by Pinkmartini87 » Feb 8, 2019 hi all, Saw this alexandrite which recently sold for about $9500/carat: http://romanovrussia.com/antique/rare-1-78-carat-russian-ural-alexandrite-vintage-ring/ Can anyone comment on the stone quality and price appropriateness? I'm just learning about alexandrites. Many thanks!
by qubitasaurus » Feb 8, 2019 No, it should havw had a lab report with origin. Not to mention pictures on a white background. Without that it is a bit difficult to comment, beyond saying that russian alexandrite from the ural mountains carries a premium (I thought it wqs mined out well before 1930?), so the price wouls have been expected to be sky high for a strong colour change stone. If you are trying to learn then maybe find some pictures of alexandrites in mixed light (this is how they actually will look most of the time, and part of the challenge of buying one is making sure you like it in mixed light conditions)?
by Pinkmartini87 » Feb 9, 2019 at 7:49 AM @qubitasaurus thanks for taking time to write back, appreciate your advice!
by Anne111 » Feb 11, 2019 at 7:40 AM The only alexandrite with Russian lab reports I could find are: https://palagems.myshopify.com/collections/alexandrite/products/21927 https://palagems.myshopify.com/collections/alexandrite/products/20783 https://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/untreated_russian_alexandrite_1_00/11090/21579 and several here: https://awesomegems.com/alexandrite.html (amazingly many but I'm not sure about the lab reports) Multicolor has the largest inventory in alexandrites but none Russians.
by Pinkmartini87 » Feb 11, 2019 at 10:34 PM @Anne111 You are very kind and generous with your time to share those links--it is greatly appreciated!
by Nosean » Feb 12, 2019 at 4:30 PM Alexandrite is still a byproduct from emerald mining in Maleysheva. Specimen and some cut stones from rough collected from the mine dump are sometimes available in europe mineral shows in small quantities and often low quality.
by Anne111 » Feb 14, 2019 at 6:39 AM Maleysheva being in the Urals for those who slept through geology classes in school, like me. How stupid in hindsight, those days I got bad grades and now I learn it fir fun.
by IcePhoenix » Feb 15, 2019 at 4:42 PM I'm by no means an expert, if anything, but spending so much without having a certificate telling you it's a Russian alexandrite is either crazy or I'm-rich-I-don't-care-where-it's-from-it's-pretty kind of carelessness if you'd say, but again maybe I got scammed as well in the alexandrite section due to my inexperience. The stone looks lovely though
by LisaRN » Feb 15, 2019 at 6:02 PM From the website it looks like the company has been around for over 20 years and has a lifetime return period for "authenticity." So maybe the buyer felt comfortable with this alone? I am kind of the "trust but verify" girl myself so I would have wanted a lab report before purchasing. I do the love the color of the Alexandrite in the photos.
