Where is alexandrite most commonly found?
Often described by gem aficionados as “emerald by day, ruby by night,” alexandrite is the very rare color-change variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. Originally discovered in Russia’s Ural Mountains in the 1830s, it’s now found in Sri Lanka, East Africa, and Brazil, but fine material is exceptionally rare and valuable.
How much does a carat of alexandrite cost?
The price of Alexandrite can vary from significantly from $10,000 per carat to over $50,000 per carat depending on my factors. For example, 1 Carat Size Alexandrites significantly differ in price depending on origin, clarity, and degree of color change from $3,000 per carat up to $20,000 per carat.
Where is the best alexandrite from?
Brazil
Brazil, Sri Lanka, and East Africa are now the main sources for alexandrite, though these gems are not as vividly colored as the original Russian gemstones. Natural alexandrite gemstones are now rarer than diamonds.
How can you tell if alexandrite is real?
If your stone is larger than a carat and has no inclusions, it’s almost certainly a synthetic. A gemologist can tell you for sure after examining the stone under the microscope and conducting a simple test of its optical properties, called a refractive index test. .
Where can I dig for alexandrite?
The original locality for alexandrite is Russia. Fine stones have also been found in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Burma, Tanzania, Madagascar, India and Brazil. In 1987, an important new deposit at Hematita, Brazil was discovered. This mine produced for just a brief period, but a number of fine stones were found.
Can you find alexandrite in the US?
In the U.S., alexandrite can be found in the La Madera Mountains in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. These mountains contain a group of mines which have been reported to produce the occasional small gems with color changing properties.
What color alexandrite is more valuable?
First, the closer the colors to pure green and red, the higher the value. Second, the more distinct the color change, the higher the value. Alexandrites can exhibit everything from 100% to just 5% color change. Thus, the most valuable gems would have a 100% color shift from pure green to pure red.
Does alexandrite get cloudy?
The color change is displayed due to the presence of chromium which often makes stone cloudy. Natural Alexandrite which is both very clear and has prominent color change is extremely rare.
Where can I mine alexandrite?
Alexandrite
- Magara mine, Lake Manyara, Arusha Region, Tanzania.
- Novello Mine, Masvingo District, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
- Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Bahia, Brazil.
- Alexandrite, etc. Tunduru, Tunduru District, Ruvuma Region, Tanzania.
Are lab grown alexandrite real?
Although synthetic gemstones are created in a lab, they have the same optical and physical properties as their mined counterparts. They grow from the same chemical ingredients under the same conditions as natural gems, only at an accelerated rate. Lab-created alexandrites are real alexandrites.