Alexandrite Stone: Meaning, History, Properties, and Value
Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl known for its rarity and mesmerizing color-changing ability. If you loved color-changing mood rings as a kid, alexandrite is the perfect upscale, sophisticated adult version.
The gem’s roots are in Russia, but alexandrite’s is beloved by gem enthusiasts and jewelers worldwide.
One of the alexandrite’s nicknames is “Emerald by day, ruby by night.” The colors of an alexandrite gemstone will transport you to a suave holiday party, where sparkling greens and reds abound. Yet the stone’s beauty is sure to captivate year-round.
Ready to learn more? You’re in the right place. We’ve taken our years of experience and expertise to bring you this comprehensive guide to alexandrite gemstones, from their history, geology, and properties to their powers, meanings, and prices.
About Alexandrite Stone
Alexandrite is a very rare semi-precious gemstone best known for shifting from emerald green in daylight to ruby red in incandescent light.
But how rare is alexandrite exactly? Alexandrite is considered one of the rarest gemstones! Despite being a semi-precious gem, alexandrite is rarer than the four precious gemstones (diamond, sapphire, emerald, and ruby).
For our elegant readers born when summer starts, alexandrite is the June birthstone alongside pearl and moonstone. The stone’s dual nature also parallels its benefits as a Gemini birthstone.
Event planners may also know the month as peak wedding season. If you had a June wedding, alexandrite is extra special as the traditional 55th wedding anniversary gemstone, making it a perfect commemorative gift for your spouse.
Alexandrite Specifications and Characteristics
As a chrysoberyl variety, alexandrite shares chrysoberyl’s formula: BeAl2O4. However, the reason for alexandrite’s distinctive traits (namely, its color-changing properties) is that some of the aluminum is replaced by chromium — some specimens have less than 1% chromium and are still alexandrite!
Because of the importance of chromium, some gemologists write alexandrite’s formula as BeAl2O4 + Cr.
In fact, the term “alexandrite” isn’t technically an official mineral name recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA). It’s often considered a marketing term for a type of chromian chrysoberyl.
When it comes to habits, alexandrite crystals may be prismatic and elongated or tabular and short. Many chrysoberyl crystals like alexandrite have prominent striations. Additionally, contact and penetration twinning is common in chrysoberyl crystals; these twinned crystals can even create rosettes.
Wondering how to identify alexandrite? The simplest method is checking for color change.
Alexandrite stones will appear green or blue-green in sunlight and red, orange-yellow, or magenta under incandescent light. Alexandrite is one of the few gemstones that can change color, and as the most popular one, color-changing in gems is often called an “alexandrite effect.”
Here are alexandrite’s mineral properties listed:
Mohs hardness: 8.5
Color: Varies by light source; Daylight or fluorescent light: Green, blue-green, greenish-blue, yellow-green, or bluish-gray; Incandescent light or candlelight: Red, raspberry red, reddish-purple, purplish-red, mauve, violet, grayish-purple, or brownish-red
Crystal structure: Orthorhombic
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)
Transparency: Transparent to opaque
Refractive index: 1.745-1.759
Density: 3.68-3.80
Cleavage: Distinct/good to poor on {110}
Fracture: Conchoidal or uneven/irregular
Streak: White
Luminescence: Fluorescence present - weak red in SW-UV & LW-UV
Pleochroism: Present & strong; Green, yellow-orange (or orange), and red (or purplish-red)
Birefringence: 0.008-0.010
Dispersion: 0.015
Optical effects: Color-change; Very rarely chatoyancy or asterism
Mineralogy aside, what is the origin and history of alexandrite, and where is it primarily found?
Pictured above: Gold ring with diamonds and alexandrite insert on museum display | Image credit: Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection, Public domain
gold with diamond and alexandrite inset
Alexandrite History
The story behind the discovery and naming of alexandrite is filled with controversy. The origin story takes place in Russia, and the central characters include a Finnish mineralogist, a Russian mineralogist, and the Russian Ural Mine manager.
Let’s start with the name. Alexandrite unequivocally gets its name from Czar Alexander II of Russia. (Ever heard of Anastasia Romanov? Alexander II was her great-grandfather).
When the stone was discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains — specifically the emerald mines near Ekaterinburg — in 1833, Alexander II wasn’t czar yet, but he was coming up on his 16th birthday, when he’d officially become the Tsesarevich (heir apparent). Alexandrite matched the two military colors of Russia at the time, so the name made perfect sense.
The facts get murky when it comes to who discovered alexandrite and named it first.
The Nordenskiöld & Perovskii Discovery Story
One story goes that Finnish mineralogist Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld was the first to identify the stone after looking at samples from the Uralian mine. Nordenskiöld got the samples from Russian mineralogist Count Lev Alekseevich Perovskii.
Nordenskiöld thought it was emerald at first, but the hardness was too high. Then, he saw it shift to raspberry red under candlelight and realized it was a new color-changing variety of chrysoberyl (first described in 1792).
Given the color changing phenomenon, Nordenskjold proposed the name “diaphanite” from the Greek di for “two” and aphanes meaning “unseen” or phan meaning “to appear.”
Once Perovskii learned about Nordenskiöld’s discovery, he allegedly presented the stone to Alexander II on April 17, 1834 — during Alexander’s 16th birthday celebration — with his newly coined name “alexandrite.” (Some historians believe Perovskii did this to elevate his status by currying favor with the royal family.)
Other Alexandrite Discovery Theories
Another possible origin story comes from historian Richard A. Wise. Wise claims that the Ural Mine manager and director of the Ekaterinburg Lapidary Works, Yakov Kokovin (sometimes written as Kokovin Yakov Vasilevich), discovered and identified alexandrite first.
Count Perovskii later accused Kokovin of stealing royal jewels, although there was no evidence, leading Kokovin to lose his position and be imprisoned. The accusation and Kokovin’s subsequent suicide in prison may have led to his erasure from alexandrite’s history.
Interestingly, an earlier discovery may have happened in Germany. Mineralogy professor Gustav Rose wrote about a new chrysoberyl variety in 1829 that matched alexandrite.
All that said, most historians and gemologists agree that the first official documented discovery of alexandrite was in the Ural Mountains of Russia.
Regardless, the stone became a hit globally and maintained its association with Russia and the Czar long after his assassination in 1881 and the eventual end of Russian aristocracy in 1917.
Moving beyond its rich history, are there any metaphysical properties or beliefs associated with alexandrite?
Pictured above: Side-by-side of cat's eye alexandrite gemstone ring with accent diamonds, in fluorescent light (left) and artificial light (right)
Alexandrite Meaning
Often called the “Chameleon Stone,” alexandrite’s symbolism is as diverse as its hues. Alexandrite most commonly represents wisdom and good luck. However, the complementary colors on the alexandrite’s surface take its meaning a bit deeper.
Anyone familiar with the basics of color theory knows that red and green are opposite on the color wheel, or “complementary.” Besides making each other pop, the two colors’ individual symbolism combines to create a dynamic duo.
The passion, energy, and sensuality of red seem to contradict the peaceful, growth-oriented green. However, embracing both sides of the spectrum — or color wheel — can introduce spontaneity and innovation to all aspects of life.
Among various cultures, what is the spiritual meaning of alexandrite?
In Russia, alexandrite represents personal pride and prestige. The spiritual meaning was taken very seriously, with Czar Alexander II (the stone’s namesake) allegedly wearing an alexandrite ring daily as a talisman.
Various cultures purport that alexandrite changes colors to warn its wearer of danger. Chinese interpretations connect alexandrite to blood, believing the stone could make the circulatory system work better. Taking a cue from the Greek’s view on amethyst, Hindus saw alexandrite as a cure for drunkenness.
Speaking of cures, what are the healing properties of alexandrite?
Alexandrite Healing Properties
Given alexandrite’s dual nature, it may come as no surprise that many of its healing properties are about balance. Spiritually, the gem can help us balance the wellbeing of our body along with our soul. Moreover, alexandrite reminds us that all things in nature work together.
Emotional Healing
Like many green gemstones, alexandrite’s healing properties include helping us find centeredness and enjoy the world around us. By enabling us to accept that change is a part of life, alexandrite can bring healing and mindfulness to our daily routine.
Physical Healing
In terms of physical health, alexandrite stone benefits the entire body by helping to regulate the circulatory system. Specifically, alexandrite is often used for problems with inflammation, cramps, and tension.
Back to the spiritual side, what is alexandrite used for in chakra healing?
Chakra Healing
As a chakra stone, alexandrite opens and balances the crown chakra. The crown is the highest of the seven chakras, culminating the journey from our basic physical needs to our highest spiritual self.
With a blocked crown chakra, you may feel disconnected and uninspired, drifting aimlessly without an anchor. Alexandrite can open the chakra, infusing warm energies into your life and setting the stage for a powerful spiritual transformation.
Before you start using alexandrite for healing, you’ll want to find the right one.
So, what factors influence the pricing and appraisal of alexandrite gemstones in the industry?
Alexandrite Gemstone Properties
A gemstone’s properties are essential for determining its true market value. Depending on the stone, certain factors carry more weight than others. For instance, clarity plays a bigger role in colorless stones like diamonds while saturation is more important for colored stones.
If you’ve seen what alexandrite costs, you may wonder: why is alexandrite so expensive?
Alexandrite’s value is determined by numerous factors such as where it was mined, how big it is, and how good the clarity is. The two most important factors for alexandrite price are the color quality and the intensity of its color change, given as a percentage. Carat weight is another huge factor.
Clarity and cut also play a role, but we’ll break down each of these factors individually.
Color
The standard colors associated with alexandrite are ruby or raspberry red under daylight or fluorescent light and emerald green under candlelight or incandescent light. This is true for its value, too — alexandrites closer to pure red and pure green have higher value.
Secondary hues — e.g. blue-green, brownish-red, purplish-red — can lower the stone’s value. However, since finding alexandrites with pure green and red colors is rare, vibrant shades of purplish-red or blue-green are still valuable.
Sometimes, alexandrite may look yellow or peach-colored instead of green and change to hot pink instead of red.
Alexandrite colors (among other properties) can also vary by region:
Russia: Often blue-green or emerald-green in daylight and red or purplish-red in incandescent light; Higher birefringence & RI than other sources
Brazil: Often pale blue-green in daylight & pale mauve in incandescent light; Sometimes significant replacement of aluminum by gallium internally; Lower birefringence than Russian & Sri Lankan material; Higher RI than Burmese & Sri Lankan material
Sri Lanka: Often olive-green or yellowish-green in daylight & brownish-red in incandescent light; Higher birefringence than Burmese, Brazilian, and Zimbabwean material; Lower RI than Russian & Zimbabwean material
Zimbabwe: Often rich emerald-green in daylight; Lower birefringence than Russian & Sri Lankan material; Higher RI than Sri Lankan, Burmese, and Brazilian material
Generally, the lowest-quality alexandrite color has prominent gray undertones.
Color Change
Besides the colors themselves, the intensity of the stone’s color shift is arguably the most important value factor.
Given as a percentage, the degree of color change can go from 5% to 100%. Mid-grade stones will usually fall around 50-60%, while top-quality ones will have 80-100% intensity. Low-level quality alexandrites have a color change below 50 percent; these gems often look yellow-green in daylight and mahogany under incandescent light.
Mid-level alexandrite may also have more brown in its coloring and less saturated hues overall. Top-quality gems have vivid colors, like Russia’s specimens. In fact, high-quality alexandrite stones from Russia or Brazil can cost twice as much as the same quality stones from elsewhere.
Pictured above: Alexandrite (natural Ural stone alexandrite) [translated from Russian] | Image credit: Salexmccoy, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Clarity
Clarity describes the degree of visible inclusions inside a gem, which can lower its transparency and value. For alexandrite, clarity isn’t the most important value factor, but it does play a role.
Unlike diamonds, colored stones don’t have an official clarity grading system. However, an unofficial grading system was created for determining clarity in colored gems.
Alexandrite falls under the Type II clarity grade, meaning top-quality specimens don’t have inclusions visible without magnification but most specimens do have minor visible inclusions.
Some inclusions you may see in alexandrite include:
Needles
Multi-phase inclusions
Platelets (often mica)
Hollow tubes
Liquid
Fingerprints
Cavities (sometimes containing crystals, gas bubbles, and/or fluid)
Very rarely, needle-like or hollow tube inclusions aligned in bundles can add an extra optical phenomenon to alexandrite: chatoyancy (the “cat’s eye” effect with one ray of reflected light across the stone) or asterism (the “star” effect with multiple radiating rays of reflected light across the stone). These are extremely rare and valuable.
All that said, an alexandrite with a very strong, complete color-change will always be more valuable, regardless of the stone’s clarity and transparency.
Pictured above: Green alexandrite cabochon displaying "cat's eye" effect (chatoyancy)
Cut
Cut doesn’t affect alexandrite’s value as much as it does for other stones. However, alexandrite’s carat weight does play an important role and often determines the cut.
As you know, natural alexandrite is exceedingly rare. Mining gem-quality alexandrite stones these days can be challenging, but finding facetable specimens larger than a few carats is nearly impossible. For this reason, many of the stones mined become cabochons instead of faceted pieces.
But the most valuable, high-quality alexandrites are faceted. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), faceted alexandrites typically have mixed cuts with brilliant-cut crowns (the top) and step-cut pavilions (the bottom).
Carat Weight
Most faceted alexandrites are quite small, under 1 carat. The color-change quality tends to decrease with size, making distinct color change very rare in an alexandrite over 5 carats (which is already quite rare in size alone, with stones over 3 carats difficult to come by).
That said, there are a few exceptionally large faceted alexandrites. The largest example is a 65.7-carat red to green color-change alexandrite from Sri Lanka. Russian alexandrites have been faceted into gems around 30 carats.
Given the rarity of large alexandrites, the price-per-carat rates will jump significantly over 1 carat, followed by subsequent jumps over 2, 5, and 8 carats.
Treatments & Synthetics
Most alexandrites are not treated, though some may undergo fracture-filling or “oiling” to improve their clarity.
In contrast, synthetic alexandrite — lab-created stones with the same chemistry and properties are natural alexandrite — are quite common.
Since the 1960s, scientists have found numerous methods for synthesizing alexandrite that can be faceted into rings, pendants, and more.
Though significantly quicker to make and less expensive than its natural counterpart, synthetic — particularly hydrothermally grown — alexandrite is still expensive to make and one of the priciest synthetic gems.
Adding to the cost of production, demand for synthetic alexandrite has increased since the Jewelry Industry Council of America made alexandrite a June birthstone in 1952. This has subsequently increased the price because of, well, basic supply-demand economics!
Many methods for creating synthetic alexandrite try to mimic the stone’s natural formation.
Pictured above: Alexandrite crystal in daylight (left) and fluorescent light (right). The specimen is from Brazil | Image credit: Vzb83, GFDL, cc-by-sa-2.5,2.0,1.0
Alexandrite Origins and Sources
Alexandrite stones grow in quite a few geological areas, including pegmatites, stream pebbles, and dolomitic marbles to name a few. However, the mines where alexandrite can be found are few and far between.
We’ve discussed alexandrite’s scarcity, but the reason why alexandrite is so rare has to do with its formation. To answer that question, we need to look at the conditions required for creating alexandrite.
Alexandrite can form in places where beryllium and chromium are present. Beryllium is already hard to find (being one of the rarest elements), so finding beryllium and chromium together is even rarer, as they’re found in very different rocks.
Plus, the beryllium-rich pegmatite fluids have to be carried toward Earth’s surface by magma to reach chromium-rich rocks and combine as the chrysoberyl is forming.
We know the proper conditions existed in the USSR. But beyond Russia, where does alexandrite come from?
Mining Locations
For nearly a century, Russia was the only place to find natural alexandrite. However, by the 1890s, the mines were largely depleted.
In 1987, Brazilian mines uncovered their own alexandrite stones. Soon, alexandrite deposits were found in other nations, most notably:
Madagascar
Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe
Myanmar
Other smaller sources of alexandrite are in:
Madagascar
India
Australia
Tanzania
Where an alexandrite stone comes from can even affect the stone’s price.
Alexandrite Gemstone Value and Prices
As you know by now, alexandrite is a rare, expensive gemstone. But just how expensive is alexandrite?
Retail prices for faceted 1-carat alexandrite often range from $500 to $20,000 per carat. The highest quality gemstones under 1 ct can be over $22,000 per carat.
Here are the general price-per-carat ranges to expect for larger faceted alexandrites both overall and by notable region:
1 to 2 carats: $2,000 to $43,000 per ct overall
$10,500 to $43,000 per ct (Brazil)
$3,500 to $6,500 per ct (Africa)
$4,000 to $5,000 per ct (Sri Lanka)
2 to 5 carats: $2,500 to $86,500 per ct overall
$31,000 to $86,500 per ct (Brazil)
$6,500 to $13,500 per ct (Africa)
$3,000 to $33,500 per ct (Sri Lanka)
5 to 8 carats: $7,500 to $30,000 per ct overall
$23,000 to $30,000 per ct (Africa)
$12,000 to $30,000 per ct (Sri Lanka)
Over 8 carats: $13,000 to $60,000 per ct overall
$30,000+ per ct (Africa)
$13,000 to $36,500 per ct (Sri Lanka)
Of course, quality also plays a role.
Low-quality stones are usually less than $2,000 per carat, while mid-quality stones range from $7,000 to $12,000 per carat. One budget-friendly tip is to opt for a small alexandrite stone with a decent color change.
Cat’s eye alexandrite cabochons are much less pricier but still broad, ranging from about $100 to $5,000 per carat at wholesale prices like ours.
Our rough alexandrite crystals range from around $150 to $4,000 total.
With that kind of investment, you’ll want to take every precaution you can for ensuring your gem’s longevity.
So, what are some tips for caring for and preserving the beauty of alexandrite jewelry?
Alexandrite Care and Maintenance
At an 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, alexandrite’s scratch-resistance is only out-ranked by diamond, sapphire, and ruby. But the stone is sadly not invincible, so you still need to practice proper gemstone care.
To ensure your stone lasts a lifetime and longer, avoid exposing it to:
Extreme heat (regular heat is okay)
Hard strikes
Large amounts of household cleaning products
Luckily, cleaning alexandrite is a breeze. The traditional soap and warm water route will work just fine, but it’s okay to use mechanical cleaners as well. The only time you should avoid using mechanical systems (e.g. ultrasonic cleaners) is if the stone is fracture-filled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about alexandrite? We have answers!
What are the distinctive color-changing properties of alexandrite, and what causes this phenomenon?
Alexandrite’s signature optical phenomenon is changing colors under different types of lighting — usually from warm purple or red in natural light (sunlight) to cool green or blue-green in artificial light (incandescent light or candlelight).
The color-changing phenomenon differs from pleochroism (which alexandrite also displays), where you can see different colors from different viewing angles. Pleochroism is tied to birefringence — where a stone has two refractive indices instead of one — while color-change works through a different, rarer mechanism.
The reason why alexandrite changes color mostly comes down to its chromium (Cr3+) content and how it interacts with light — more specifically, how we perceive that interaction.
Sunlight and fluorescent light emit mostly blue and green wavelengths, while artificial light emits more red and purple wavelengths. The chromium ions in alexandrite reflect those respective hues — greens and blues in natural light and reds and purples in artificial light.
Are there any notable variations or color shifts observed in different alexandrite specimens?
Absolutely. The quintessential color change is from pure green in daylight to pure red in artificial light, but not all alexandrites are the same.
As an impurity, the level of chromium varies from one alexandrite to the next. Plus, other impurities like iron or titanium can also be present.
That’s why some alexandrites have stronger, pure red to green color changes while others have weaker color changes in less pure hues like orange or brownish-red to yellow-green or olive-green.
When grading alexandrite, gemologists use sunlight and incandescent light as the two baselines. But you might see other colors in different types of lighting — for example, bright, glowing red and violet under a longwave ultraviolet lamp.
Additionally, alexandrite’s color can appear different from luminescence and pleochroism.
How does alexandrite's rarity and color-changing ability affect its value in the gemstone market?
In a word: enormously.
In a few more words: alexandrite is already a rare stone, given the unlikelihood that its key elements beryllium and chromium will be found together in nature. High-quality, facetable alexandrite is even rarer.
These facts, combined with alexandrite gaining popularity as an official birthstone and its remarkable change between two complementary colors, make alexandrite one of the most valuable gemstones on the market.
What are the primary uses of alexandrite in jewelry making and other applications?
Alexandrite is too rare to have industrial uses, but its stunning appearance and excellent wearability make jewelry options abundant.
Many jewelers set small but high-quality faceted alexandrite gems into ornate, high-end pieces. Some popular examples are alexandrite pendants or multi-stone pieces like silver rings, drop earrings, or studs with alexandrite center stones encircled by white accent diamonds.
Many buyers choose custom alexandrite jewelry for special occasions, like a birthstone gift for a friend born in June or a 55th wedding anniversary gift for a spouse.
Pictured above: Faceted color-change sapphire (alexandrite simulant) in fluorescent light (left) and artificial light (right)
How can I distinguish genuine alexandrite from synthetic or treated stones?
If you want to know for certain that your alexandrite is actually alexandrite, we highly recommend having it graded and certified by a reputable agency like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or American Gem Society (AGS).
In that vein, always look for a certification before buying a stone as valuable as alexandrite. Fracture-filling is the only common treatment for alexandrite and it can be disguised well to the untrained eye, so a reputable report will also be able to identify this treatment.
In terms of lab creation, gemologists can often identify synthetic alexandrite by looking for some tell-tale signs at a microscopic level, like:
Curved striations / curved growth lines
Metallic platelets
Flux-filled cavities
Platinum inclusions
Seed materials
Veil-like inclusions
Swirled appearance
Gas bubbles (e.g. small black ones when stone is created via the Czochralski method)
Flux residue (sometimes containing parallel negative crystals or dust)
Warning: Some shady sellers will put a “synthetic alexandrite” label on a stone that’s actually a simulant — an entirely different stone with a similar appearance.
Common alexandrite simulants are:
Color-change spinel
Synthetic color-change corundum
Zandrite (color-change glass gemstone)
Last but not least...
Are there any famous or significant pieces featuring alexandrite gemstones?
You bet! Alexandrite is already pretty famous, but there are some specimens that stand out even further from the pack:
Whitney Alexandrite: A 17.08-carat, modified cushion-cut, natural alexandrite from Brazil with raspberry red to teal color change; Donated by Coralyn Wright Whitney to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in 2009
Smithsonian Alexandrite: A 65.70-carat, mixed cushion-cut, natural alexandrite from Sri Lanka with green to brownish-red color change; Displayed at Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Largest Cut Alexandrite: A 141.92-carat, faceted, natural alexandrite belonging to private owner in Japan, listed as largest cut alexandrite by Guinness World Records as of 2010
Most Expensive Alexandrite: An unmounted 21.41-carat, cushion-cut natural alexandrite from Russia with green to purple color change; Sold by Christie’s in 2014 for $1.325 million Swiss Francs (around $1.47 million USD, over $68,000 USD per carat).
Sotheby’s Ceylon Alexandrite: A 26-carat faceted alexandrite from Sri Lanka, sold for $754,000 USD ($29,000 per carat) in 2015
Alexandrite and Diamond Ring: A 15.58-carat faceted alexandrite from Brazil set in a ring with accent diamonds, sold for 7,220,000 HKD (over $920,000 USD, almost $60,000 USD per carat) in 2011
Cat’s Eye Alexandrite Ring: A 23.19-carat, cat’s eye alexandrite cabochon from Brazil set in a ring with accent diamonds, sold by Sotheby’s for 11,860,000 HKD (over $1.52 million USD) in 2011
These may be the most famous alexandrites, but there are plenty of gorgeous alexandrite stones out there to choose from!
Pictured above: Whitney Alexandrite, photographed by Chip Clark | Image credit: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Let Your Colors Shine With Alexandrite!
That covers everything you need to know about alexandrite! This stone may be hard to come by, but that only makes each one more special.
Alexandrite reminds us that we don’t have to limit ourselves. If this sophisticated gem is happy to go from passionate reds to peaceful blues, we can be confident in embracing every side of ourselves.
To quote British writer Lily Adams Beck, “Here was the chrysoberyl that all day hides its secret in deeps of lucid green, but when night comes flames with its fiery ecstasy of crimson to the moon.”
Embrace a world of possibilities with an alexandrite stone today!
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