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The Magical, Majestic & Mighty Alexandrite!

by on ‎12-30-2013 06:50 PM


Oh what a beautiful gem!  You MIGHT hear this stone referred to as an “Emerald by day and Ruby by night”.  That’s because the finest quality of these gemstones displays a phenomenon called, “color-change”.  When you view this member of the Chrysoberyl family, the actual colors that are seen will vary. Color can shift from a blue-green to a purplish violet.  The finest flaunts a grass green in daylight.  But place it near the romance of candlelight, and its passion burns to a raspberry red.   There are only a handful of other gems like sapphire, spinel, garnet & fluorite that boast an ability to change color.  But none compare to the history and allure of the Magical Alexandrite!  


There is some confusion as to the date of discovery.  Some claim Alexandrite was discovered in Russia’s Ural Mountains while searching for emeralds in 1830 on the future Russian Tsar’s birthday.  Others believe it was found in 1934.  Regardless of the actual date of discovery, strangely, the colors displayed in the finest alexandrite were also the colors of the Russian Flag.  What good luck!  What good fortune!  And thus, this gem was given its name in honor of the Russian Tsar Alexander II.  It is to this day known as the “Gem of the Tsars”! 


The Alexandrite gems found in the Ural Mountains during the 1930’s set the standard.  Unfortunately, these stones are very hard to come by these days.  In fact, according to the GIA, “Fine Alexandrite is so scarce that it has virtually disappeared from the gem marketplace except as an expensive collector’s gem.”  Fortunately, deposits in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India, Myanmar & locations in Africa have given us lovely commercial-quality Alexandrite. 


Wearing one piece of Alexandrite might invite loneliness…so, legend tells us to wear two!  (Thankfully, it has excellent hardness, so you can wear it to your heart’s content!)  What if you don’t have two?  No worries!  Legend also tells us that June’s alternative birthstone inspires imagination & brings joy!  Whew!  


No matter what draws you to this magical, mystical and mighty gemstone, I hope you will cherish it for a lifetime! 


Gem Day is January 2nd!  I’ll show you a variety of gemstones during Gemstone Jewelry Clearance at 3am (hopefully, the Alexandrite ring will still be available).  At 5am I’ll be with you to celebrate the rich, royal Amethyst!  Join me! 


-Nancy