If an ultraviolet lamp is shone on an alexandrite, an intense, glowing red color is seen.
Alexandrite can exhibit up to moderate fluorescence in UV short and long wave light with a red color. Absence of fluorescence does not rule out alexandrite as it can be inert.
Alexandrite turned red like Ruby under the Ultraviolet light.
Saturation of color, trueness of green and red hues, and ability to swiftly switch in between daytime light and artificial light are all markers of the most valuable alexandrite. This is the kind of gem Mark Henry always sought after for all three decades that we have been in business.
Alexandrite is the color-change variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. Alexandrite is bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light. Alexandrite is purplish red in incandescent light or candlelight.
Synthetic alexandrite that is grown in a laboratory is made up of the same chemical composition as its natural counterpart, which includes two natural trace elements chromium and beryllium. This gives the gemstone its colour-changing capability to shift from bluish-green to reddish-purple.
The blue-to-purple color change in your gem does occur in natural alexandrites. However, it occurs very rarely and mostly in newer finds in Africa. Since your ring is over 50 years old, your stone likely didn't come from these finds. Your color shift more likely indicates a hydrothermally lab-grown alexandrite.
Alexandrites that are 1 ct. can go for prices ranging from $500 to $30,000 depending on the strength of color change, clarity, and properties like chatoyancy.
As with all colored gemstones, perfect specimens of Alexandrite are nearly impossible to find. The most common fault we see is low clarity. Some of the gems with the strongest color change are heavily included or foggy looking.
If an ultraviolet lamp is shone on an alexandrite, an intense, glowing red color is seen.
Alexandrite, with its chameleon-like qualities, is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. Its color can be a lovely green in daylight or fluorescent light, changing to brownish or purplish red in the incandescent light from a lamp or candle flame.
Alexandrites are remarkable and rare gemstones. They display an extraordinary colour change according to the ambient lighting, from emerald green in daylight to ruby red in incandescent light from tungsten lamps or candles.
Kunzite - This is another gem that changes color depending upon the light source; glowing violet or orange under longwave and violet or white under shortwave.
Calcite is the primary compound in limestone and marble. Calcite has many applications ranging from ornamental purposes to construction and agricultural applications. The rock mostly appears whitish Gray, but some specimens glow red, blue, yellow, and pink when viewed under black light.
Fluorite typically glows a blue-violet color under shortwave and longwave light. Some specimens are known to glow a cream or white color. Many specimens do not fluoresce. Fluorescence in fluorite is thought to be caused by the presence of yttrium, europium, samarium [2] or organic material as activators.
Typically, alexandrite displays a blue-green hue in daylight, while it appears red in incandescent light. The rarest specimens of color-change alexandrite have either yellow green or plain green color.
Thus, the most valuable gems would have a 100% color shift from pure green to pure red. Blue-greens and purplish or brownish reds hold less value. A natural alexandrite from the Ural Mountains of Russia.
The best quality Alexandrites from Madagascar will always appear green dominant. The purity of the green is preferably modified with a bluish tone. The purple will also have pink-purple intensity that rivals top quality Alexandrites from other regions.
The stones were well known for their outstanding daylight bluish green colors along with their relatively good clarity. Under incandescent light they appear plumb reddish purple.
Alexandrite is an extraordinary gemstone that appears green or red dependent on the light it is observed under. This colour change effect is sometimes referred to as the 'alexandrite effect'. The rarity of this material and its chameleon-like qualities make alexandrite one of the world's most desirable gemstones.
Alexandrite is a tough 8.5 on Moh's hardness scale, so it won't break easily when worn as jewelry. Its lack of cleavage means it's safe to wear daily, including as a sturdy engagement ring. That being said, alexandrite can be scratched by objects that match or exceed its level of hardness.
Laboratory-grown color-change Alexandrite
The color change and clarity are both excellent in these gems. They're blue-green in sunlight and plum red under warm light like candlelight. The average weight is 0.71 ct. The price is $115/ct., and the price shown is per gemstone.
A lab-created alexandrite is much less rare than natural, resulting in a significantly more affordable gemstone. Synthetic alexandrite is an excellent choice for those seeking an affordable precious gemstone without compromising the quality or sacrificing the aesthetic of their jewelry.
If your stone changes from any color of purple to any color of blue, it is a synthetic Alexandrite-like Sapphire. An Alexandrite, whether it is natural or synthetic (really Alexandrite, but man-made) will change from some color of red to some color of green.