What color(s) would you accept for an alexandrite?

[lovedogs]

Still mulling over getting a tiny but mighty alexandrite. All options below are between .2 and .35ish

I have a few im considering (2 are in rings). My only worry is that the 2 ring options go green to purple instead of green to red. The loose stone seems to go a bit more red, but downside is that id have to set it (it wont come ready to wear).

Would folks find these (pics below) acceptable in terms of color change and overall colors?

Option 1 (in ring already, comes with a cert but not GIA). Note I crossed out parts of these Pics because I dont want lurkers to buy them:

I feel like this goes red(ish) but mostly purple.

Option 2 (in ring already and comes with a GIA cert, which is nice):


This seems to go very purple with almost no red.

Option 2 is 33% more expensive than Option 2.

Option 3 is loose and will come with GIA cert. Obviously the cheapest option because its unset. About half the price of option 1. But once I set it, it'll be somewhere between 1 and 2 in price.



Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Avondale]

I like 1 best. My reasons:
- I prefer the cut of the 1st one most, no window like 2, no unevenness of colour like 3, just an overall bright stone;
- I like the daylight colour of 1 the most, and everyone says to make sure you love the daylight colour because that's what you'll be seeing most often;
- the colour in warm light based on these pictures alone is most reddish, at least on my screen.

Honestly, I wouldn't get too hung up on what is red and what is purple. The important thing is that you like the colour, whatever it is.

...well, unless it's one of those muddy green to muddy yellowish-orangish-brown colour changes. Then I'd definitely get hung up on the colour.

 

[Starstruck8]

Have you seen these in person? Alexandrites are famously hard to photograph accurately, even by people with honest intentions.

Going just by the pictures, I agree with @Avondale: Option 1, because the daylight colour is best. Incandescent lights are rare these days - I keep one specifically for colour-change stones...

The only true green to red alexandrite I've seen went through neutral (= murky grey) in 'in-between' light, which was not a good look. With bluer to purpler stones, this is less of a problem, because the change goes 'around' the colour wheel, not through the centre. So these stones look better in 'in-between' light.

Whatever you choose, you must have the opportunity to check it in the light in which you will usually be wearing it.

 

[Bron357]

As above.
The main issue is lack of incandescent lighting to enjoy the colour change.
For me, it’s the daylight colour that matters most seeing as that’s the colour more often seen.
Aside from colour change colours, percentage change is also important. The better Alexandrites show a 90% plus change.
My Alexandrite bracelet photos showed a better colour in the vendors photos because they used lights with the specific light wave frequency, I can’t replicate the same colour with ordinary light bulbs, with an actual candle yes but who lives by candlelight?

 

[Nick_G]

As above.
The main issue is lack of incandescent lighting to enjoy the colour change.
For me, it’s the daylight colour that matters most seeing as that’s the colour more often seen.
Aside from colour change colours, percentage change is also important. The better Alexandrites show a 90% plus change.
My Alexandrite bracelet photos showed a better colour in the vendors photos because they used lights with the specific light wave frequency, I can’t replicate the same colour with ordinary light bulbs, with an actual candle yes but who lives by candlelight?

Yet candlelight/firelight vs daylight is how the colour change of alexandrite would have been assessed when it was first discovered in the Urals in the 1830s.

My group of alexandrite crystals from Russia also turn a garnet red by firelight.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I'm no alexandrite connoisseur, but I greatly prefer option #1. Both shades are gorgeous, and that's not easy to attain! Then it would be #2 and finally #3. Happy hunting and I can't wait to see what you end up with!!

 

[OreoRosies86]

To me option 1 for a natural alexandrite is perfection

 

[Autumn in New England]

Have you seen these in person? Alexandrites are famously hard to photograph accurately, even by people with honest intentions.

Going just by the pictures, I agree with @Avondale: Option 1, because the daylight colour is best. Incandescent lights are rare these days - I keep one specifically for colour-change stones...

The only true green to red alexandrite I've seen went through neutral (= murky grey) in 'in-between' light, which was not a good look. With bluer to purpler stones, this is less of a problem, because the change goes 'around' the colour wheel, not through the centre. So these stones look better in 'in-between' light.

Whatever you choose, you must have the opportunity to check it in the light in which you will usually be wearing it.

You always have such sage advice. Before I bought my first home, and had a bigger budget for gems, I considered alexandrite, because it's an alternate birthstone for June. I was looking at nearly 6 figure stones and still couldn't find one with color that excited me in natural daylight. Either they were an overly saturated teal or a drab green. The 100% color change (like these guys) was rather awe-inspiring, but it takes extremely warm lighting to bring it out... like straight up yellow. Mixed lighting caused muddiness. So like you said, choose wisely based on how you will most often view it!

ETA: This was one I saw in person... the price has gone up quite a bit since then. Ultimately, it was just too dark and lackluster for me in daylight. But OP's first and second stones look a lot more vibrant.

 

[Bron357]

The other thing I’ll point out is that daylight colour can alter depending on where you live and the season.
I would definitely make sure the vendor has a return policy if it’s not how you expect /hope when you see it in person.