What Is Alexandrite? The Colour-Change Gemstone Explained
TL;DR: Alexandrite is a rare colour-change gemstone that appears green or blue-green in daylight and shifts to red or purplish-red under incandescent light. Genuine natural alexandrite is exceptionally rare and expensive; most alexandrite jewellery sold today uses lab-grown or synthetic alternatives, which display the same colour-change effect at a fraction of the cost.
What Makes Alexandrite Unusual
Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl, but its defining feature is a genuine colour-change effect: the same stone appears green to bluish-green under daylight or fluorescent light, and shifts to red or purplish-red under warm incandescent light. This isn't a trick of surface coating — it's caused by how the stone's chemical structure absorbs different wavelengths of light, and it's one of the most dramatic optical effects in any gemstone.
Why Natural Alexandrite Is So Rare and Expensive
Natural alexandrite was first discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains in the 1830s, and viable deposits have always been scarce. Fine-quality natural alexandrite with strong colour change is among the rarest and most valuable coloured gemstones in the world, often exceeding the price of comparable diamonds.
Lab-Grown and Synthetic Alternatives
Most alexandrite jewellery available today uses lab-grown alexandrite, which displays the same genuine colour-change property as natural stones (unlike a diamond simulant, this is real alexandrite, grown rather than mined) at a dramatically lower cost. This makes the colour-change effect accessible without the extreme rarity premium of a natural stone.
Is Alexandrite Durable Enough for a Ring?
At 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, alexandrite is a genuinely durable choice, harder than sapphire's closest rivals and well suited to daily wear in a ring setting.
Alexandrite at À Vie Diamonds
We can source both natural and lab-grown alexandrite and will advise honestly on what's achievable at your budget, given the significant price gap between the two. Get in touch to discuss a bespoke alexandrite commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is special about alexandrite? It genuinely changes colour depending on the light source — green in daylight, red under incandescent light — caused by its chemical structure rather than any coating or treatment.
Is alexandrite expensive? Natural alexandrite is among the rarest and most expensive gemstones in the world. Lab-grown alexandrite displays the same colour-change effect at a much lower cost.
Is alexandrite durable enough for daily wear? Yes — at 8.5 on the Mohs scale, it's a hard, durable gemstone well suited to a ring worn every day.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · À Vie Diamonds