| Chrysoberyl is known since ancient times and the name comes from the Greek for gold. Its more popular varieties alexandrite, named after Czar Alexander II, and chrysoberyl cat's eye, also called cymophane, Greek for "waving light", are of high value. The significant hardness, with 8.5 on the Mohs scale right behind corundum and diamond, makes it a universally usable gemstone for jewelry.
Chrysoberyl colors
Buying Chrysoberyl
Where is Chrysoberyl found?
Common Chrysoberyl Treatments
World-famous Chrysoberyl
Chrysoberyl gemology
Chrysoberyl legends & lore Chrysoberyl colors
Simply faceted transparent Chrysoberyl is usually found in golden yellow, yellowish-green to green, yellow, shades of brown and red.
Alexandrite is green in daylight and light red in artificial incandescent light. This color change is best seen in thick stones. Buying Chrysoberyl
Color
As for most gemstones, color saturation marks best value.
Lighting
Alexandrite is green in daylight and light red in artificial incandescent light.
Clarity
Chrysoberyl has a very nice luster. Eye clean stones should be the first choice.
The cat's eye effect is caused by microscopic needle-like inclusions that reflect light into a single dynamic sliver of light running along the center of the crystal thus making it look like a living cat's eye. The short term "cat's eye" always refers to chrysoberyl cat's eyes whereas all other cat's eyes must be designated by an additional name, like "tourmaline cat's eye", or "ruby cat's eye".
Cut
Stones are fashioned mainly in step, Ceylon and brilliant cut. Cat's eyes are fashioned in cabochon cut. Chrysoberyl location and deposits
Chrysoberyl deposits are in Brazil (Minas Gerais, Esperito Santo), Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Russia, United States and Zimbabwe.
Chysoberyl cat's eyes are found in Brazil, China, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Alexandrite deposits are in Brazil (Minas Gerais), Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Common Chrysoberyl treatments
None World-famous Chrysoberyl
The famous "Hope" chrysoberyl in London, a light green, faceted stone of 45 ct is completely clean.
The largest alexandrite, with a weight of 1876 ct, was found in Sri Lanka.
The largest cut alexandrite, 66 ct, belongs to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Chrysoberyl gemology
Species: Beryl
Color: Golden-yellow, green-yellow, green, brownish, red
Chemical composition: BeAl2O4 beryllium
Crystal system: (Orthorhombic) thick-tabled, intergrown triplets
Hardness: 8.5 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 3.70 - 3.78
Refractive index: 1.746 - 1.763
Birefringence: +0.007 to +0.011
Optical character:
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: 504, 495,485, 445
Fluorescence: Usually none. Green: weak; dark red The Chrysoberyl zodiac, myth & legend
Chrysoberyl and its varieties did not make it into the books of mythical and legendary fame, since the Olympus of gemstones is occupied by the more glamorous and better known stars of the gem world.
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