Pricing on Chrysoberyls?

[Odyssey44]

I have not seen this topic come up lately. Anyone know about current going rates for yellowish-green chrysoberyls? I found a really nice one that is yellow-green that the vendor is calling vanadium. He even has a lab report from GRS saying it is vanadium chrysoberyl. I am no gemologist, but I did not think it possible for a yellowish green chrysoberyl to be classified as vanadium. I even found an article on the subject stating, "Ultimately, the visual colour, i.e. the predominance of a ‘mint’ green to bluish green colour is key to recognize and appreciate this attractive colour variety of chrysoberyl," which I will link below. Vendor is asking $3000/ct, which seems a bit crazy to me. Am I off base? The more I talked to vendor, and after sending the article, he said, yes maybe the stone has little vanadium in it, but it is different from normal chrysoberyls. I mean, it is still within range. So am I hopelessly out of touch with pricing on yellowish green chrysoberyls? This is a large stone at 8 cts. It is an Asian vendor. Perhaps the bigger question is how could the GRS lab deem this stone vanadium??

PS--it is not cat's eye. Here is a picture:

Vanadium chrysoberyl - SSEF

Vanadium as a colouring element is quite often underestimated, mostly as it is often associated and acting together with chromium, a chemical element with a similar geochemical behavior and paragenetic occurrence but which is historically better known in the trade and easier to detect with...

www.ssef.ch

 

[Autumn in New England]

I have never personally seen vanadium chrysoberyl in this shade. Of course, that doesn't mean they don't exist. The price he's asking is quite high for traditional chryso material. For vanadium, it's in the ballpark, but lower than what I've seen for top quality stones. Have you seen the GRS certificate?

 

[Odyssey44]

I have never personally seen vanadium chrysoberyl in this shade. Of course, that doesn't mean they don't exist. The price he's asking is quite high for traditional chryso material. For vanadium, it's in the ballpark, but lower than what I've seen for top quality stones. Have you seen the GRS certificate?

Yes. I ran it through the GRS site too to make sure it was valid. I am enclosing snippet of the relevant parts. It says very little, but does say vanadium. I just do not see how a yellow shade could be vanadium. The vendor said a blue green v-chrysoberyl sold for $4500 per ct years ago.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Ok, so then I will go ahead and trust that GRS got it right. It contains vanadium, thus, it can be considered vanadium chrysoberyl. Are you specifically looking for this material due to the rarity? Because I would not consider this to be fine color. In other words, I think you could find much better coloration in other stones for far less money, if you're not looking for vanadium chryso in particular. If you ARE looking for this variety, I might browse a bit more.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Also, I did a bit of research and did see a few of these yellowish-green stones for sale labeled and certified (GIA) as vanadium bearing. So I guess it does happen!

 

[Odyssey44]

Ok, so then I will go ahead and trust that GRS got it right. It contains vanadium, thus, it can be considered vanadium chrysoberyl. Are you specifically looking for this material due to the rarity? Because I would not consider this to be fine color. In other words, I think you could find much better coloration in other stones for far less money, if you're not looking for vanadium chryso in particular. If you ARE looking for this variety, I might browse a bit more.

I do not specifically need vanadium at all. I actually like yellowy-green. I just want a not predominantly yellow chrysoberyl that glows.

 

[Odyssey44]

Also, I did a bit of research and did see a few of these yellowish-green stones for sale labeled and certified (GIA) as vanadium bearing. So I guess it does happen!

Wow, no kidding! The article I attached earlier said not to count "yellowish green chrysoberyl mainly coloured by iron with traces of vanadium" as VC. Maybe that is a very blurry standard. I know I do not want to pay VC prices for a yellow-green stone.

 

[Avondale]

Vanadium chrysoberyl is kinda like copper-bearing paraiba tourmaline. Just because it contains the rare element, doesn't mean all of the material that contains it is of fine quality.

Vanadium chrysoberyl isn't vanadium because it's bluish green, but because it contains vanadium. I strongly doubt GRS would identify the presence of vanadium in the material incorrectly.

If you're after the colour in particular, go for the colour and not the chemical composition, as the latter will only buff up the price.

 

[Odyssey44]

Ok, so then I will go ahead and trust that GRS got it right. It contains vanadium, thus, it can be considered vanadium chrysoberyl. Are you specifically looking for this material due to the rarity? Because I would not consider this to be fine color. In other words, I think you could find much better coloration in other stones for far less money, if you're not looking for vanadium chryso in particular. If you ARE looking for this variety, I might browse a bit more.

I forgot to ask...would you mind showing me an example of a non VC color? I am having trouble finding green.

 

[Odyssey44]

Vanadium chrysoberyl is kinda like copper-bearing paraiba tourmaline. Just because it contains the rare element, doesn't mean all of the material that contains it is of fine quality.

Vanadium chrysoberyl isn't vanadium because it's bluish green, but because it contains vanadium. I strongly doubt GRS would identify the presence of vanadium in the material incorrectly.

If you're after the colour in particular, go for the colour and not the chemical composition, as the latter will only buff up the price.

I don't doubt some vanadium is in there in this stone...I just thought there needed to be more than a bit, coupled with blue/green color to be classified as VC. I may be wrong of course. Yup, I was specifically looking to avoid paying the pricing premium for VC, especially when the stone does not even look like VC to a layperson, ie. me.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Wow, no kidding! The article I attached earlier said not to count "yellowish green chrysoberyl mainly coloured by iron with traces of vanadium" as VC. Maybe that is a very blurry standard. I know I do not want to pay VC prices for a yellow-green stone.

I wonder if the LMHC has defined this (like with paraiba and padparadscha)? Affiliated labs (GIA, Gubelin, SSEF) then have to use those parameters when testing, and others labs (like AGL) tend to then follow suit.

If you're not specifically after vanadium material, then yes, please look elsewhere! You can find better colors for much cheaper!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

I forgot to ask...would you mind showing me an example of a non VC color? I am having trouble finding green.

Here is what I would consider a nice vivid greenish-yellow (chartreuse), and it's my favorite color of all chrysoberyls (including alexandrite... lol). Sometimes it is likened to "highlighter yellow." This one is sold. Are you looking for something more green or bluish-green?

 

[Avondale]

I just thought there needed to be more than a bit, coupled with blue/green color to be classified as VC.

On a purely technical level, VC is just that - vanadium-bearing chrysoberyl. And while you may be wrong on this one technicality, you're correct in your general way of thinking. The reason certain stones demand a premium is due to the quality of the colour associated with the specific technical characteristic. Copper-bearing paraiba, Burmese ruby, Kashmir sapphire... For all of them the quality of the colour is the reason the respective technical characteristic gained its premium. However, the moment the colour quality isn't there, the technical characteristic loses its meaning. At least for us as consumers. A seller will obviously want to hold on to that term and the perceived value that comes with it, and demand a higher price for their stone. This is how you get situations such as this one.

 

[Odyssey44]

I wonder if the LMHC has defined this (like with paraiba and padparadscha)? Affiliated labs (GIA, Gubelin, SSEF) then have to use those parameters when testing, and others labs (like AGL) tend to then follow suit.

If you're not specifically after vanadium material, then yes, please look elsewhere! You can find better colors for much cheaper!!

I looked but could not find an info sheet for chrysoberyl, only alexandrite. The article I linked saying you need enough V and blue-green color to be VC is from SSEF.

I will definitely keep looking. If the price was about right, I was going to stop looking for the moment, so glad I asked here. Thanks for the help!

 

[Odyssey44]

Here is what I would consider a nice vivid greenish-yellow (chartreuse), and it's my favorite color of all chrysoberyls (including alexandrite... lol). Sometimes it is likened to "highlighter yellow." This one is sold. Are you looking for something more green or bluish-green?

Thanks! Definitely I am not wanting highlighter yellow, or any predominantly yellow stone. I want the main color to be green with a yellow modifier-- not blue-green. Not sure how to describe it--tropical green? Parakeet green?

 

[Autumn in New England]

I looked but could not find an info sheet for chrysoberyl, only alexandrite. The article I linked saying you need enough V and blue-green color to be VC is from SSEF.

Interesting! I feel like this is a lot like padparadscha (in terms of optics). The LMHC has narrowly defined what constitutes a pad. But then you seen these oversaturated, brown abominations with a hint of pink or orange or yellow staining being labeled (and sometimes certified!) as pads. Color is subjective, but trace minerals are not, so that's a little more quantifiable. The GIA cert I saw for the yellowish-green chryso only said under the comments "contains vanadium." So maybe that's how they get around it. "We didn't say it was a vanadium chryso, we said it contained vanadium!" Avondale also makes a lot of good points.

 

[Odyssey44]

On a purely technical level, VC is just that - vanadium-bearing chrysoberyl. And while you may be wrong on this one technicality, you're correct in your general way of thinking. The reason certain stones demand a premium is due to the quality of the colour associated with the specific technical characteristic. Copper-bearing paraiba, Burmese ruby, Kashmir sapphire... For all of them the quality of the colour is the reason the respective technical characteristic gained its premium. However, the moment the colour quality isn't there, the technical characteristic loses its meaning. At least for us as consumers. A seller will obviously want to hold on to that term and the perceived value that comes with it, and demand a higher price for their stone. This is how you get situations such as this one.

Thanks Avondale! Technically wrong but correct consumer thinking is a win for me. Glad to hear I am considering the right things. I had never even heard of chrysoberyl before joining PS. Clearly, no good can come price-wise (for me) from a vendor holding out for a higher price based on a classification that does not appear in the look of the gem.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thanks! Definitely I am not wanting highlighter yellow, or any predominantly yellow stone. I want the main color to be green with a yellow modifier-- not blue-green. Not sure how to describe it--tropical green? Parakeet green?

Gotcha! I know exactly the shade you mean... hmm I don't see too many of those guys around. Don't make me start browsing and buy something now! You hooligans, you.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Also, are you interested in any other gems with this coloration or only chryso?

 

[Odyssey44]

Interesting! I feel like this is a lot like padparadscha (in terms of optics). The LMHC has narrowly defined what constitutes a pad. But then you seen these oversaturated, brown abominations with a hint of pink or orange or yellow staining being labeled (and sometimes certified!) as pads. Color is subjective, but trace minerals are not, so that's a little more quantifiable. The GIA cert I saw for the yellowish-green chryso only said under the comments "contains vanadium." So maybe that's how they get around it. "We didn't say it was a vanadium chryso, we said it contained vanadium!" Avondale also makes a lot of good points.

Oh I have noticed that! People will call any sapphire from brown leaning to purple leaning a pad! And all the pad spinel and pad tourmaline labels I have seen--come on. Say pad sapphire-like color.
The GIA chryso cert said "contains vanadium yes, but then if you look at the top it says the words "Vanadium-Chrysoberyl". Who knows what they are exactly trying to say.

 

[Odyssey44]

Gotcha! I know exactly the shade you mean... hmm I don't see too many of those guys around. Don't make me start browsing and buy something now! You hooligans, you.

hahahahahahaha!!!

 

[Odyssey44]

Also, are you interested in any other gems with this coloration or only chryso?

I am not married to chrysoberyl, no. I did want to get at least one chrysoberyl for the hardness factor, so I could leave it hanging out without a protective halo and maybe just some sidestones! Hard when I don't like straight yellow. haha!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Strictly speaking in terms of color, something like this? Or more green?

 

[Autumn in New England]

I am not married to chrysoberyl, no. I did want to get at least one chrysoberyl for the hardness factor, so I could leave it hanging out without a protective halo and maybe just some sidestones! Hard when I don't like straight yellow. haha!

I love the hardness of chrysoberyl! Big selling point for me...

So what about green tourm? I think you could find some nice big stones in the shade range you're after.

 

[Odyssey44]

Strictly speaking in terms of color, something like this? Or more green?

Oh now that I love!! I feel understood!!!

 

[Odyssey44]

I love the hardness of chrysoberyl! Big selling point for me...

So what about green tourm? I think you could find some nice big stones in the shade range you're after.

I have never heard of that at all!! I will look at it. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Odyssey44]

I have never heard of that at all!! I will look at it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Duhhhhhhhh. Just realized you meant tourmaline.

I had better get some sleep...

 

[Autumn in New England]

Oh now that I love!! I feel understood!!!

That is chryso... one helluva crystal inclusion or feather in there though. I can't seem to find too much in this shade of chryso, my friend. Just the vanadium material (and not very impressive colors at that) or the more yellow material. I really suggest looking at tourmaline or even sapphire. I know tourm isn't as hard, but I have no qualms about wearing it myself. You know your wearing habits best though (whether you are hard on jewelry or not).

 

[Odyssey44]

I so appreciate you looking! I will keep my eyes open always for that color chryso. I think it will have to just fall in my lap somewhere in the future and I will be ready. In the meantime I will check out tourmaline and sapphires. I feel I have seen this shade in tourmaline, but not sapphire. I have not really looked a lot for sapphires though either.

 

[Gloria27]

3.22 Cts - Extremely Rare Pure Mint Green Chrysoberyl With New Pictures & Video! - Etsy UK

This Gemstones item by ElvizPrasiolite has 45 favourites from Etsy shoppers. Dispatched from United States. Listed on 07 Apr, 2025

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