Alexandrite is a rare gemstone that is known for its unique properties and extremely beautiful appearance. It is one of the June birthstones among pearls and moonstones. As the gemstone is very rare, you have to pay a good price to own it. However, if you’re planning to buy it anytime soon, there are some facts about real alexandrite that you should know.

1. It was discovered in Russia

Alexandrite was found in the early 1800s in the Ural mountains, Russia by a Finnish mineralogist. Interestingly, Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld, the mineralogist, mistook alexandrite for emerald. Alexandrite is called “Alexandrite” to honor the Russian Czar Alexander II. But, when it was discovered, Alexander II was not wearing a crown.

2. It changes color

Alexandrite is known for its color-changing ability as it exhibits a pleochroic property. In simple words, alexandrite changes its color according to the lighting environment it has been kept in. It displays a blue-green hue in daylight and red in incandescent light.

3. It exhibits chatoyancy

Alexandrite also exhibits chatoyancy which is an optical phenomenon in which you can see a white stripe right at the middle of the gem. As the white stripe is present right at the center of a shiny gemstone, it appears like a cat’s eye. To see the “cat’s eye effect” clearly, you just have to move your real alexandrite ring or any other jewelry item back and forth in fluorescent light.

4. It is expensive than sapphire, ruby, and emerald

According to some reports, it has been stated that one carat of real alexandrite is more costly than other popular gems. Buying an alexandrite ring will cost you more than a ring made of sapphire, ruby, and emerald. Surprisingly, alexandrite is more expensive than diamond also because of its rarity. So, if you’re planning to buy a single carat of non-treated, natural alexandrite, you have to pay about $20,000 – $35,000. On the other hand, the same size of D-grade diamond will cost you around ​$24,000 – $29,000.

5. Alexandrite is very hard

Alexandrite is one of the hardest minerals found on Earth. It ranks 8.5 on the Mohs scale and is highly durable. So, the people buying alexandrite jewelry items don’t have to worry about its maintenance. You can clean your alexandrite jewelry item with soap and normal water. You can use a soft cloth to dry it but make sure you don’t use any harsh chemicals. When it comes to the comparison, alexandrite is harder than garnet and softer than sapphire.

If you’re planning to buy real alexandrite stone, you can buy from the online shop of “The Rare Gem LLC”. Being active in the business for more than four decades, they only provide only lab-certified gems that come with reports too. They are known for their trustworthy and knowledgeable service and the fact that they don’t carry any pushy sales tactics. Head to their official website www.raregemcollection.com to take a look at the products offered.