Help! I'm a little obsessed...

[Keeliamira]

I've fallen under alexandrite's magical spell and am a bit obsessed with finding one to call my own. I am a total alexandrite neophyte though. What do you think of this one I found? I'm thinking of resetting it in platinum...maybe with a couple of diamonds flanking it as an over-the-hill present to myself for my birthday. Thoughts?

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

I hardly ever find an alexandrite pretty on photo. The two I have seen in person were soso-lala at best, though expensive. I don't know why this gem is so costly.
There must be something I miss.
Kiliamitra, the stone in question here, seems to have a window? Also, one would need more data, price and weight, for any judgement.

 

[Keeliamira]

It's not overwhelmingly expensive. The stone is just shy of .80 and it is priced pretty reasonably at around $650 in the setting shown in the photos.

 

[TeaGlutton]

I hardly ever find an alexandrite pretty on photo. The two I have seen in person were soso-lala at best, though expensive. I don't know why this gem is so costly.
There must be something I miss.

Alexandrite, to me, is so magical and fun. My engagement ring is a purple oval sapphire with alexandrite halo. That blue-green color is so beautiful, but I know it will change throughout the day (and lighting). Something about that color change is so alluring. I have another ruby/paraiba/sapphire ring, but it always looks the same. It's beautiful, and certainly not a let-down, but not surprising. The alexandrite will change depending on the light, so far:

Daylight: Blue-Green (stoplight green)
Fluorescent light: Lime green
Candlelight: Purple/Pinkish-Purple (I have Indian alexandrite, supposedly more known for it's daylight color than the incandescent color)
Mixed light: Almost a steel-blue/gray (each stone in the halo is a 2mm round, so the colors appear mixed)
Black light: it brightly glows a fluorescent cherry red!

Bonus round!
Photos: sleepy greyish green
Sunglasses on: This one eludes my memory, but definitely another alteration, I want to say it makes the alex look grey.

The color change is so interesting.

 

[Keeliamira]

Here's another photo...

 

[minousbijoux]

Its really a personal choice. I would save my money as the colorways are not my favorite and the window would bother me...

Have you checked out Multicolour.com? They have the best inventory of alex, imo.

 

[lovedogs]

Its really a personal choice. I would save my money as the colorways are not my favorite and the window would bother me...

Have you checked out Multicolour.com? They have the best inventory of alex, imo.

I agree with minous, but it's definitely a personal preference. Multicoulor.com also has a fine jewelry partner/associated website: davidwein.com which I think is owned by the owner of multicoulor (although I could be wrong). He often has really nice alex rings that are already made (so you dont need to find a stone that fits a stock mounting or deal w. custom making something). I don't know your budget, but if you are interestd in an alex w. diamonds flanking it here are some options:

http://www.davidwein.com/jewelry/alexandrite-white-diamond-and-white-gold-ring-00111669/overview/52002435-the-tsar-s-treasure/20/0

http://www.davidwein.com/jewelry/alexandrite-white-diamond-and-white-gold-ring-00111300/overview/52002435-the-tsar-s-treasure/20/0

Here's another option with a heart shaped stone (so you get a larger stone for the price since heart shapes aren't super popular)
http://www.davidwein.com/jewelry/alexandrite-white-diamond-and-white-gold-ring-00110877/overview/52002435-the-tsar-s-treasure/20/0

 

[minousbijoux]

Its really a personal choice. I would save my money as the colorways are not my favorite and the window would bother me...

Have you checked out Multicolour.com? They have the best inventory of alex, imo.

I agree with minous, but it's definitely a personal preference. Multicoulor.com also has a fine jewelry partner/associated website: davidwein.com which I think is owned by the owner of multicoulor (although I could be wrong). He often has really nice alex rings that are already made (so you dont need to find a stone that fits a stock mounting or deal w. custom making something). I don't know your budget, but if you are interestd in an alex w. diamonds flanking it here are some options:

http://www.davidwein.com/jewelry/alexandrite-white-diamond-and-white-gold-ring-00111669/overview/52002435-the-tsar-s-treasure/20/0

http://www.davidwein.com/jewelry/alexandrite-white-diamond-and-white-gold-ring-00111300/overview/52002435-the-tsar-s-treasure/20/0

Here's another option with a heart shaped stone (so you get a larger stone for the price since heart shapes aren't super popular)
http://www.davidwein.com/jewelry/alexandrite-white-diamond-and-white-gold-ring-00110877/overview/52002435-the-tsar-s-treasure/20/0

You are not wrong!

 

[Keeliamira]

Thank you so much for the insight minousbijoux and lovedogs. I really appreciate it. I like the colors in this stone but I am a little bothered by the window in it. I'm a sucker for a cushion cut. Leave it to me to try to find a rare cut in a rare stone without breaking the bank, lol. Budget isn't fixed, but I'm in the planning stages of a 5year anniversary diamond (2.5k oval surrounded by 24 diamonds in a halo and on the band) so anything super major I divert to an Alex is going to push my diamond back.