The ever-lasting universe of gems and jewelry glitters with thousands of jewels that have been popular for ages among royal families and high profilers. While every gemstone has some exquisite features that make it more valuable or preferable over the others, only a few have some distinct properties that are difficult to be ignored. One such splendid gemstone is alexandrite which is commonly known by the name “Emerald by day, ruby by night” for its miraculous color-shifting capabilities. Let’s have a closer look at this beyond-wow gemstone in this article.
Moments So Blissful with Alexandrite So Colorful
What makes alexandrites special is that they change color in a way that would appear green when seen in the daylight but would reflect red when observed under an incandescent source of light. Alexandrites are made up of two elements, one of which is beryllium, known for being one of the rarest elements on Earth and the other is chromium which is responsible for the color change in the stone. However, it is a rare phenomenon to have both of these elements present in the same rock.
Alexandrite: Glorious Tales of Discovery & Belief
Going back to the early nineteenth century, the mystic alexandrites were first discovered around the 1830s in the emerald mines of the Ural Mountains of Russia. Though they were at first mistaken for emeralds for being green stones discovered in emerald mines, it was not before Nils Gustaf Nordenskiold, a mineralogist recognized its color-changing abilities and differentiated it from emeralds.
This distinct feature of the stone demanded a new name for it, which was given by Count Lev Alekseevich Perovskii in honor of the then next-in-line heir to the royal throne of Imperial Russia, Alexander II, to celebrate his upcoming birthday. The mesmerizing alexandrites were soon accepted as the national gemstone of Imperial Russia for their red and green colors representing the royal hues of the national military and have enjoyed a royal identity and popularity since then.
Dominance Enjoyed by Alexandrites Despite Rarity
The original deposits of the gemstone in the Ural Mountains were exhausted long ago after which the new reserves emerged only in the 1980s. Until then, to accommodate the demand for the product, synthesized alexandrites were first launched in the market in the 1960s. The most fascinating feature of these lab-cultured gemstones is that they are created with similar physical and chemical characteristics as that of the naturally mined alexandrites. So they are the real ones, though not natural, which makes them a bit more affordable than their natural counterparts. In today’s era, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and East Africa are producers of natural alexandrites.
Determining the Value Factors of Alexandrite
The market price of alexandrites is determined primarily by two factors: the color saturation of the stone and its ability to reflect the shifting of colors. As for hues, the ones which appear closer to pure red or pure green are valued more. Similarly, the ones which show a more distinct transition of colors from red to green and vice versa are prized dearly.
Hence, putting it simply, an alexandrite with a 100% shift of colors displaying pure red and pure green hues would command the highest price. Another factor is the clarity of the stones which, in the case of alexandrites, is not very impressive since most of the natural ones have inclusions in them. However, in most cases, it has no significant effect on the price of the stone because what still matters more is the color change and the color density of the stone.
Alexandrite: Modern June Birthstone
The popularity and demand for bi-chromatic alexandrites increased a lot after they were crowned as the modern birthstone for those born in the month of June, in addition to the traditionally accepted June birthstone pearl. Also, alexandrites could be an immemorial gift for a couple celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary.
Parting Words
There is no looking back when it comes to buying the most valuable jewelry piece of your life and we bet, nothing could beat the style statement and charismatic hues of alexandrite gem. So, we at GemsNY, are providing you with this golden opportunity to be a part of our community and explore our ever-expanding world of priceless gems and timeless jewelry with amazing deals and exciting offers.
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