Sign In

Sign Up
English speaking customer support only
1-800-464-1640
Change Language
- English
- Français
- Español
- Italiano
- Deutsch
- Pусский
- 中文
- 日本語
- العربية
- Português
- 한국인
USD
Change Currency
- EUR = Euro
- GBP = British Pound
- USD = U.S. Dollar
- AED = United Arab Emirates Dirham
- AUD = Australian Dollar
- BHD = Bahraini Dinar
- BND = Brunei Dollar
- CAD = Canadian Dollar
- CHF = Swiss Franc
- CNY = Chinese Yuan
- CZK = Czech Koruna
- DKK = Danish Krone
- EGP = Egyptian Pound
- EUR = Euro
- GBP = British Pound
- HKD = Hong Kong Dollar
- IDR = Indonesian Rupiah
- ILS = Israeli New Shekel
- INR = Indian Rupee
- IQD = Iraqi Dinar
- JOD = Jordanian Dinar
- JPY = Japanese Yen
- KRW = South Korean Won
- KWD = Kuwaiti Dinar
- MXN = Mexican Peso
- MYR = Malaysian Ringgit
- NOK = Norwegian Krone
- NZD = New Zealand Dollar
- OMR = Omani Rial
- PHP = Philippine Piso
- PLN = Polish Złoty
- QAR = Qatari Riyal
- RUB = Russian Ruble
- SAR = Saudi Riyal
- SEK = Swedish Krona
- SGD = Singapore Dollar
- TWD = New Taiwan Dollar
- USD = U.S. Dollar
- VND = Vietnamese Dồng
- ZAR = South African Rand

Gemstones
Gemstones By Color
Gemstones By Color
Popular Gemstones
Popular Gemstones
- Sapphire
- Topaz
- Amethyst
- Emerald
- Citrine
- Ruby
- Tourmaline
- Garnet
- Tanzanite
- Aquamarine
- Opal
- Zircon
New Arrivals
Gems By Price
Pairs
Lots
Calibrated
Birthstones
Birthstones

By Gavin Clarke Reviewed By Andreas Zabczyk Aug 20, 2008 Updated Jan 23, 2019

Rare Alexandrite Gems

Alexandrite Rough from Tanzania

Alexandrite is one of the rarest of all colored gemstones and is famed for its color change from green in daylight to red under incandescent light. Fine faceted alexandrite over 1 carat is more valuable than sapphire, ruby or emerald.

Alexandrite is a strongly pleochroic gem that exhibits emerald green, red and orange-yellow colors and tends to change from one color in artificial light to another in daylight. The color change from red to green is due to strong absorption of light in the yellow and blue portions of the spectrum. Typically, alexandrite has an emerald-green color in daylight but exhibits a raspberry-red color in incandescent light.

According to a popular but probably apocryphal story, alexandrite was discovered by the Finnish mineralogist Nils Gustaf Nordenskjold, (1792 -1866) on the tsarevitch Alexander's sixteenth birthday on April 17, 1834, and named alexandrite in honor of the future Tsar Alexander II of Russia. It is apparently true that alexandrite was first identified (but not discovered) by Nordenskjold, but likely some years earlier, around 1831. It was Count Lev Alekseevich Perovskii (1792-1856) who named the gem alexandrite.

Tsar Alexander II

Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl, with an excellent hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Chyrsoberyl has a refractive index of 1.746-1.763 and a density or specific gravity of 3.70-3.78.

Alexandrite is very rare because of its chemical composition. While it is a form of chrysoberyl, it has an extra trace element in addition to iron and titanium. It is the presence of chromium that gives it the emerald-green hue in daylight. Alexandrite exhbiting chatoyancy or the cat's eye effect is known, but very rare.

The original source of alexandrite in the Ural mountains in Russia has been worked out. An important alexandrite deposit was found in 1987 in Minas Gerais in Brazil and other deposits are found in Burma, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

Alexandrite is rarely found in large sizes. The largest cut alexandrite weighs 66 carats and is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

About Us

Gemstone Information Sign up for our Newsletter

Overall Rating -> 10

Selection ability was straightforward and easy.

Posted By Dave in May, 2023

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

what i like is the variety, the search options. Would like a few more pictures though of each gem

Posted By Gemho in July, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

I have been here before, so I know how the site works. I enjoy looking at the gems and buying some. The site functions well.

Posted By Bugs in June, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

Awesome I was referred by Ms. Blue I am happy I came

Posted By Beaded Feather in February, 2023

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

I was very happy with the simplicity and prices of gemselect.com. the sites filters and navigation style made it simple to find exactly what I was looking for. I will definitely be buying from gemselect ago. Compared to other online stone sellers, the prices and availability of gemselect was amazing.

Posted By Jl1996 in November, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

I loved my gem stones and i will order again and I would refer friends and family to purchase her in the future

Posted By Tina in October, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

Skeptical and cautious first time customer ~ I couldn't be happier. Great experience

Posted By JCBellGG in July, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Zultanite, Diaspore or Csarite?

Zultanite, Csarite and Diaspore: Color Change Diaspore Gemstones - GemSelect ...