Table of Contents
How do you make fake alexandrite?
To make alexandrite crystals by Czochralski method, beryllium and aluminum oxides were melted together in a crucible with addition of vanadium, chromium and ferric oxides. A seed crystal mounted on a rod is immersed into the melt where it starts to rotate.
Is synthetic alexandrite worth anything?
Synthetic Alexandrite sells to the trade from one company at $167 per carat, with a retail of $500 per carat.
What are three methods used to produce synthetic gemstones?
Some of the main synthetic processes include:
- Flame Fusion or Verneuil process (melt process)
- Crystal Pulling or Czochralski process (melt process)
- Flux growth (solution process)
- Hydrothermal growth (solution process)
- Synthetic diamond (this is not frequently encountered)
- Synthetic corundum (widely available)
Can alexandrite be lab created?
Although synthetic gemstones are created in a lab, they have the same optical and physical properties as their mined counterparts. They grow from the same chemical ingredients under the same conditions as natural gems, only at an accelerated rate. Lab-created alexandrites are real alexandrites.
How much does a lab created alexandrite cost?
Excellent clarity – these are gorgeous gemstones. Priced at $97/ct. and the price shown is per gem. We have 5 3 matched gemstones in a 6×4 mm rectangular brilliant cut size of light color-toned, lab-grown alexandrite with excellent color change.
How do you make synthetic gemstones at home?
Procedure
- Dissolve potassium alum in boiling water. Keep adding alum until no more will dissolve.
- Add red food coloring to get a deep red color.
- Place the solution somewhere it won’t get bumped or disturbed.
- Place the crystal on a paper towel to dry.
- If desired, you can preserve the crystal to use.
How hard is lab created alexandrite?
Inclusions are known to create durability issues and may cause breakage and cavities. Chatham’s master gemstone cutters actually cut away 80\% of the rough crystals to select only the best color and clarity; less inclusions, more durability.
What does a fake alexandrite look like?
If your stone changes from any color of purple to any color of blue, it is a synthetic Alexandrite-like Sapphire. An Alexandrite, whether it is natural or synthetic (really Alexandrite, but man-made) will change from some color of red to some color of green.
What is a synthetic alexandrite?
Synthetic Alexandrites are one of the Synthetic Corundums. Lab Created Alexandrites are made by a method called Flame Fusion.They are made in such a way that they look like Natural gemstones. These Synthetic Alexandrites will have the same chemical properties of the real stones.
What is a step cut alexandrite?
Alexandrites are most commonly fashioned into what are called mixed cuts, which have brilliant-cut crowns and step-cut pavilions. Brilliant cuts have kite-shaped and triangular facets, while step cuts have concentric rows of parallel facets. This alexandrite has stunning color change with intense colors, and very clean clarity.
Is This alexandrite real or fake?
However, it may be a real alexandrite. The blue to purple color change isn’t unheard of in nature but it’s rare and mostly seen in some of the newer finds from Africa. This blue to purple color change more likely indicates a hydrothermal lab-grown alexandrite. It’s a real alexandrite, but it’s synthetic.
Why choose lab grown alexandrite?
Being lab grown gems, the production process and production cost is the same no matter the color. You will find that the prices of our finished synthetic alexandrite gemstones are less than the price of most natural roughs, making these beautiful, color changing gems an affordable alternative to expensive natural alexandrite.