It was just made in a lab, not inside the Earth. The second aspect of color is how close the stone is to true green and red. Alexandrite Gemstone is a rare variety of the mineral Chrysoberyl & is a strongly pleochroic gem.
Color-changing alexandrite is nature’s magic trick. Its hardness on Mohs scale is 8.5. The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium with the formula BeAl2O4. This has not been reported in natural alexandrite. Evaluating an alexandrite's color is two-fold. Alexandrite’s refractive index is somewhere between 1.741-1.760, corundum’s is between 1.759 and 1.778. It’s a real alexandrite, but it’s synthetic. Gems from areas in Brazil exhibit better color changes than stones from other areas and are in most demand, but their colors differ somewhat from the Russian gems.Consider obtaining a gem report to reveal a stone's true origins before spending a large amount of money on alexandrite that's advertised as natural.Alexandrite has been used for crystal healing since its discovery. The Inamori synthetic alexandrite had a cat's eye variety, which showed a distinct color change. The stone is said to dispel negative energy and absorb positive vibes from our surroundings.Illustration: The Spruce / Madelyn GoodnightThis rare and expensive gemstone is hard to find in your everyday jewelry store, despite being named the official birthstone of June. Under magnification, parallel striations could be seen along the length of the cabochon and the striations were undulating rather than straight, again not a feature of natural alexandrite.Czochralski or “pulled” alexandrite is easier to identify because it is very “clean”.
Jewelry created from Russian alexandrite is sometimes sold at estate auctions and typically fetches a high price. The more predominant the color change, the more valuable.
The gem is also sometimes regarded as the gift associated with a 45th wedding anniversary.Because it is durable, alexandrite can be cleaned in ultrasonic cleaners, or in soapy water. Find out how to assess alexandrite by first learning all the basics.Alexandrite was first discovered in the 1830s in Russia's Ural Mountains and named after the future Czar of Russia, Alexander II.
These gems have no special care requirements. They have “tadpole” inclusions (with long tails) and spherical bubbles. Alexandrite is rated at 8.5 on the Mohs scale, between diamond at 10 (the hardest gem) and corundum (sapphire and ruby) at 9.
Clarity and transparency are often overlooked so long as the stone is large and exhibits an impressive color change.Alexandrite has since been found in other parts of the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, and Brazil. The fascinating history and lore make the alexandrite stone one of the most desired on the market.
Less desirable alexandrite found today may be translucent or opaque. This blue to purple color change more likely indicates a hydrothermal lab-grown alexandrite. They appeared to be inclusion-free and under a strong incandescent light in the long direction, asterism could be seen with two rays weaker than the eye. Fake alexandrite from the 1920s was made out of the mineral corundum (sapphire and ruby) and then laced with chromium or vanadium to create the color-change effect. Red and green were Imperial Russia's national colors, increasing demand for the gemstone and eventually depleting the supply found in the Urals. Of course, you can also wash them with warm, soapy water and a brush. Curved striations visible with magnification are a give-away. Many alexandrites, especially synthetics, can be considered more blue and purple. Oval Faceted Weak Color change $89.00 59.65 Ct Excellent Color-Change Alexandrite AAA+ Quality Fancy Cut AGSL Gemstone
Synthetic alexandrite composed of chrysoberyl has been around since the 1960s. Specimens were a dark greyish-green with slightly purple overtones under fluorescent lighting. It isn't unusual for large stones to sell for more than a comparably sized natural emerald or ruby.Alexandrite and pearl are both traditional birthstones for the month of June. You can clean them mechanically, per the instructions of the system used. It has been used for healing inner ear problems, clearing the lymph system, and for disorders related to the blood and circulatory system in general. The closer the stone is to true red and green and the more dramatic the change, the more valuable the stone.Size is another important factor since alexandrite stones in larger karat sizes are extremely rare, making them more in demand. Alexandrite is Beryllium Aluminium Oxide (BeO Al2 O3). It is a very costly process, so this type of synthetic alexandrite is still very expensive. First, you must consider how dramatic the color change effect is. Overall, the gemstone is believed to bring good fortune to its owner and help enhance self-esteem. Most desirable alexandrite is transparent but may have inclusions that appear under magnification as small spots or fine threads. There have been many examples of these simulants found in older rings passed off as alexandrite that proved in actuality, to be doped glass. The eye was broad and of moderate intensity.