Chrysoberyl var: Alexandrite (twin)

Item Description

Alexandrite one of the most well-known color-changing minerals/varieties of species extant. It not actually a species, but rather the color changing variety of Chrysoberyl, first discovered in Russia, in the 1800s and named after Tsar Alexander II. Good specimens are few and far between, and there are only a handful of worldwide localities that produce pieces like this. This is a classic and fine quality specimen of the famous Alexandrites from Carnaiba featuring a fine "sixling" (more accurately "trilling") twin habit. The "arms" of the twins are well-developed and with strong backlighting on the edges, the larger twin passes light and shows a stark and highly desirable color change from a rich purplish-red in warm temperature light to a vibrant green in cool temperature light. These are classics from Brazil, and hard to find on the market these days, especially in excellent showy matrix examples like this. Valued $1,500.