Alexandrite Stones?

Question

My wife has an Alexandrite ring obtained by her father in the MidEast. I would like to match it with some earrings, but the stones shown on the several jewelry websites are turquoise in color while hers is purple. I have tried leaving the ring in the sunshine, but it is still purple. Is this stone a dud or what? How can I match it.
Steve J

Answer 1

Alexandrite is noted for color change. Take it to a jewelry store that has a gemologist. You will probably need to order something to match the color.

Natural stones vary widely in the amount of color change. (They often look green/turquoise indoors and purple/bluish outside.) And if the stone came from the MidEast, it's probably natural.

Lab Created stones are "perfect" in that they range the complete amount of change - they won't match. Most likely this is what you are seeing on webites - lab created stones. (and YES lab created stones are much less expensive than natural ones - and still they are expensive!)


(OH, and under black light they do WEIRD things!)

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Alexandrite is very rare and can be traced ,back to 1830 it can be an almost emerald colour, yellow or brown green,the main characteristic is the ability to change colour if exposed to a light source rich in red rays... candle light or tungston light. usually goes from green to red and fiery red. ... and is highly prized... Alexandrite is so rare few people have ever even seen one, perhaps for this reason the name is applied to other mainly synthetic stones, not remotely like it ( usually violet colored synthetic) which is corundum) Alexandrite is chrysoberyl, there are also some quantities of green or bluish- colored garnet that turn red like alexandrite. in truth alexandrite is an expensive collector's item. The violet colored synthetic spinel and corundum are widely marketed under the name of alexandrite, they are called "alexandrite type" mainly for industrial purposes, and therefore for the time being these are also very rare.