Alexandrite is the June birthstone.
Alexandrite, June's birthstone, is a popular gem used in jewelry. Since its discovery in the early 19th century, alexandrite has been sought after for its color changing properties. Its ability to change from shades of red to shades or green in different light have made alexandrite one of the most valuable gems in the world.
History
Alexandrite was first discovered on April 23, 1830 along the banks of the Tokovaya River in Russia. It was named after Czar Alexander II in honor of his birthday. Since alexandrite changes color from red to green, it was so named because the old Russian imperial colors were red and green.
Sources
The best quality alexandrites come from Sri Lanka. They were originally found in Russia but now only very limited quantities of alexandrite are found there. Stones have also been found in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Burma, Tanzania, Madagascar and India.
Color
Alexandrite appears in various shades of green in daylight and appears in various shades of red in incandescent light. This distinct color change is what classifies a chrysoberyl mineral as an alexandrite. The more dramatic the color shift, the more valuable the stone. Also, the more intense coloring, the more valuable alexandrite is. Significant brown or gray hues found within the red and green coloring lower the value of alexandrite.
Synthetic Alexandrite
Synthetic alexandrite has been made since the late 1800s. Corundum that has been treated with vanadium gives the synthetic stone the color-change effect. Since the 1970s, other methods such as flux-melting, floating point, floating zone and pulled crystal have been used to produce alexandrite. Some other synthetic alexandrites are actually synthetic color-change sapphires that have been colored by vanadium. The majority of synthetic alexandrite is made in Japan and Russia.
Caring for Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a hard and tough stone with a rating of 8.5 (out of 10) on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. However, even though it is hard, it should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic machine or with a steam cleaner because it is a form of chrysoberyl. It can be cleaned with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.
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