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ALEXANDRITE is a very Rare and a Valuable Stone. It is highly regarded by gem experts, enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. It is said that Alexandrite was discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia, on the same day that Alexander II (1818-1881) came of age. Hence the gemstone was named after the 16 year old future Tsar. When you view Alexandrite in daylight the gem appears green, but when the light source is reddish (incandescent), the gem shows hues of purple or red. Effectively you are looking at an optical illusion! Most changes are incredibly subtle, so the saying that Alexandrite looks like Emerald by day and Ruby by night, is a little bit of an exaggeration. That said, Alexandrite is a real treasure: so incredibly rare that few jewelers have ever even held a piece! Alexandrite also a pleochroic gemstone; this means different colors can be seen when the gem is viewed from different angles. The gem is also very durable, measuring 8.5 on the Mohs scale, making it ideal for setting into all types of precious jewelry. New mines producing Alexandrite are in India, Sri Lanka & Madagascar.
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