Buy alexandrite

Alexandrite – one stone, two colors

The alexandrite is one of the rarest and most expensive gemstones. This gemstone is a variant of the Chrysoberyls . What makes it special is the change in color: in daylight it appears blue-green to green, but in candlelight it is red.

Name giver Tsar Alexander II

Alexandrite was discovered in the Ural Mountains in Russia. It was named after Tsar Alexander II, who allegedly came of age on the day the gem was discovered. Depending on the source, the year 1830 or 1834 is named as the year of discovery.

Since the red and green tones of this stone corresponded to the military colors of Russia, it was made the official gem of the Tsarist Empire.

Alexandrite: Its rarity has its price

Natural alexandrite gemstones are now rarer than diamonds. If it is also of high quality, it is practically unaffordable for the general public. Even stones of low quality are only available to a limited extent and accordingly expensive.

Synthetic & simulated alexandrite

There is also synthetic alexandrite that is grown in the laboratory. It’s an expensive process, so even lab-made alexandrite can be expensive.

In contrast to the synthetic alexandrite, the simulated one is actually a corundum or a colored crystal that is colored by chrome or vanadium.

use

George Frederick Kunz, master gemologist at Tiffany & Co., was taken with this gemstone. He made a series of alexandrite rings between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Thanks to its hardness (8.5 on the Mohs scale), it is ideal for all types of jewelry. Rings are particularly popular so that the wearer can also watch the color change.

Anyone looking for a particularly precious gift for those born in June should consider the alexandrite: Loud Amercian Gem Society the two-tone gemstone is the birthstone of the month of June.

Origin & mining sites

This color-changing gem was discovered in emerald mines near the Tokovaya River in the Ural Mountains. It was initially confused with the emerald, until it was recognized that its colors changed depending on the light source.

The original quarries in the Urals are now as good as exhausted. Gem quality alexandrites are found mainly in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India and Tanzania.

properties

As well as others Chrysoberyls Alexandrite is a very hard gemstone with a Mohs hardness of 8.5. Only the corundum ( sapphire & ruby ) and the diamond are even harder.

Most common cuts

You can find this two-tone gemstone with oval or round brilliant cut, cushion cut or emerald cut.