An Alexandrite of Russian origin sets world auction record for an Alexandrite at Christie's Geneva May 14,2014 Magnificent Jewels sale

One of the most famous alexandrites is the 65.70-carat, cushion mixed-cut, alexandrite of Sri Lakan origin in the National Gem Collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of National History. This alexandrite has a yellowish-green color under fluorescent light/day light and brownish-red in incandescent tungsten lighting. The clarity of this stone is also exceptional.

Another Sri Lankan alexandrite in the same collection has a modified cushion-cut and weighs 16.68 carats. Like the other Sri Lanka stone,this alexandrite too, has a yellowish-green color in fluorescent light and brownish-red color in incandescent tungsten light. The clarity of the stone is exceptional.

A third alexandrite from the National Collection of the Smithsonian's NMNH weighs only 4.84 carats, has a rectangular step-cut and is an extremely rare stone,originating from Russia. The stone has a dark green color in fluorescent light and a dark purple brown color in incandescent light.

Thanks Mike for the beautiful images of alexandrites from the national collection. Your contribution has served to enrich our discussion. Hoping for more valuable contributions from you in the future.

Another famous alexandrite is the 43-carat, cushion-cut alexandrite from the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. The origin of this stone is uncertain, but given the fact the stone is larger than the average Russian alexandrite and the color of the stone is a brownish-purple in incandescent light, the most probable source of this alexandrite is Sri Lanka.

A spectacular alexandrite from the National Gem Collection of the Smithsonian's NMNH is the 17.08-carat, modified cushion-cut Whitney Alexandrite, one of the finest known alexandrites from the Hematita Mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, with a stunning raspberry color under incandescent light and an equally stunning teal blue color under daylight/fluorescent light. This spectacular stone was a gift by Coralyn Wright Whitney to the National Gem Collection in 2009.

Several alexandrites have also appeared at Bonhams auctions held at auction centers around the world, such as Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong etc. A 29.97-carat, cushion modified brilliant-cut alexandrite, with a pronounced color change from yellowish-green in natural daylight to brownish-yellow in incandescent light appeared at Bonhams Los Angeles auctions on May 20, 2014. The gemstone was mounted as the centerpiece of a platinum ring with a baguette-cut diamond on each shoulder and sold for US$ 137,000. This works out to a PPC value of US$ 4,571.

Another alexandrite and diamond ring assigned Lot 863, appeared at Bonhams Hong Kong Fine Jewelry & Jadeite Sale held on May 30, 2008 and was sold for HK$ 912,000 (USD 117,640). The 7.65-carat, cushion-cut alexandrite was mounted on a platinum ring and was surrounded by a row of smaller, oval mixed-cut alexandrites, with small brilliant-cut diamonds set on the shoulders of the ring. The Lot was accompanied by a GGL report that certified the natural, untreated status of the stone and the country-of-origin as Brazil, with a pronounced color change from bluish-green in natural daylight to purple in incandescent light. The PPC value of this stone is US$ 15,378.

Another Brazilian alexandrite with a pear-shaped cut, weighing 3.46 carats mounted on a platinum ring, and flanked on either side by brilliant and pear-shaped diamonds, featured at Bonhams Hong Kong Fine Jewelry & Jadeite Sale on November 27, 2007. The lot was accompanied by a GGL report that certified the natural origin of the stone from Brazil, with a pronounced color change from bluish-green in natural daylight to purple in incandescent light. The Lot was sold for HK$ 768,000 equivalent to USD 100,000 approximately. The PPC value of the stone works out to US$ 28,902.

More alexandrites featured at various Bonhams auctions. A 6.59-carat, cushion-cut, brazilian alexandrite mounted on a platinum ring, flanked on either side by pear-shaped diamonds, appeared at Bonhams Hong Kong Fine Jewelry & Jadeite Sale, held on November 27, 2007 and sold for HK$ 696,000 (US$ 90,000). The PPC value of the stone is US$ 13,657. The lot was accompanied by a GGL certificate certifying the Brazilian origin of the stone, and the pronounced color change from bluish-green in natural daylight to purple in incandescent light. The image shown below was taken in incandescent light.

Another 4.10-carat, cushion-cut, brazilian alexandrite mounted on a platinum ring, and highlighted by a two-tiered pave-set diamond surround, and flanked on either side by pear-shaped diamonds, featured at Bonhams Hong Kong Fine Jewelry & Jadeite Sale, held on May 30, 2008 and sold for HK$ 460,200 (US$ 60,000), PPC value US$14,634. A GGL report accompanying the lot, certified the Brazilian origin of the stone and its pronounced color change from green in daylight to purple in incandescent light.

A 2.48-carat, oval-cut, brazilian alexandrite mounted as the centerpiece of a platinum ring, flanked on either side by two more oval-cut, brazilian alexandrites weighing 1.32 carats each, highlighted by brilliant-cut diamond surrounds, featured at Bonhams Hong Kong Fine Jewelry & Jadeite Sale, held on November 28, 2009 and sold for HKD 300,000 (USD 40,000), PPC value US$16,129. Three lab reports issued by GGL certified that the three alexandrites are of Brazilian origin, with pronounced color change from green in daylight to purple in incandescent light.

An early 20th-century alexandrite and diamond cluster ring designed around year 1900 appeared at Bonhams London auctions on December 6, 2007. The centerpiece of this ring is an oval mixed-cut alexandrite weighing 3.95 carats, surrounded by two rows of old brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted in silver, platinum and gold. A certificate issued by The Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain certified the alexandrite to be natural, but did not give the country-of-origin of the stone. But, the historic provenance associated with this ring gives a possible indication as to the country-of-origin of the alexandrite. If the historic provenance that the ring was a gift from Queen Alexandra to her Lady-in-waiting, Lady Morgan and the alexandrite was the Queen's prize in a Christmas cracker at a party hosted by Tsar Nicholas of Russia, is accurate, the most probable country-of-origin of the alexandrite, is Russia, as during this period, Russia was the only source of alexandrites in the world. However, in spite of the historic provenance the ring sold only for £15,600 (USD 26,200), PPC value US$ 6,633.

It's surprising that the 3.95-carat alexandrite of possible Russian origin sold for only USD 26,200, when an alexandrite of almost similar size, weighing 4.50-carat and certified by AGL as of Russian origin, sold for USD 170,500 at Sotheby's New York in December 2012. However, the pre-sale estimate placed on the 4.50-carat alexandrite was only USD 25,000 to 35,000. What are the possible causes for this disparity ?

As we have already pointed out premium values are attached to alexandrites of Russian origin, if one can prove the origin of the stone without any doubt, usually supported by a lab report from a reputed laboratory. In the case of the 3.95-carat alexandrite historic provenance point to the probable Russian origin of the stone, but the all important lab report to support this contention is missing. This undoubtedly is the primary reason why the alexandrite failed to impress at the auction. Apart from this the cut, clarity and quality of the color change effect might also have influenced the price fetched by the stone. The period when the two stones appeared for the auction might also have had a bearing on the price of the alexandrite. While the 3.95-carat alexandrite featured at a London auction in December 2007, when prices were generally depressed, the 4.50-carat stone featured at a New York auction five years later in December 2012, when demand for exceptionally rare gemstones, pearls and diamonds and jewelry pieces incorporating them had escalated and prices fetched had increased several folds than 2007 prices.

A stunning 8.02-carat, cushion-cut alexandrite with a pronounced color change from bluish-green in daylight to reddish-purple in incandescent light, and possibly of Brazilian origin, mounted on a platinum ring with a small brilliant-cut diamond surround, appeared at a Bonhams Dubai Fine Jewelry & Watches Sale, held on March 4, 2008, and sold for US$ 114,000 (PPC value - US$ 14,214).

A set of Alexandrite and Diamond Jewelry, consisting of a ring and pair of earrings, featured at Christie's Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels Sale, held on November 27, 2012. The centerpiece of the ring was a 7.68-carat oval-shaped Brazilian alexandrite, with a pear-shaped radiating diamond surround mounted in platinum. The centerpiece of the pair of earrings was a matching pair of oval-shaped Brazilian alexandrites, weighing 4.67-carats and 4.38 carats, with vari-cut diamond surrounds also mounted in platinum. Three lab reports from GGL certified the natural Brazilian origins of the three alexandrites and their very strong color change effect from bluish-green in daylight to reddish-purple in incandescent light.
A pre-sale estimate of US$ 311,118 - 453,714 was placed on this lot, which sold for US$ 376,039. This works out to a PPC value of US$ 22,477.

A pair of Alexandrite Ear Pendants, set with a 3.21-carat and 3.11-carat, oval-cut, Brazilian alexandrites as centerpiece, with pave-set alexandrite surround mounted in 18k white gold, appeared at Christie's New York auctions held on October 18, 2011. The lot was accompanied by GGL report, certifying the Brazilian origin of the stones, and their pronounced color change from bluish-green in daylight to purple in incandescent light. A pre-sale estimate of US$60,000 to US$80,000 was placed on the lot, which sold within the estimated range for US$74,500, equivalent to a PPC value of US$11,788.
Another fantastic alexandrite and diamond pendant necklace/brooch appeared at Christie's Dubai in April 2008 and sold within the pre-sale estimate of US$400,000-500,000 for US$481,000. The detachable pendant/brooch of this necklace is designed as a diamond foliate cascade with a flower head center, mounted with alexandrites, and seven drop-shaped alexandrites as terminals. The necklace itself is set with graduated pear-shaped alexandrites alternating with brilliant-cut diamonds. Seven lab reports issued by GGL certified the Brazilian origin of the stones weighing between 2.00 carats and 4.31 carats and their pronounced color change.

A Pair of Alexandrite and Colored Diamond Earrings did significantly well at Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels Sale held on November 16, 2011. Each earring is designed as a cluster of oval-shaped alexandrites, weighing a total of 18.78 carats mounted in gold, with a brilliant-cut, fancy vivid yellow diamond top weighing 0.27 and 0.25 carats. A GGL report accompanying the lot certified the Brazilian origin of the alexandrites and their pronounced color change. A pre-sale estimate of US$120,871 - $175,812 was placed on the lot, which sold significantly above the upper estimate for US$231,989, which works out to a PPC value of US$12,353.
Another jewelry lot incorporating a cushion-cut Ceylon alexandrite weighing 8.41 carats appeared at Christie's New York Magnificent Jewels Sale held on April 16, 2014. The jewelry piece designed by Marcus & Co. around year 1900 during the Art Nouveau period is described as An Art Nouveau Alexandrite, Diamond and Enamel Brooch. The piece designed as a green enamel plaque, centers upon the cushion-cut alexandrite, and is enhanced with bezel-set old European-cut diamonds, suspending a green enamel bead, mounted in rose gold. An AGL report certifies the Ceylon origin of the stone. The lot sold for US$87,500 within the estimate of USD70,000-100,000. This works out to a PPC value of USD10,404.

A 6.72-carat, oval-cut, Tanzanian alexandrite set as the centerpiece of an 18k white gold ring, framed by a marquise-cut and oval-cut diamond surround appeared at Sotheby's New York December 7, 2011 Magnificent Jewels Sale. The lot sold within the estimated range of USD 50,000-75,000 for USD71,500, working out to a price-per-carat value of USD10,640. An AGL report accompanying the lot, certified the Tanzanian origin of the stone, and its pronounced color change.