Alexandrite (color change)

Item Description

One of the most sought after and valuable gems on the market is Alexandrite. The first Alexandrite crystals and gems were found in Russia in the 1800s and the material gets is name after Tsar Alexander II. This naturally color changing variety of Chrysoberyl is consistently one of the top selling colored stones in the world. The color change is so strongly connected this this material that people will say that other gems exhibit an "Alexandrite-type" color change 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 effect is the result of small scale chromium ions replacing aluminum in the crystal structure. This color change is extremely rare and is only exhibited in a few gems around the world. About 30 years ago, there was a discovery of some fine quality gem Alexandrite from the Girdlestone Farm in Zimbabwe. This "Oval" cut stone came out of an old stash of gems from a recent collection acquisition and are some of the best Zimbabwean Alexandrite on the market in many years. The gem is only very slightly included, and exhibits a noteworthy color change as it shifts from a beautiful bluish-green in sunlight to a soft pinkish color in indoor lighting. Depending upon the light source, you might see different shades appear in the stone as it does shift depending upon the temperature of the light. Top Alexandrite gems from contemporary localities can retail for a few thousand dollars per carat on the high end market, and it's important to note that most Alexandrite gems from all world localities are under 1 carat in weight, so this is by no means a "small" example of this beloved material.