Alexandrite

T he first miners to see this gem must have thought their eyes were playing tricks on them. At first they were sure they had discovered a green stone, but then when they studied their find in candlelight it looked red.

What was going on?

No, it was nothing mysterious or supernatural. Or maybe it was. Nature was showing off one of her countless wonders - a color-changing stone.

By the early 1830s the Russian mines in the Ural mountains were very active. And then one day, along with the other precious gems being dug out of the mines near the Tokovaya river, a new stone - that had never been seen before anywhere in the world - was discovered.

Leading the discovery team was Nils Gustaf Nordenskiold, the famous Finnish mineralogist who was working for Russian Czar Nicholas I. Since this new gem was reportedly found on the day that the czar's son, the future Czar Alexander II, came of age, Nordenskiold suggested it be named in his honor. The new gem, alexandrite, also happened to fit right in with the official colors of Mother Russia, green and red.

Since alexandrite is extremely rare, it has become one of the most expensive gems in the world. And its greatest appeal, not to mention value, is the way it changes colors. In order to be considered a true alexandrite, the stone must undergo a significant change (a high quality stone will have over 90% change) from a grayish, bluish, greenish shade in daylight or fluorescent light to a brownish, reddish, purplish shade in artificial yellow light.

Alexandrite jewelry is definitely not common, but there were numerous pieces made during the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. Russian jewelers loved to use it, and Tiffany's master gemologist George F. Kunz promoted it all over the U.S. Alexandrites were also sometimes seen in Victorian jewelry.

One of the rarest and most valuable kind of alexandrite is alexandrite cat's eye. Here, in addition to the stone's fascinating color changing, there is also a silvery line in the center of the crystal made of microscopic inclusions. As this band of light moves across the stone, it looks strikingly like a cat's eye opening and closing.

Because alexandrite is so rare, even very small stones can sell for thousands of dollars a carat. Any faceted gem larger than two carats is considered truly large.

The largest faceted alexandrite weighs 66 carats and can be viewed in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. There is a bigger rough crystal found in Sri Lanka that weighs 1876 carats.

Although alexandrites are durable stones, they still need to be protected from scratches, blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures. When it comes to cleaning them, ultrasonic cleaners and steamers are considered safe, but there are many jewelers who prefer cleaning solutions like commercial jewelry cleaner or simple warm, soapy water solutions and a soft brush. They feel that ultrasonic cleaners should never be used, no matter how resilient the stone.

Alexandrites are believed to help treat disorders of the nervous system, spleen and pancreas (great for diabetics) as well as swollen lymph nodes. They are even recommended to supplement conventional leukemia treatment.

Alexandrites are also all about a healthy emotional state. They are said to stimulate confidence, increasing self-esteem. Which naturally leads to happiness and success.

In addition, this stone that has enchanted gem lovers all over the world with its unique characteristics is believed to intensify all loving feelings.