Alexandrite

Alexandrite The alexandrite variety displays a color change (alexandrite effect) dependent upon the nature of ambient lighting.

Hydrothermal lab-grown alexandrite has identical physical and chemical properties to real alexandrite. citation Some gemstones falsely described as lab-grown synthetic alexandrite are actually corundum laced with trace elements (e.

Alexandrite from the Ural Mountains in Russia can be green by daylight and red by incandescent light.

Alexandrite in sizes over three carats are very rare.

Alexandrite step cut cushion, 26.75 cts.

Although the color change in pulled stones can be from blue to red, the color change does not truly resemble that of natural alexandrite from any deposit.

Czochralski or pulled alexandrite is easier to identify because it is very clean and contains curved striations visible under magnification.

Fine-quality alexandrite has a green to bluish-green color in daylight (relatively blue illumination of high color temperature ), changing to a red to purplish-red color in incandescent light (relatively yellow illumination).

Flux-grown gems that are fairly difficult to distinguish from natural alexandrite as they contain inclusions that can look natural.

However, the latter term is a misnomer: synthetic color-change sapphires are, technically, not synthetic alexandrites but rather alexandrite simulants.

Other varieties of alexandrite may be yellowish or pink in daylight and a columbine or raspberry red by incandescent light.

The resulting "Alexandrite" glass remains a signature color of the Moser glassworks to this day.