Rose stated, the flame fusion synthetic sapphires have a narrower range of colors than you could see in a genuine color change alexandrite. For example, I have yet to see a flame fusion sapphire w ith any green in it. I do not think they exist, yet, but someday, who knows?

Some of the synthetic alexandrite made by such methods as flux fusion are incredibly realistic looking and much harder to differentiate from the natural.

Wink

Thank you for the feedback. In fact its hard to show but the prominent colour in fluorescent light is as attached more green than blue

Also the change is more towards the purple to ruby pink than red a bit like this tanzanite below. Not sure if that is a regular alexandrite change or not im so confused now by all this colour lol...

Going to get them tested and will definitely feedback to you all.

Thank you

 

[Shazbo]

Color change sapphire was often sold as alexandrite, especially in Alexandria, Egypt, and it has a much narrower range of color change. But I think it looks like synthetic alexandrite, which I think has a better range of color change than most natural stones.

The symbols look like fake Egyptian hieroglyphics, which would also point to Alexandria. The Alexandria the stones were named for was a Russian Czarina, and alexandrite is not mined in Egypt.

Thank you. The rings were not bought in Egypt but just had these markings so not entirely sure when or where my rings origins are

If the truth is that they are synthetic colour change sapphire, or sapphire would they have that range of colour change possibility?

Thanks again

 

[ChristineRose]

Thank you. The rings were not bought in Egypt but just had these markings so not entirely sure when or where my rings origins are

If the truth is that they are synthetic colour change sapphire, or sapphire would they have that range of colour change possibility?

Thanks again

Hi Shazbo,

As Wink says, color change sapphires generally go from purplish-blue to reddish-purple, but there I did see some people claiming to sell a red-green sapphire.

Your best bet might be to look around for a geology or mineral collectors group--they may have the tools to help you.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

As others have said, all indications point to synthetic. Probably corundum.

Alexandrite is known as "emerald by day, ruby by night", which is an indication that the best specimens are green under fluorescent light and red under incandescent. In actual fact pure green/red shift is exceedingly rare. Natural alexandrite can shift in a variety of hues. Greens, purples, browns. Those pure blues would be very unusual. If it is natural chrysoberyl and it has a distinct color shift, it can be certified as Alexandrite - even when not specifically a green/red shift. I once was fortunate enough to acquire a large cushion cut in Sri Lanka that certified at GIA as Alexandrite. The color shift went from a forest green to a cognac brown (no red). Some gorgeous material was coming out of Brazil for a while that went from blue green to plumb color.

Because the natural material is so rare, those commercial cuts and large sizes are a strong indicator of synthetic.