Collection: Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl that has the particularity of changing color with lighting. Alexandrite has the formula Be(AlO2)2 and may contain traces of chromium and iron.

Alexandrite was described by Finnish mineralogist Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld in 1842. Alexandrite is named after Tsar Alexander II, to whom Nordenskiöld dedicated it on 17 April 1834; however, it was not until 1842 that the name alexandrite appeared.

Alexandrite has a vitreous luster.
Its color changes with lighting: blue-green in daylight, pink-red under an incandescent lamp or wood fire, colorless gray under neon.
It exhibits strong pleochroism, which causes it to change from magenta red to light green-blue, through yellow-orange, depending on the direction of observation.

The most important mine was in Russia8 (now exhausted) where the most beautiful stones varied from green to red, which are the colours of the Tsar.
Alexandrite can also be found in Brazil, but the crystals are of significantly lower quality than those from Russian deposits and do not always have the characteristic of changing color.
The price of alexandrite often exceeds that of diamond for beautiful specimens.
This gem comes from the chrysoberyl family and has a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale, just below corundum (ruby, sapphire).