Alexandrite is an extraordinary gemstone available known for its changing colors ability when they are viewed under different sources of light. It is known for being ruby by night and emerald by day, along with the transition phase from day to night while making it versatile gemstones that you may have in your collection. They are infrequent and valuable for those who are lucky to own one.
Alexandrite was named after Russia’s Tsar Alexander II, discovered in the Ural Mountains. The stone is discoverable with its remarkable ability to change its color that depends on the illumination that it could be exposed to sunlight (In green) and lamplight (In Red). The Alexandrite gemstone became the national stone of tsarist Russia, and the Russian military adopted the color green and red for their dresses.
Alexandrite Changing Color Properties
Alexandrite is the most known and popular member of the mineral family chrysoberyl, and the chemistry of its crystals is quite simple. Alexandrite tends to absorb light because of its crystalline structure. A tiny crystalline in alexandrite is replaced by chromium ions that allow it to reflect either Red or green while having the feature of intensifying yellow light. Regarding scientific terms, rather than its chemical chromium compound, it causes the perceived change in color.
When you go to the jewelry store to purchase alexandrite earrings, you need to look for their color change. This is because, in the daylight, the color of alexandrite is balanced with the full spectrum of present visible light. Because human eyes are sensitive to green under sunlight, it emitting less blue or green light when you see it at night.
You need to keep these three things in mind when purchasing alexandrite stone:
- Clarity
It is critical to evaluate the alexandrites’ clarity as its gem’s clarity matters less than its color change. Thus, an alexandrite with a 100% change from green to Red will be more valuable than an eye-clean piece with a slight color change which is in second place, and the first and foremost thing is its clarity.
- Cut
Alexandrite posed challenges for the cutters, and when evaluating, the cutters have to ensure the color change in stone that will appear with the face up at the time of illumination. In addition, alexandrites typically have cut-on shapes and may be mixed cuts as it contains step-cut pavilions and brilliant cut crowns.
- Carat Weight
Alexandrite is very rare since they have limited deposits globally. The largest known alexandrite found in Sri Lanka weighs 65.7carat. Most alexandrites in the market do not weigh more than that 1 carat. If you purchase a large piece of alexandrite stone, there are two ways to get it within your budget. The first way is all about you, as you can purchase a more extensive or heavier alexandrite in size and the second way is to go for a smaller one that exhibits color difference.
“The Rare Gem” offers a variety of gemstones such as Alexandrites, Padparadscha Sapphire for Sale, and others for different purposes. They offer different products and services based on the customer’s needs. To get more information, visit www.raregemcollection.com.