Lot 2010
Fine, Large Alexandrite
7 December 2021, 10:00 PST
Los AngelesUS$120,000 - US$180,000
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Fine, Large Alexandrite
East Africa
Named for Tsar Alexander II, this rare and beautiful gem, of top quality, is hardly used in modern jewelry due to its rarity. In antique Russian jewelry you may come across it with a little luck, since Russian master jewelers loved this stone. Tiffany's master gemologist George Frederick Kunz (1856-1932), was also fascinated by alexandrite, and the jeweler's firm produced some beautiful rings and platinum ensembles at the turn of the last century. Smaller alexandrites were occasionally also used in Victorian jewelry from England.
The present stone is large for the species. It is a classic for the locality and for this species, yet rare for its size as alexandrites are infrequently seen in sizes of over 1 carats. This is an exceptional alexandrite in terms of many attributes: large size for the species, excellent luster and clarity as well as excellent color change when viewed either under incandescent or fluorescent light. Weighing approximately 15.86 carats and measuring 14.10 x 13.96 x 9.17mm
Named for Tsar Alexander II, this rare and beautiful gem, of top quality, is hardly used in modern jewelry due to its rarity. In antique Russian jewelry you may come across it with a little luck, since Russian master jewelers loved this stone. Tiffany's master gemologist George Frederick Kunz (1856-1932), was also fascinated by alexandrite, and the jeweler's firm produced some beautiful rings and platinum ensembles at the turn of the last century. Smaller alexandrites were occasionally also used in Victorian jewelry from England.
The present stone is large for the species. It is a classic for the locality and for this species, yet rare for its size as alexandrites are infrequently seen in sizes of over 1 carats. This is an exceptional alexandrite in terms of many attributes: large size for the species, excellent luster and clarity as well as excellent color change when viewed either under incandescent or fluorescent light. Weighing approximately 15.86 carats and measuring 14.10 x 13.96 x 9.17mm
Footnotes
Accompanied by an American Gemological Laboratories report number CS69677 dated August 24, 2015 stating that the 15.86 carats natural color-changing alexandrite has strong quality and prominent degree of color-change (70 - 80%) and that the quality of color change is very good. Based on available gemological information, it is the opinion of the Laboratory that the origin of this alexandrite would be classified as East Africa. The stone shows no indication of enhancements or heat treatments.
