Alexandrite Repair and Possible Damage

by Lyn
(USA)

If I sent my alexandrite pendant to be repaired, would it be possible for it to get damaged. I sent my pendent in because a piece of gold on the setting was broken. When the pendant came back I think that it had an internal crack. I am not sure if it was there before but I don't remember. The crack is only internal and not on the surface. Could it have been there before or could the heat of the repair job have cracked it internally. Will the alexandrite crack even more in time?



Hi Lyn,

Alexandrite is a very strong gemstone, with a hardness rating of 8.5, but it can experience cracks or internal fissures from extreme pressure. Alexandrite is not a heat sensitive gemstone, so I do not think the heat from the repair job could have caused the crack.

It is possible that your gemstone already had an internal inclusion, and through pressure caused by the repair the inclusion enlarged or worsened – but the problem is you have no way of knowing because the gemstone was not mapped out before the repair job.





Anytime you are taking gemstone jewelry in for a repair, especially if the gemstone is highly appraised or of great sentimental value, it pays to have the gemstone analyzed to map out any inclusions and blemishes – even those which may be invisible to the naked eye. This will not only protect your interests, but it can also be a valuable tool for the jeweler who is doing the repair job; knowing that a gemstone may already contain an inclusion, and where, can help the jeweler to avoid putting pressure on specific points of the stone.

Unfortunately the crack that you now see can cause stability issues with your alexandrite gemstone. If additional pressure is applied to the stone, it is possible for the inclusion to continue to worsen and in time the stone could fracture. Plus, the crack will affect the value of the stone too.

Try to take extra special care of this alexandrite gemstone from here on out, and next time before you bring any gemstones in for a repair have the stones analyzed first so you and your jeweler can be confident in the condition of the gemstone before the repair job is performed.

I hope this info is helpful, and if you have any additional questions feel free to write back!

Suzanne Gardner
Everything Wedding Rings

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by: Anonymous

Thank you so much for your quick response. With the inclusion would cleaning it in an ionic jewelry cleaner further damage the stone? Also, if I do not have anything else done to the stone would it just stay that way or might the stone crack further just from being worn. Thank you so much for your expert advice.

Hi,

It's difficult to say without knowing how severe the inclusion or crack in the gemstone is, but ionic jewelry cleaners are generally considered quite safe even for soft and fragile gemstones. Because an ionic cleaner uses an electrical charge instead of ultrasonic waves or heat, it should be okay for your alexandrite - just be careful. Only clean it when needed, and if you notice that the inclusion is growing definitely do not clean it yourself again.

The inclusion can become worse overtime, but it all depends on where the inclusion is and the severity of the inclusion. It would probably be a good idea to have your alexandrite examined by a jeweler - a professional assessment can help you to know if you need to treat the gemstone with extra care from now on, or if (hopefully!) the inclusion is just a cosmetic blemish which will not affect the stability of your gemstone.

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