Alexandrite

Item Description

Alexandrite, depending on who you ask, is either classified as a precious gem, or very CLOSE to a precious gem. I will point out that, Alexandrite is not an actual species, but rather the varietal name given to color change Chrysoberyl. They are beloved because they exhibit one of the most alluring color change effects in the gem world, and when you combine that with the fact that there are only a few places in the world that produce fine quality gems, you get a great combination of rarity and beauty. The very first Alexandrite crystals and gem came from Russia (named for Tsar Alexander in the 1830s), 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 change is extremely rare and is only exhibited in a few gems around the world. This stone is from Brazil and has a standard "Marquise Brilliant" cut. The gem is slightly included with a bit of internal "haziness", but it exhibits a noteworthy and fairly strong color change as it shifts from a gorgeous blue-green hue in sunlight to a silvery-purple color in halogen lighting. It was VERY difficult to illustrate the color change accurately, and the stone honestly shows a different hue in 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 is certainly a very worthwhile pickup for the low $10 starting bid.