What Is the Alexandrite Effect?

Have you ever disregarded a blog post about the healing impacts of various crystals or laughed off a friend trying to get you into birthstone lore? If your answer is yes, you had a pretty average reaction to these topics - it can usually take some convincing to adopt ideas that break through our traditional knowledge of stones.

However, if you develop a genuine understanding of the composition of gems, you’re far more likely to open up to the notion that they can be used for more than just visual enjoyment. 

It is no secret that gems are magical in whatever way you choose to interpret their power. They bring loved ones together in gift-giving, connect generations when they adorn a family heirloom, and can even bring forth international wealth and success if you strike the right mine.

Today, we’re delving into the deeper meanings of one of the world’s most elusive, expensive, and valuable gems ever discovered: alexandrite. 

Known for its gorgeous color-changing properties that shift from a blue-green in daylight to a reddish-purple at night, alexandrite is a staple in the fine jewelry trade. Alexandrite is marked by an incredibly limited existence in only a handful of mines peppered throughout Earth.

This precious gemstone is one of our favorites to bring to customers for a plethora of reasons - here are just a few.  

Origin Story 

Alexandrite hails from Russia and was discovered in the country’s Ural Mountains in 1834. Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld, a mineralogist from Finland, had been mining in the area with a team of aids and mistook his finding for emerald.

Alexandrite’s pure colors and ability to change from green to red in different lighting elevated its status. Coincidentally, its hues were akin to those of Imperial Russia’s national military. 

At the time, Russian Czars and Russian royalty, in general, were treated with the same admiration and status as the modern-day British Royal Family.

Proof lies in Count Lev Alekseevich Perovskii’s decision to make alexandrite the namesake of Czar Alexander II. In more ways than one, fate was at play, leading to a rich history of luck and good fortune associated with the gem.

Where Is Alexandrite found?

During the 1890s, nearly all of Russia’s alexandrite supply was cleared from its mines due to overproduction. This is a testament to the gem’s popularity in the area and how it came to symbolize the success and wealth of Imperial Russia before its demise.

By 1987, alexandrite was found in Brazil, which became the home to the deepest-saturated form of the gem. Since then, it has been mined in Sri Lanka, the U.S., and Africa (specifically in Mozambique, where we currently get our supply for Mark Henry Jewelry). 

Basic Properties

Based on where your alexandrite is from, its makeup may be slightly different. For instance, its colors can vary between blue-green, pale green, mauve, violet, red, and purple and any given stone can complete somewhere between a 5% to 100% total color change. However, the core properties of this Chrysoberyl variation are universal. These include: 

• Luster: Vitreous.
• Refractive Index: 1.74-1.795.
• Wearability: Great. 
• Fracture: Weak conchoidal, uneven. 
• Cleavage: Noticeable to unnoticeable going in one direction. 
• Sensitive to heat. 
• Luminescent.
• Formula: BeAl2O4 + Cr
• Mohs Scale: 8.5 hardness, incredibly durable.

Alexandrite rarely comes in a clear form, meaning that it is sometimes opaque. Even if this is the case, if the gem is more saturated than a transparent duplicate, it is inherently more valuable. Phenomena include pleochroism (different colors coming out when the gem is moved in different directions) and, on occasion, chatoyancy (the cat-eye effect). It is commonly left untreated, without inclusions or marks on or inside of it. 

The gem is formed when beryllium and chromium occur together, which is so rare that it could be magic in itself. 

Birthstone Meanings 

In the 1950s, Alexandrite was adopted as an additional birthstone for those born in June. It was placed alongside the already-popular pearl. This increased its commercial use, leading to another bout of overproduction and the occurrence of synthetic, lab-created gems in the 1960s to compensate.

It can be grown under specific conditions of melting, hydrothermal procedures, or the flux method and has identical physical properties to naturally occurring alexandrite. Technically, this allows it to be considered real and sold for half the price. 

Alexandrite is also used as the gem to commemorate a 45th wedding anniversary. 

Spiritual Healing 

• Disclaimer: Do not replace alternative healing methods for modern medicine - they are intended to be used in conjunction. Always consult your doctor before trying alexandrite for physical or mental health purposes. 

Crystal healing has only grown in commonality over the years, and alexandrites are no exception to this phenomenon. It is believed that this gem has been used to aid others through its properties since it was discovered in Russia nearly 200 years ago.

The same good luck that it brought to those who used it first translates now to an overall relief in body and spirit when it is worn, held, or kept close by the body.

Physical Health and Wellness 

Common ailments are believed to be cured with alexandrite presence, including problems with the inner-ear and lymph system backups. Blood disorders, in particular, have been targeted by this gem as well. Some think that alexandrite can specifically target the shrinking of cancer cells in the blood, reversing the effects of leukemia or speeding up the recovery process.

The energy released from it calls for purification and renewal. 

Neurological disorders can also be approached with alexandrite healing practices. The crown chakra can be stimulated by the gem, which controls your nervous system. It also controls your skeletal system, so this can benefit your balance. 

Mental Health and Wellness 

Additionally, alexandrite can be utilized to target mental well-being. It is said that the gem increases self-esteem in addition to luck. It promotes positive meditation practices, grounding your experience and centering your awareness of breath and mindfulness.

Unruly emotions can be tampered down with alexandrite when it is used to align your base chakra, which can cause an agitated state if not balanced. 

The heart chakra can also be balanced, as well as the throat chakra that controls your speech and, therefore, your communication skills. When aligned by way of alexandrite (which could mean the extent of simply holding a piece in your hand), your means of talking could be more fluid and well understood. Utilizing alexandrite should help you see results in confidence and presence. 

Guide to Gifting

At Mark Henry Jewelry, we understand just how special alexandrite truly is. That is why we are so honored to be the middleman between you and the gift of a lifetime for your loved one. 

Not only is the gem the June birthstone and 45th wedding anniversary marker, but it is also perfect for every and any pairing - romantic, friendly, or family. A deep connection can be set up to thrive when alexandrite is thrown into the mix. Alexandrite breaks through negative energy that may be surrounding a situation and infuses the tension with positivity, environmentally and within.

Here are a few purposes for your purchase: 

• Giving alexandrite to your spouse is an excellent idea for any celebration. The gem has such a stronghold on emotions that it can increase love or happiness as a unit.
  
  Try it out as an incredibly unique engagement ring option! It will be there beside your long-lasting story when any bump in the road arises to invigorate and instill good fortune. 

• Giving alexandrite to a loved one after an argument can break through the silence. Not only is it gorgeous and bound to mean so much to whoever is on the receiving end of the gift, but alexandrite can also reinstate peace and end your quarrel on both ends. 

A Gift of a Lifetime 

The only way to truly understand how this wondrous gem can impact your life is to wear it with you everywhere you go and watch your world transform. 

Mark Henry Jewelry is honored to call alexandrite our staple gem and bring its brilliance to communities near and far. Our exquisite offerings can be found in our alexandrite collection and come in every style and design imaginable.

We love to place a piece of alexandrite inside of a ring due to its rare, high durability. Most gems fall much lower on the Mohs Scale and cannot withstand bumps along their journey without significant enhancements - alexandrite is a trooper. 

We only mine the most valuable alexandrite, and we consider our purchases in terms of color change and not how large they are. Our ethically-produced gems undergo intensive quality control before hitting the market. They can be found in mixed cuts, which allow for a heavier weight that maintains impeccable color saturation and change. 

We pride ourselves on our extensive knowledge of exotic gems and our rich understanding that alexandrite is far too versatile to be kept away for the highest bidder in exclusive auctions throughout the world.

By making our jewelry accessible, we hope to share just how special alexandrite truly is - on principle and in practice. 

 

Sources: 

Alexandrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information | Gem Society

Top 6 health benefits of Alexandrite | The Exeter Daily

What Is Alexandrite? | The Spruce Crafts