Auctions - InternetStones.COM Forum

Possible Alexandrite?

Lizc — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:52:23 +0000

Pardon me if I am in the wrong place but I stumbled across your page while researching online. I have really enjoyed reading the posts!

I have inherited a very old gold ring and was told that it may possibly be a genuine alexandrite. I am sharing pictures here of the colors. In natural light it is a blue/teal color (more so with the eye than camera) and indoor lighting it is a purplish color. It is quite beautiful!

Please advise me as to where I should go to find out if this is a true and genuine alexandrite. I live near the Chicago, IL USA area.
Would love to hear from you!

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Animal and Plant Motif Jewelry Appearing at Public Auctions

AnitaP — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 16:01:49 +0000

The use of plant and animal motifs in jewelry designs is an ancient historic theme, prevalent since the time of ancient Egyptians and Greeks, and used during the various jewelry periods in history, reaching its climax during the Art Nouveau period at the turn of the 20th century between 1890 to 1905, and continued to prevail well into the 20th century, with modern jewelry designers like Jean Schlumberger, Paulding Farnham and others elevating the art to sophisticated and refined levels, receiving international acclamation. At every public auction conducted by the leading auction houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's such jewelry pieces incorporating plant and animal motifs, had featured and performed impressively. Creating a thread to bring together such impressive pieces following the success of the Kashmir sapphire, Ceylon sapphire, and Alexandrite threads, occurred to me as a regular participant in updating the successful threads.

Lot 169 at Christie's Jewels at South Kensington Sale held on April 7, 2009 was a - Diamond, Emerald And Ruby Butterfly Brooch - from the late 19th-century Art Nouveau period. The butterfly designed with yellow gold was bezel set with a pear-shaped emerald on the thorax, three cushion-shaped old brilliant-cut diamonds on the abdomen, and two circular-cut rubies on the head, representing the eyes. The end of the yellow-gold antennae are set with small pear-shaped rubies. The wings of the butterfly are set with 3 or 4 rows of circular or cushion-shaped old brilliant-cut diamonds, and the edges of the wings are set with a single row of circular-cut rubies. The overall appearance of the setting looks like a natural butterfly, a living testimony to the perfection this art of jewelry designing had achieved during the Art Nouveau period. The lot sold above the pre-sale estimate of US$5,222 - $6,714 for US$19,320.

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

gemlite — Wed, 21 May 2014 20:41:33 +0000

A 21.41-carat, cushion-cut, Alexandrite of Russian origin, with no indications of treatment and distinct color change from green to purple, set a world auction record for an alexandrite of US$ 1,495,395 at the Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels Sale held on May 14,2014. The price realized was almost three times the lower estimate of US$ 510,000 and double the upper estimate of US$ 730,000.

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Ceylon Pink Sapphire sets world auction record for a pink sapphire at Christie's Geneva auction

shah — Wed, 21 May 2014 06:30:16 +0000

A Ceylon Pink Sapphire, cushion-cut, weighing 49.04 carats and mounted on a silver ring, set a world auction record for a pink sapphire of US$ 2,037,123 at the Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels Sale held on May 14, 2014. The Swiss Gemological Institute certified that the sapphire is of Ceylon origin, with no indications of heating, with a vivid color, excellent purity and attractive cutting style. A modest pre-sale estimate of US$250,000 - 290,000 was placed on the sapphire ring, which sold for a much enhanced price, eight times the lower estimate and seven times the upper estimate. The price-per-carat value of this pink sapphire is US$ 41,540.

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Large Natural Pearl Sold for US $254,500 at Christie's Dubai

Mikegem — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:15:41 +0000

Largest natural pearl ever offered for sale at Christie's Dubai, sold for US $254,500, at the Christie's Important Jewels Sale, held on April 20, 2011, at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel. The Pearl that was Lot No. 79 at the sale, was a 239.7-grain, baroque drop-shaped, natural, saltwater, nacreous pearl, with a foliate surmount set with circular-cut diamonds, and suspended as a pendant from a spectacle-set diamond chain 42 cm long. A pre-sale estimate of US $180,000 to $250,000 was placed on the lot. However, the lot was sold for US $254,500, which was $4,500 above the upper pre-sale estimate. The enhanced price realized was attributed by David Warren, International Director of Christie's Jewelry Department and Head of Jewelry Middle East, to the historic provenance of the pearl and diamond necklace, as well as, the large size of the natural pearl, being one of the largest recorded.
Thumbnail below :-
239.7-grain baroque drop-shaped natural saltwater nacreous pearl

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