In this article, we will introduce the charm of Alexandrite through its meaning and characteristics, and unravel the reason why it is called the king of gems.
What is Alexandrite? Explaining its meaning and gemstone meaning
Alexandrite was discovered in an emerald mine in the Ural Mountains of the Russian Empire in 1830. When it was excavated, it was a beautiful green color, but when it was lit by a candle at night, it changed to a deep red color, and has since attracted attention as a rare color-changing gemstone.
The gemstone word for Alexandrite is "secret feelings." It is deeply related to the inner growth of humans, and is said to represent the strength to live by one's own beliefs without being swayed by others.
Some people give it as a gift to someone they care about as a "gift for seizing success and opportunities."
What is the "color change effect" of Alexandrite?
The most distinctive feature of alexandrite is its color change effect, whereby the color of the mineral changes depending on the light that hits it.
The color change effect is the property of the color appearing differently when viewed under sunlight, fluorescent light, and incandescent light. Alexandrite has a special property that reacts to both the "color elements of sunlight" and the "color elements of incandescent light," giving it a dual nature.
Alexandrite has distinctive names that describe the state of this color change effect. We will introduce each of them below.
Daytime Emerald
Alexandrite glows blue-green when exposed to cool light such as the daytime sun or fluorescent lights, and in this state it is called "daytime emerald."
It has a deep color like an emerald, and is characterized by its clear beauty, brilliance, and elegant expression. The deeper the color of an emerald, the more valuable it is, and the same is true for alexandrite, which has a high color-changing effect and is more valuable the more green it expresses.
Ruby at Night
Alexandrite is also known as "night ruby" because it glows red or purple under warm light such as candles or incandescent lamps.
Red is a powerful color that enhances motivation, passion, love, and life. Since it resembles ruby, which has been a gift for success and victory since ancient times, you can feel sexiness and elegance from the red shining alexandrite.
Origin of the name Alexandrite
The mineral name of alexandrite is "chrysoberyl" and its Japanese name is "kinryokuseki." When it was first mined in Russia, it was given this Japanese name because it shone green.
Later, it was discovered that it would change color depending on the lighting conditions. Due to its unique and unparalleled color-changing properties, it quickly became a rare mineral and was presented to the Russian emperor, Nicholas I. It was given the name "alexandrite" because the day it was presented was the birthday of the Crown Prince, Alexander II.
In Russia it is also known as the "Tsar's Jewels," and in Japan it is a popular gift for the 45th wedding anniversary.
Characteristics of natural alexandrite
Alexandrite is classified as a chrysoberyl mineral, but it is actually the same stone commonly known as cat's eye. Chrysoberyl that changes color from red to green depending on the type of light is called alexandrite, and chrysoberyl with a line running down the center is called cat's eye.
If the color does not change much, it may simply be called chrysoberyl rather than alexandrite, so when purchasing, it is recommended that you always check it under two different light sources to see if it changes color.
High-quality alexandrite is produced in Brazil, and is characterized by a beautiful color change from reddish brown to blue-green. Sri Lanka sometimes produces relatively large stones, but they tend to change color from light brown to light green, and the quality is not as high as that of Brazilian stones.
The production volume of Alexandrite is decreasing year by year, and especially high quality ones are becoming scarce. It is said that its rarity will continue to increase and the price will inevitably rise.
In recent years, it has also been mined in African regions such as Madagascar and Tanzania, and the color of most of it is somewhere between that of Brazilian and Sri Lankan gemstones, but it has a wide range of color changes and some of it is of high quality and close to that of Brazilian gemstones.
Alexandrite is the June birthstone
Alexandrite was added as a new June birthstone in December 2021.
Alexandrite is said to have two sides due to its color-changing effect, and is also known as the "guardian stone of Gemini." Gemini is the zodiac sign for May to June, so it's no wonder that Alexandrite was chosen as the June birthstone.
Other June birthstones include pearl and moonstone - see more about these stones below.
Read more about June's birthstone here
Summary: Alexandrite is a fascinating gemstone with two faces
Alexandrite is a fascinating gemstone that allows you to enjoy two colors in one gemstone. It is also a gemstone that releases the power hidden within the owner, so it is recommended for people who have the following wishes.
- I want to improve my relationships
- I want to improve my luck in love
- I want to make my business successful
- I want to demonstrate leadership
- I want to bring you wealth and glory
- I want to improve my inner self
Alexandrite is also counted as one of the world's top ten gemstones. It would be fun to travel around the countries where it is produced in search of this gemstone. Be sure to see its mysterious glow in person.
*Please note that the effects of gemstones are felt differently by each individual.
Supervision and photo provided by: Belle Etoile Co., Ltd.
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Click here for an article on Brazil, where Alexandrite is produced.
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