Alexandrite

Item Description

Alexandrite is sometimes classified among the "Precious Gems" (with Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond), and it certainly could be the most well-known color changing gem in the world. When you combine that with the relative rarity of the material worldwide (only a few places globally have produced good Alexandrites of any quantity), it makes for some of the most popular gems out there. Alexandrite is not a species, but rather a variety of Chrysoberyl, first discovered in Russia and named after Czar Alexander II in 1833. The term "Alexandrite-type" color change is often used when a stone changes from a warmer hue i.e., pink to a cooler hue i.e., green or blue when expose to different light sources i.e., indoor lighting and sunlight. This color change is extremely rare and is only exhibited in a few gems around the world. Going back about 35+ years ago, there was a discovery of some fine quality gem Alexandrite from the Girdlestone Farm in Zimbabwe. Here we have a nice "Round Brilliant" cut stone that came out of an old stash of gems from a recent collection acquisition. This gem is moderately included and shows a strong blue-green color in sunlight shifting to a dark purple shade in indoor lighting.