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Quick answer: alexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that appears bluish green in daylight and purplish red under incandescent light. The effect comes from small amounts of chromium in the crystal. It ranks 8.5 on the Mohs scale, which makes it hard enough for daily jewelry, and it is one of the modern birthstones for June. In crystal traditions it stands for balance, change and good fortune. Natural stones with a strong color change are very expensive, and many “alexandrites” sold online are lab-created, so a report from an established gemological laboratory is the best protection.
Few gems behave as strangely as alexandrite. Hold the same stone near a window, then under a warm lamp, and it can look like two different gems. People have been fascinated by that shift since the stone was first found in Russia in the nineteenth century. This profile is part of our crystal meanings guide, which covers properties, care and how to spot fakes for dozens of stones.
Sources: Gemological Institute of America (GIA) gem encyclopedia and care guidance; American Gem Society; Federal Trade Commission jewelry guides on disclosure of treatments and lab-created stones. Meanings described here are cultural and spiritual traditions, not scientific or medical claims. Crystals are not a substitute for medical or mental health care.
What Alexandrite Is
Alexandrite is not a separate mineral. It is the color-change variety of chrysoberyl, a beryllium aluminum oxide. Ordinary chrysoberyl is usually yellow to greenish yellow and has no connection to beryl, the mineral family that includes emerald and aquamarine, despite the similar name. Only chrysoberyl that shows a distinct color change, caused by chromium, earns the name alexandrite.
| Property | Alexandrite |
|---|---|
| Mineral | Chrysoberyl (beryllium aluminum oxide) |
| Color source | Chromium, sometimes with traces of iron and vanadium |
| Typical color change | Bluish green or teal in daylight; purplish red to raspberry in incandescent light |
| Mohs hardness | 8.5 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Refractive index | About 1.746 to 1.755 |
| Specific gravity | About 3.7 |
| Birthstone | June (alongside pearl and moonstone) |
A stone that shows only a weak shift, or that changes between two similar shades of green, is usually described as chrysoberyl with a color change rather than fine alexandrite. Dealers and laboratories grade the strength of the effect, and stones with a bold swing from green to red are the ones that command the highest prices.
Why the Color Changes
Alexandrite’s chromium makes the crystal absorb light strongly in the yellow part of the spectrum and let through light in both the blue-green and the red ranges. Daylight is rich in blue and green wavelengths, so the stone looks green. Incandescent light is rich in red and orange, so the stone looks red. The gem has not changed; the light has. Modern LED bulbs vary widely in their spectrum, which is why jewelers often view color-change stones under several light sources before describing them.
Alexandrite is also strongly pleochroic, meaning it shows different colors when viewed along different directions in the crystal. Skilled cutters orient each stone to make the most of the green and red.
A Short History
The best-known story places the discovery in the Ural Mountains of Russia in the 1830s, where emerald miners reportedly found green crystals that turned red by firelight. The name is traditionally said to honor the future Tsar Alexander II, and the red and green are often described as matching the colors of Imperial Russian military uniforms. Gem historians note that details of the story vary from one telling to the next, so treat the precise dates as part of the legend rather than settled fact.
What is firmly documented is that the Russian deposits were small and are no longer a significant source of gem-quality stones. That scarcity helped establish alexandrite as one of the great rarities of the gem trade.
Where Alexandrite Comes From
Later discoveries spread alexandrite production across several countries.
- Russia (the Urals): the original source, now largely exhausted for gem material, which gives old Russian stones collector appeal.
- Sri Lanka: has produced alexandrite for generations, often with a green to brownish-red change.
- Brazil: significant deposits were found in the second half of the twentieth century.
- India, Madagascar, Tanzania and Zimbabwe: other sources, with differing color qualities.
Origin can influence price, and some laboratories issue origin reports. Origin determination is an expert opinion based on inclusions and chemistry, not a guarantee.
Alexandrite Meaning and Symbolism
Because alexandrite appears to hold two identities at once, many traditions connect it with transformation and balance. Common themes include:
- Change and adaptability: the shift from green to red is a natural symbol for moving between stages of life.
- Balance of heart and mind: green is often linked with the heart and red with vitality, so the stone is said to join the two.
- Good fortune: old Russian accounts associate the stone with luck, though the claim is folklore.
- Creativity and intuition: modern crystal writers connect it with imagination and self-trust.
None of these are scientific or medical claims. If you enjoy working with alexandrite in meditation or as a personal reminder, treat it as a ritual that supports reflection, not as a treatment for any condition.
Alexandrite as a June Birthstone
Alexandrite was added to the modern list of June birthstones in 1952 by the Jewelers of America, alongside pearl and moonstone. Our guide to birthstones by month compares every month’s stones and their care needs, which is useful when you are choosing a gift.
Natural, Lab-Grown and Imitation Alexandrite
This is where most buyers get caught out. Natural alexandrite with a strong color change is so rare and costly that the majority of stones sold to the general public are not natural alexandrite at all.
Lab-Grown Alexandrite
Laboratories grow genuine chrysoberyl with chromium, using methods such as flux growth and pulling from a melt. These stones share the chemistry and hardness of natural alexandrite and show a real color change. They are not fakes, but they must be disclosed as laboratory-created, lab-grown or synthetic under the FTC’s jewelry guides. They cost a small fraction of natural stones.
Color-Change Synthetic Corundum
A very common imitation is synthetic corundum, the same material as ruby and sapphire, doped with vanadium so it shifts from bluish or grayish to purplish. GIA has described this material as frequently sold as “alexandrite” or “Russian alexandrite.” Its color change differs from the real thing, often looking like blue-violet to purple instead of green to red, and its hardness is higher, at 9.
Other Look-Alikes
- Color-change garnet and spinel: natural stones that can shift color, but with different chemistry and typically a weaker green-to-red effect.
- Color-change sapphire: a natural corundum that changes from blue to violet or purple.
- Glass: some inexpensive pieces use glass with added elements to mimic a shift.
A trader’s phrase to watch for is “lab-created alexandrite” at a very low price. If the product page also says “Russian” or “Ural” without paperwork, be skeptical.
How to Spot a Fake or Undisclosed Synthetic
Some checks help at home, but identifying alexandrite reliably takes a gemological laboratory.
- Watch the color range: green to red is the classic natural shift. Blue to purple points toward synthetic corundum.
- Test under different lights: look at the stone in daylight and under an old-style incandescent bulb. Do not trust photographs, because cameras and editing change color.
- Price reality check: a large, clean stone with a vivid color change at a low price is almost certainly lab-grown or imitation.
- Magnification: natural alexandrite often has fingerprints, needles and growth patterns. Curved striae or gas bubbles suggest a flame-fusion synthetic or glass.
- Paperwork: for any significant purchase, ask for a report from an established laboratory that states whether the stone is natural or synthetic, and check that the report number matches the gem.
Ask the seller in writing whether the stone is natural or lab-grown and what treatments it has had. A reputable seller will answer clearly and will accept a return if an independent lab disagrees.
Treatments
Natural alexandrite is generally not heated to change its color, which is one reason collectors prize it. Some stones with surface-reaching fractures may be filled with oil or resin to improve appearance. A laboratory report will say if filling is present. The FTC’s jewelry guides call for disclosure of treatments that have a significant effect on value or require special care.
Caring for Alexandrite
Alexandrite’s hardness and lack of cleavage in most directions make it a durable everyday gem, though treatments change the rules.
- Untreated and unfilled stones: warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush are always safe. GIA indicates that ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated alexandrite, but check with your jeweler if the stone has visible fractures.
- Fracture-filled stones: use only a soft brush with mild soapy water, and avoid heat, steam and ultrasonic cleaners.
- Avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach and strong acids, mostly to protect the metal setting.
- Store separately so the stone does not scratch softer gems and so diamonds do not scratch it.
- Check settings once a year, especially prongs on rings worn every day.
Energy Cleansing
People who use crystals spiritually cleanse stones with smoke, sound or moonlight. Alexandrite tolerates water, but if you are unsure of its treatment or setting, choose dry methods. Our guide to how to cleanse crystals explains methods and which ones suit which stones.
Alexandrite Compared With Similar Gems
| Gem | Mineral | Mohs hardness | Color behavior | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandrite | Chrysoberyl | 8.5 | Bluish green to purplish red | Rare; lab-grown versions are common | |
| Color-change sapphire | Corundum | 9 | Blue to violet or purple | Natural stones are valued by collectors | |
| Color-change garnet | Garnet group | About 7 to 7.5 | Bluish green to purplish red or pink | Typically a weaker shift | |
| Synthetic color-change corundum | Corundum | 9 | Grayish blue to purple | Often mislabeled as alexandrite | |
| Emerald | Beryl | 7.5 to 8 | Green in all light | Often oiled; see {L:emerald-meaning-properties-care-and-how-to-spot-fake | emerald} |
Buying Alexandrite: Practical Tips
- Decide whether you want natural, lab-grown or either. The price gap is enormous.
- Insist on a clear written statement of origin of the gem material (natural or lab-grown) and any treatments.
- View the stone in daylight and incandescent light, and ask for a video in both if you are buying remotely.
- For natural stones above a small size, request a report from a recognized lab such as GIA or another established laboratory.
- Compare return policies before buying.
Alexandrite in Jewelry
Because it is durable, alexandrite works well in rings, though a protective setting is wise for a stone you will wear daily. Yellow gold tends to warm the red phase, while platinum and white gold keep it cooler. Remember that metal color and nearby gems also influence how the stone looks, so view samples in person where you can.
Alexandrite Cat's Eye and Other Rare Forms
Chrysoberyl is also the source of cat’s eye, a gem that shows a bright, narrow band of light across its surface when cut as a smooth dome, a cabochon. The band is caused by fine, parallel needle-like inclusions that reflect light. Occasionally a stone combines both effects, showing a color change and a cat’s-eye band at once. Gemologists call this alexandrite cat’s eye, and it is rarer still than faceted alexandrite. A smooth, rounded cut also hides surface-reaching fractures better than a faceted one, so some cabochons are more durable in daily wear than they appear.
When you shop for these stones, ask which light source was used for each photograph. Cat’s-eye stones are best judged by moving a single bright light across the surface, and sellers who can show a short video in daylight and under warm light give you much better evidence than a single product image.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does alexandrite symbolize?
In many traditions it represents change, balance and good fortune. These are cultural and spiritual meanings, not proven effects.
Why does alexandrite change color?
Chromium in the crystal absorbs yellow light, so the stone shows green under daylight and red under incandescent light. The stone does not change; the light source does.
Is alexandrite expensive?
Natural stones with a strong color change are among the costliest colored gems. Lab-grown alexandrite is far cheaper and real chrysoberyl, but it should be sold as lab-grown.
How can I tell if my alexandrite is real?
Check the color change under different lights and look for natural inclusions, but be aware that only a gemological laboratory can reliably separate natural, lab-grown and imitation stones.
Is lab-created alexandrite fake?
Lab-grown alexandrite is genuine chrysoberyl made in a laboratory. It must be disclosed as such. Synthetic corundum sold under the alexandrite name is an imitation.
Can I clean alexandrite in an ultrasonic cleaner?
Untreated stones usually tolerate it, but fracture-filled stones can be damaged. When unsure, use warm soapy water and a soft brush.
