This stone has a wonderful property that makes the hues change from green to red (depending on the light source), which happen to be the Russian imperial colors. The fact that the stone was discovered on the Czar’s, Alexander’s birthday, and that it changes between the two Russian imperial colours, gave rise to its name, Alexandrite.
Alexandrite is made from Chrysoberyl and includes Chromium, as well as other materials such as copper that makes it appear yellow-green in sunlight, but under a single light source indoors such as a candle, the stone will appear brownish red. Purple is another hue in which Alexandrite can be found. Alexandrite (Chrysoberyl) can be found in granite rocks, alluvia deposits, pegmatites and mica schist. Most of the Chrysoberyl that is mined is usually found in gravel and river sands.
The finest specimens of Alexandrite were found in the Ural Mountains, and due to the value and beauty of this rare gemstone, practically all of this stone has been depleted from the area. However, throughout the last 170 years, Alexandrite has also been found in India, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. In fact, in 1987 a mine in Brazil found a huge reserve of Alexandrite and six years later in 1993, a reserve of Alexandrite was found on the border of Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Although the size of the stones is not as large as those found in the Ural Mountains of Russia, they are large enough to produce wonderful pieces of jewelry.
The highest quality Alexandrite can be worth more than $20,000 per carat. High quality, but average grade Alexandrite is usually much, much less at about $5,000 per carat. Alexandrite is usually used for fine jewelry only. While color change is the most important quality, because of its hardness, it can be cut into almost any shape or form.
Enhancements: Not currently known to be enhanced
Scientific Properties:
Mohs Hardness of 8.5 with an orthorhombic crystal structure. A Chrysoberyl, Clear violet-green, light blue or orange-yellow iridescence. This stone is extremely rare. Alexandrite changes color with source of light. That is incandescent light vs. sunlight vs. florescent light.
Rogerio Graca, Professional Gemcutter and Wholesaler
Pristine Gemstone Jewelry
www.pristinegemstonejewelry.com
250-661-0967
