Antique 19thC Russian Alexandrite+Ring: Natural Color-Change Genuine Handcrafted

Antique Nineteenth Century Genuine Natural Handcrafted Russian Color Change Faceted Oval Cut Alexandrite Precious Gemstone. Contemporary High Quality Sterling Silver Ring (Size 7).

CLASSIFICATION: Faceted Alexandrite Oval.

ORIGIN: Russia, 19th Century.

SIZE: Length: 4mm. Width: 3mm. Thickness (Depth): 1 1/2mm. All measurements approximate.

WEIGHT: Approximately 0.16 carats.

DETAIL: Beware! The vast majority of alexandrite offered in the USA is synthetic. The American Gemological Institute estimates that less than 1 in every 100,000 Americans has ever even seen genuine, natural alexandrite. This is a very beautiful, brilliant, rare, natural green (color change) alexandrite gemstone from the Ural Mountains of Russia. The gemstone was hand crafted and faceted by a 19th century Russian artisan, part of an heritage renown for the production of the elaborate gemstones and jewelry of the Czars of Medieval, Renaissance, and Victorian Russia. As you can see in these photo enlargements, the gemstone is not flawless. To the casual glance it is a nice, clean, transparent stone. However if one scrutinizes the gemstone closely one can make out, even with the naked eye, a few fine, sharp seams of colorless crystalline material. Of course being a natural gemstone, it’s more than likely going to have some blemishes. Most absolutely unblemished alexandrite turns out to be synthetic.

It is not uncommon for alexandrite to have fine, seamed colorless crystalline material within the gemstone, and it is obvious from examining the accompanying photo enlargements that this gemstone possesses a few blemishes of just that description. Again, this is not really immediately noticed by the casual admirer, and even upon close inspection with the naked eye all that can be seen is what appears to be one or two of hairlines composed of this crystalline material. Even then they are only visible from certain angles of view, and entirely invisible from other angles. However if you look closely…