I have a ring of my grandmother's and it has a stone in it that I'm not sure what it is. I've asked in jeweler's stores and they always say : ' the gemologist is on vacation' or 'not here'.
It changes colour in the light. Right now it is kind of deep purple colour , but in artificial light it is more reddish/pinkish-purple and in sunlight it looks blueish-purple.
Its not a plastic stone; its a real piece of jewelry. I'm very interested in what it could be. It looks like its cut in a round brilliant cut. Any ideas of what it could be?
2007-07-10 11:24:13 · 6 answers · asked by take me to your leader 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Okay, I know its not an opal, or an amethyst. No one (non-gemologists)can figure out what it it is when I show them.
2007-07-10 11:38:35 · update #1
that's alexandrite.
i've always wanted one of those stones because of that odd quality in it. be VERY careful with that ring. alexandrite was only ever found in one mine on the planet and it's run out, the value of such gems is going up steeply (i looked it up and i was mistaken. it's not *only* one location though russia *is* its primary source. my mistake.).
i can guarentee that's it because it changes color between natural light and artificial. one of the only minerals on the planet that changes *hues* (meaning shades or colors) acording ot the type of light rather than the angle of the light striking it
quick question myself. do you know where your grandmother got it? it's not an easy thing to track down so i'm willing to bet it's a pretty old ring and almost definatley worth good money. if you're interested send me any more info you have and i'll try and look into it for you.
2007-07-10 14:33:09 · answer #1 · answered by Ian F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be an Alexandrite. As another answerer noted, true Russian Alexandrites are extremely rare, and can be more valable than diamonds. (They are a type of chrysoberyl, not to be confused with Beryl, the gem form of which is emerald). The best vary from green in daylight to red in artificial light. There are other minerals that have this same characteristic, but not as strongly as the best chrysoberyl. Most alexandrites found in rings, etc, however, are artificial, and are made from corrundum laced with trace elements. These vary from blue to purple. The best way to see the difference is to take it inside under a flourescent light, where it will seem to be purple, then take it into the sunlight, where it will loook blue.
It is also possible to make glass that has this same characteristic, and some of the Lalique glass sculptures show this.
See Wikipoedia, for a good discussion on Alexandrite.
2007-07-11 10:29:29 · answer #2 · answered by AndrewG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possibly an Opal. I have Opal earrings that are a light pink but a ring that changes from blue to purple depending on light. There's also a possibily that it's a type of amethyst. You should check with the gemologist when he/she get's back to know for sure
2007-07-10 18:30:08 · answer #3 · answered by Fire Princess Azula 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is hard to tell with your description. If it is a non-synthetic stone, it sounds like either andalucite or alexandrite. Andalucite will give varying colors based on the angle you view it while alexandrite will change from green in natural light to red in artificial light. To be sure you'll have to track that wayward jeweler down. lol!
2007-07-10 18:38:30 · answer #4 · answered by cu_dubh2 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Zoisite, also called Tanzanite. That's just my guess.
2007-07-10 20:48:39 · answer #5 · answered by noonecanne 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Diamond ?
2007-07-10 20:11:16 · answer #6 · answered by Laff -Hugs 4all- 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋