Alexandrite

Item Description

Alexandrite is the color changing variety of Chryosberyl. The very first Alexandrite crystals and gem came from Russia, and are valuable collectors stones today. 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 chage 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 very slightly included, and exhibits a noteworthy and fairly strong color change as it shifts from a beautiful light orange-pink (with a slight greenish-yellow overtone) in sunlight to a light bluish-green (with a slight lavender overtone) under indoor lighting. The shows about a 95% color change, and it was VERY difficult to photograph, but it honestly shows a different color is various temperature light sources. Top Alexandrite gems from contemporary localities can retail for a few thousand dollars per carat on the high end market, so a stone of this size and clarity is certainly a very worthwhile pickup for the $100 start bid.