When did alexandrite become rare?

Although the Russian mines were depleted by the late 1890s, no new sources of alexandrite were discovered until 1987. Though this new Brazilian discovery could not compete with the history of Tsarist Russia, the grade of stones coming out of South America's mines were in fact superior in color saturation.

Is real alexandrite rare?

The natural alexandrite is recognized as an extremely rare and hard to find gemstone. Its distinguishing characteristic is the color change phenomenon, varying from a greenish blue in daylight to a reddish purple in incandescent light.

When did they start making fake alexandrite?

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. Synthetic alexandrite composed of chrysoberyl has been around since the 1960s.

What is the rarest color of alexandrite?

Typically, alexandrite displays a blue-green hue in daylight, while it appears red in incandescent light. The rarest specimens of color-change alexandrite have either yellow green or plain green color.

Is alexandrite still being mined?

After Russia's gem mine deposits were exhausted, the popularity of alexandrite stones waned until new supplies were discovered in Brazil in 1987. Brazil, Sri Lanka, and East Africa are now the main sources for alexandrite, though these gems are not as vividly colored as the original Russian gemstones.

Learn about Alexandrite - A Rare Color Changing Gemstone

How much is a 1 carat alexandrite worth?

Size always affects alexandrite value. You can see this reflected in our Price Guide below. In sizes up to one carat, top-quality natural gems can sell for up to $15,000 per carat. Over one carat, the prices range from $50,000 to $70,000 per carat!

How can I tell if my alexandrite is real?

If your stone is larger than a carat and has no inclusions, it's almost certainly a synthetic. A gemologist can tell you for sure after examining the stone under the microscope and conducting a simple test of its optical properties, called a refractive index test. .

Is Russian alexandrite rare?

THE HISTORY OF RUSSIAN ALEXANDRITES

These colors were symbolic to the Russian soldiers as their uniforms bore these same colors and the stone was said to enable the wearer to foresee danger. Alexandrite is extremely rare, much rarer than diamonds, tanzanite, rubies or any other popular gemstone.

Why does June have 3 birthstones?

Why does June have 3 birthstones? The main reason why some months have multiple birthstones is because various ancient stones have become too rare, so it is less likely for them to be available on the market and to satisfy consumer needs.

Can natural alexandrite be purple?

In natural and fluorescent light, alexandrite can range from green to greenish blue, but under incandescent or candle light, it can appear purple to purplish red.

Is lab created Alexandrite valuable?

Is a Lab-Created Alexandrite Valuable? Hydrothermally grown alexandrites are some of the more valuable synthetic gems of any kind. Still, they have nowhere near the value per carat of a natural alexandrite.

What color is real alexandrite?

Alexandrite, with its chameleon-like qualities, is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. Its color can be a lovely green in daylight or fluorescent light, changing to brownish or purplish red in the incandescent light from a lamp or candle flame.

Is alexandrite rarer than diamonds?

Though the discovery of alexandrite in Brazil and various other locations has expanded its availability, it still remains rarer than other gemstones, like diamonds. Alexandrite and Diamond ring by AG Gems.

Is alexandrite a good investment?

Since its discovery, Alexandrite has steadily gone up in price. In the last 5 years, Alexandrite has gone up 15% per year! Compare that to the 5 year average total return for large growth equity funds at 13%. Alexandrite has a long history that has made it the secret investment for the world's billionaires.

What is the rarest gemstone?

Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.

How can you tell the difference between natural and lab created alexandrite?

One key way to determine if your piece is bred from a lab is to monitor its color changes. It is natural for alexandrite to go from blue to purple rather than green to red. However, it is present in mainly African gems - which were only discovered in recent years.

Is light amethyst the same as alexandrite?

Alexandrite is found in red and green varieties though it has the ability to turn purple in incandescent light. Amethyst is a variety of quartz with a chemical formula of SiO2. Alexandrite is June birthstone whereas Amethyst is February birthstone. Alexandrite is harder than amethyst.

Is Moonstone a June birthstone?

June is one of only three months (the others are August and December) that has three birthstones, giving you a variety of beautiful birthstone choices. The June birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone.

What is June's color?

The June Birthstone Color is Light Purple

The June birthstone color of light purple comes from one of the official birthstones for June - Alexandrite. Alexandrite is a rare variety of gem-quality chrysoberyl which has a fascinating color change from blue-green in daylight to red-purple in artificial light.

What is narsipatnam alexandrite?

Get Latest Price. nown in Russia as the "gem of the tsars, " alexandrite has been described as an "emerald by day" and "ruby by night." Alexandrite is a gem that exhibits strong pleochroism, meaning that it appears different colors when viewed from different angles.

Does alexandrite get cloudy?

The color change is displayed due to the presence of chromium which often makes stone cloudy. Natural Alexandrite which is both very clear and has prominent color change is extremely rare.

What is Chatham alexandrite?

Lab grown Chatham Alexandrite is an emerald by day, ruby by night. Alexandrite's are a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes color from bluish-green in daylight to purplish-red in incandescent light.

Does alexandrite scratch easily?

A hard gem, one resistant to scratching, can be quite brittle. Resistance to breaking or chipping would be called toughness. Unfortunately, there is not a gemological scale for toughness. Nonetheless, alexandrite is hard, but only above average in toughness, which means it can be chipped.

Where is alexandrite most commonly found?

About Alexandrite

Originally discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains in the 1830s, it's now found in Sri Lanka, East Africa, and Brazil, but fine material is exceptionally rare and valuable.

What is the best alexandrite?