Where is alexandrite mined now?

Natural alexandrites are mined mainly from deposits in the following countries: Tanzania, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka. Mining is also carried out periodically in Russia, in the Urals, but Ural specimens are now very difficult to find on the world market. In addition to alexandrite, the Malyshevskoe deposit in the Urals is more famous for its emeralds. Gem-quality alexandrites from Brazil and Tanzania are often bluish-green in daylight and reddish-purple in incandescent light. Indian and Ceylon specimens are typically yellowish-green in daylight and orangish-red in incandescent light. Ural alexandrites can have a good color change from green to crimson red, they are very highly valued in the world. This is a kind of brand created by history, because. This variety of chrysoberyl was first discovered in the Urals and is distinguished by fairly good jewelry quality. The record price per carat belongs to the Ural specimen.

Cutting

In the photo: alexandrite with a high-quality octagon-shaped cut in different lighting, 5,80 carats The shape and quality of the cut is also an important factor. For natural alexandrites, the oval cut is especially popular. But, of course, there are faceted alexandrites of other shapes. The proportions of the inclination of the angles of the faces should be such that the stone is bright and does not have a large “window” in the center, i.e. a light area through which the color “flows”. It happens that Asian cutters try to “pull out” more mass in the finished stone when cutting, and they make “pulled” pavilions (the lower part of the stone). Alexandrites that are opaque or of low purity are used to make cabochons. For both faceted stones and cabochons, it is important to have symmetry, correct proportions and good polishing. “ Practical advice. Evaluate the attractiveness of the shape and the overall quality of the cut. Pay attention to the symmetry of the stone, whether there is a “window” in the stone, and how much it affects the beauty. Isn’t the pavilion too long? Look at the quality of polishing, the absence of marks, scratches and chips on the surface of the stone. Many not very serious surface defects can be easily eliminated by recutting, which is quite inexpensive.”

Certificate for alexandrite

In the photo: fragment of an expert opinion from the GRS laboratory If you have doubts that this is natural alexandrite, then it makes sense to ask the seller, or order yourself, an expert opinion on the stone from a well-known gemological laboratory. Careful studies of the inclusions and chemical composition of the stone also sometimes make it possible to determine its country of origin, which can be reflected in the document. Typically, alexandrites are not subjected to any types of refining. Only in isolated cases can they be oiled in order to hide cracks. The fact of refinement of alexandrite is also reported in the expert report. Currently, a synthetic analogue is produced using various methods. Some synthetic alexandrites, not only in their color, but also in their inclusions, can be very similar to natural ones. Also, garnets, and sometimes sapphires with the effect of changing color, can be similar in appearance to jewelry alexandrites. And those “Alexandrites” that were sold en masse in Soviet jewelry were actually cheap synthetic corundum or synthetic spinels with a color-changing effect. You need to be sure that the stone you buy is natural. For expensive specimens, an expert opinion from a reputable laboratory is highly desirable. The most reputable gemological laboratories in the world can be considered GIA, SSEF, Gubelin GemLab, AGL and GRS. In Russia – Gemological Center of Moscow State University. Please note that in expert opinions, the color of alexandrites in photographs in most cases has little in common with the color of a real stone. In photographs, the color usually looks more attractive due to processing in a photo editor. You should also not completely rely on the description of the color indicated in the expert report. In life, the stone may not have such a pure “green” and “red” color, but will have additional shades. Due to the nature of the color changing effect itself, neither photos nor videos can fully convey all the color nuances. Before buying alexandrite, you should definitely see it with your own eyes under different lighting to avoid disappointment in its color. Below is an example of the difference in the color of natural alexandrite between photographs in the expert opinion and in reality. In the photo on the left: a fragment of an expert opinion from the reputable AGL laboratory, displaying the color of alexandrite under different lighting conditions. In the video on the right: the same specimen, taken by us under a gemological lamp (“white light”) and using a flashlight with “yellow light”. As you can see, the green component in this stone is very different from the color in the photo. If you do not have the opportunity to see the stone yourself before purchasing, make sure that you work with professionals who will explain to you all the color nuances for such a complex stone. “ Practical advice. Check with the seller about the availability of an expert opinion on the stone or certificate. Please note that individuals can buy unmounted alexandrites in Russia without jewelry only if the stone has a Russian certificate.”

Varieties

Sometimes alexandrite jewelry may contain thin parallel inclusions or channels. If such a stone is processed into a cabochon form, it can be classified as a separate gemological variety – alexandrite cat’s eye. If a point source of light is directed at such a stone, then on the surface of the cabochon you can see a light strip of light, which will move along the surface of the stone when rocked. Some of the best examples of the cat’s eye effect are mined in Brazil. In the photo: alexandrite cat’s eye cabochon, Brazil – In the first part of the article we will talk about the color of alexandrite, its purity and mass.
– In the third part of the article we will show you the real prices for alexandrite. Alexandrite is a very rare variety of the yellow-green mineral chrysoberyl, from which it differs in its unique ability to change color depending on the lighting: under natural light it is green, under an electric lamp it is almost red. The discovery of the stone belongs to N. Nordenskiöld, a Finnish researcher who studied the Ural emerald mines in the 1833th century. When the gem first caught his eye in XNUMX, it was an emerald hue, but in the light of a night candle it turned out to be deep red, which greatly amazed the mineralogist. The find was named Alexandrite in honor of Alexander II, the son of the then reigning Emperor Nicholas I. In the photo: Druse of alexandrites, 3740 ct Large specimens of alexandrite are extremely rare in nature, as are pure small specimens of jewelry quality – this makes the mineral extremely expensive. The largest known nugget was found in the Urals in the 532th century; its weight was 66 carats. This alexandrite had to be divided into several parts, since it was not possible to sell it due to the incredibly high price. The largest gem known today weighs XNUMX carats. There are also earlier mentions of alexandrite in history, for example, in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian treatise. The stone was also discovered in a 12th-century burial belonging to a Polovtsian khan – he had a ring with this amazing “chameleon” on his hand.

Place of Birth

The primary deposit of alexandrites is located in the Urals, but it was quickly depleted, although it is the Ural stones that are considered the standard – they are distinguished by a pure emerald hue in daylight and turn red in artificial light. Today, alexandrites are mined from placers in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Kenya, Tasmania, Zimbabwe, the USA, and Madagascar. But most of the gems found there, although they are “chameleons,” are not as beautiful in daylight as the Ural stones. It is interesting that in the Urals alexandrites were always mined together with emeralds, but the miners had a strange superstition about them. Allegedly, if alexandrite was found during excavations, then emeralds would no longer be found, so they tried to ignore the stones, not pick them up or lift them.

Varieties and properties of alexandrite

Formula: Al2BeO4 Color: blue-green, blue-green, olive green, red-violet, purple, pink-raspberry Hardness: 8,5 Density: 3,5–3,84 g/cm3 Transparency: translucent, transparent Cleavage: imperfect Kink: conchoidal The most valuable property of alexandrite is its so-called “Alexandrite effect”, which ensures the variability of the color of the stone under different lighting conditions. It is due to the special structure of the crystal lattice of the gem and the specific arrangement of chromium impurities. There are specimens of this mineral that have opalescence, that is, they can scatter light in such a way that a glare in the form of a “cat’s eye” is formed on the surface. In the photo: The color of the stone in artificial and daylight. Depending on the place of extraction, the following varieties of alexandrite are distinguished:

• Ural is the best example of color change; it has the deepest and most saturated shades. In daylight it is rich green, in artificial light it is purple.
• African, Brazilian – green stone with a brown undertone during the day and red in the light of a night lamp.
• Indian and from Sri Lanka – under different types of lighting it is bluish-green, pinkish or red.

Who is alexandrite suitable for?

On the Internet you can often find references to the fact that alexandrite is considered a widow’s stone. The prerequisites for the emergence of such a sign can be found in the history of our country. The fact is that fashion for it returned in the post-war years, when many men did not return from the front, so they began to say that the gem brings misfortune. But such beliefs are not relevant in the modern world, where alexandrite has been worn by successful people for many years, and the stone costs quite a lot, because there is a huge demand for it.

Ring “Inspirational Motif”

Alexandrite (Brazil) 2,37 carats

Inspiration is a real miracle that comes into our lives to realize plans, ideas, creative ideas, desires, dreams. And it doesn’t matter what kind of work we do: whether we paint pictures, create fashionable clothing collections or compose music. If we are inspired and passionate about what we do, then success will be guaranteed.

It is precisely these poetic motives that Maxim Demidov jewelers are guided by when creating their masterpieces. They are inspired by the perfection of the rarest gemstones from around the world. Their special passion is gems with unique characteristics and properties, when it seems that nature cannot create anything more amazing.

The rare imperial stone alexandrite has a special advantage: its color changes depending on the light, from green to red. There is even a saying: “In the morning he is an emerald, and in the evening he is a ruby.”

To highlight the wondrous splendor of the 2,37-carat alexandrite in the sensual “Inspirational Motif” ring, the craftsmen encased the Brazilian gem in a slightly muted, laconic platinum base and surrounded it with a sparkling pattern of alternating noble diamonds of various cuts.

Exclusive jewelry with alexandrites are considered one of the most expensive – for all the centuries that the mineral has been known, its price has never dropped, since it is mined only in a few places on the planet. To have such rarity is an extremely powerful inspiration.