Alexandrite changes color. Not subtly — it shifts from green in daylight to purplish-red under incandescent light, a transformation dramatic enough that gemologists have a phrase for it: "emerald by day, ruby by night." No other major birthstone does this. It is also among the rarest gemstones on earth. Natural alexandrite is harder to find than diamond, ruby, or emerald per carat. And yet most people have never seen one in person.
This guide covers everything worth knowing about alexandrite: what it is, why it changes color, what it means historically and symbolically, how natural and lab-created stones compare, and how to care for it. If you are shopping for alexandrite jewelry or just curious about the stone, start here.
What Is Alexandrite?
Alexandrite is a variety of the mineral chrysoberyl — the same mineral family as cat's eye, but distinguished by its color-change effect. Its chemical formula is BeAl₂O₄, and its color-changing properties come from trace amounts of chromium in its crystal structure.
Chrysoberyl itself is not rare. What makes alexandrite rare is the specific combination of chromium contamination during crystal formation and the precise geological conditions required to produce it. Chromium is the same element responsible for the green color in emerald and the red color in ruby. In alexandrite, that chromium sits at a chemical crossroads — it absorbs light in a way that makes the stone appear green under one light source and red under another. That crossover point is extraordinarily narrow, which is why very few gems in nature achieve it.
Alexandrite rates 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it one of the hardest colored gemstones available — harder than emerald, garnet, tourmaline, and most other color-changing stones. It has no cleavage, meaning it does not split along flat planes the way some stones do, which makes it durable and well-suited for everyday jewelry.
Why Does Alexandrite Change Color?
The color change in alexandrite comes down to how chromium interacts with light. Chromium absorbs certain wavelengths of light and transmits others. In alexandrite, it absorbs strongly in the yellow-green range and transmits both blue-green and red wavelengths simultaneously.
The light source determines which of those transmitted wavelengths your eye registers as dominant.
Daylight and fluorescent light are rich in blue wavelengths. Under those conditions, the blue-green component of alexandrite's transmitted light dominates, and the stone appears green. Incandescent light — tungsten bulbs, candlelight, warm indoor lighting — is rich in red and yellow wavelengths. Under those conditions, the red component dominates, and the stone shifts toward purplish-red or raspberry.
Human vision plays a role too. Our eyes are more sensitive to green in bright conditions and more sensitive to red in warm, dim conditions — which amplifies the color shift beyond what the physics alone would produce. A well-saturated alexandrite in good light can look like two completely different stones.
The strength of the color change varies between individual stones. The most prized alexandrites show a near-complete shift — vivid green to vivid red with minimal gray or brown in between. Most stones on the market show a partial shift, often green to brownish-red or teal to purplish. The finest examples from Russia's original deposits are considered benchmark quality; Brazilian and Sri Lankan material is also well-regarded. Lab-created alexandrite can be produced to show a strong, saturated color change consistently.
Alexandrite Meaning and History
Alexandrite was first identified in Russia's Ural Mountains in 1834, discovered in an emerald mine near the Tokovaya River. The gemstone was named after Tsar Alexander II of Russia — the future tsar was celebrating his coming-of-age the same day the stone was officially described. Whether that date alignment is history or legend depends on the source, but the name stuck.
In Imperial Russia, alexandrite became a stone of national significance. Its colors — green and red — matched the Russian imperial military colors, which gave it an immediate symbolic resonance at court. It was set into jewelry for Russian nobility and became closely associated with the Romanov dynasty. Fabergé incorporated alexandrite into several pieces made for the imperial family.
Outside Russia, alexandrite remained largely unknown until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Russian deposits were being mined more actively and the stone began appearing in European jewelry markets. The original Ural Mountain deposits are now largely exhausted. New deposits have been found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, East Africa, and India, but none have matched the color saturation of the original Russian material.
Alexandrite was added to the official modern birthstone list in 1952, joining pearl and moonstone as one of three June birthstones. It is also the traditional gemstone for the 55th wedding anniversary.
Alexandrite Symbolism
Because of its dual nature — the ability to appear as two different colors depending on context — alexandrite has long been associated with transformation, duality, and adaptability. It is considered a stone for people navigating change: career shifts, relationship transitions, personal reinvention.
In Russian tradition, alexandrite was considered a stone of good omen and was believed to bring luck and prosperity to its wearer. Some traditions also associate it with discipline and achievement — qualities befitting a stone named for a tsar.
More broadly, alexandrite is associated with balance between the physical and spiritual, between the visible and the hidden. The idea that the same stone can look entirely different depending on how you look at it — the light you bring to it — has made it a natural symbol for perspective and emotional intelligence.
Pearl, the other primary June birthstone, symbolizes purity and wisdom. The two stones sit at opposite ends of a spectrum: pearl is organic, formed by a living creature, soft, and constant. Alexandrite is mineral, rare, hard, and changeable. Together they make June one of the most symbolically rich birthstone months.
Heart and Crown Chakra Connection
Alexandrite is associated with two chakras rather than one — the heart chakra and the crown chakra — which reflects its dual-color nature.
The heart chakra (fourth chakra, Anahata) governs love, compassion, emotional connection, and the ability to give and receive. Its associated color is green, which aligns with alexandrite's green appearance in daylight. Alexandrite in this context is considered a stone of emotional balance and transformation — particularly useful during periods of grief, change, or emotional work.
The crown chakra (seventh chakra, Sahasrara) governs consciousness, spiritual connection, and insight. Its associated color is violet to white, which aligns with alexandrite's purplish-red appearance under warm light. In this context, alexandrite is associated with intuition, higher awareness, and the integration of experience into understanding.
The dual chakra association makes alexandrite unusual among gemstones — most stones are associated with a single energy center. Its range across both heart and crown is consistent with its role as a stone of balance and transformation.
Alexandrite and the Zodiac
Alexandrite is the birthstone for both Gemini (May 21 to June 20) and Cancer (June 21 to July 22), the two zodiac signs that span the month of June.
The connection to Gemini is particularly apt. Gemini is the sign of duality — represented by twins, associated with adaptability, communication, and the ability to hold multiple perspectives simultaneously. Alexandrite's color change is a physical expression of that same principle: the same stone, seen differently depending on context. Geminis are often described as versatile, curious, and quick to adapt — qualities that mirror the stone's defining characteristic.
Cancer's association with alexandrite is through the heart chakra — Cancer is the most emotionally attuned sign of the zodiac, associated with nurturing, intuition, and deep feeling. Alexandrite's connection to emotional transformation and balance makes it a natural fit for Cancer energy.
If you are shopping for zodiac jewelry, our zodiac collection includes pieces for both Gemini and Cancer.
Physical Properties of Alexandrite
For buyers and collectors, here are the key properties worth knowing:
Mineral family: Chrysoberyl (BeAl₂O₄). Not related to beryl (the family that includes emerald and aquamarine), despite the name similarity.
Mohs hardness: 8.5 — harder than emerald (7.5 to 8), garnet (6.5 to 7.5), tourmaline (7 to 7.5), and most other colored gemstones. Only corundum (ruby and sapphire at 9) and diamond (10) are harder.
Cleavage: None. Alexandrite does not cleave along crystal planes, making it more resistant to chipping and fracture than stones with distinct cleavage like topaz or moonstone.
Refractive index: 1.746 to 1.755 — high, which contributes to alexandrite's brilliance and depth of color.
Color change quality: Graded on the strength and completeness of the shift from green to red. The finest stones show a near-complete transformation in both directions. Most commercial material shows a partial shift.
Treatments: Natural alexandrite is typically untreated. Unlike many colored gemstones, it does not require heat treatment or enhancement to produce its color. What you see is the stone as it formed.
Natural vs. Lab-Created Alexandrite
This is the question most buyers encounter when shopping for alexandrite, and it deserves a direct answer.
Natural alexandrite is among the rarest and most expensive gemstones on earth. Fine natural alexandrite — with a strong color change and good saturation — commands prices per carat that routinely exceed diamond, ruby, and emerald. A 1-carat natural alexandrite with strong color change can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more. Stones above 3 carats with top color are considered collector pieces.
Lab-created alexandrite is grown in controlled laboratory conditions using one of two methods: the Czochralski pulling method (which produces material with the same crystal structure as natural alexandrite) or flux growth (which produces material more slowly and at higher cost). Both methods produce alexandrite with the same chemical composition (BeAl₂O₄ with chromium), the same crystal structure, and the same color-changing properties as natural alexandrite.
The difference is origin, not identity. Lab-created alexandrite is not an imitation or a simulant — it is chemically and physically the same stone, grown in a lab rather than in the earth. This is the same distinction that applies to lab-created diamonds.
For jewelry use, lab-created alexandrite is the practical and sensible choice. It allows you to own a genuine color-changing alexandrite — with the same optical properties, the same hardness, the same durability — at a fraction of the cost of natural material. Every piece in our alexandrite jewelry collection uses lab-created alexandrite for exactly this reason.
If you are a collector specifically seeking natural alexandrite from a named source (Russian, Brazilian, Sri Lankan), that is a different market — one for gemological specialists and auction houses, not everyday jewelry retail.
Alexandrite vs. Color-Changing Sapphire
This comparison comes up frequently, and it is worth addressing directly because the two stones are sometimes confused or substituted for one another.
What they share: Both are hard, durable gemstones that change color depending on the light source. Both are used in fine jewelry and are available in lab-created form.
How they differ:
Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl. Color-changing sapphire is a variety of corundum — a completely different mineral family with a different chemical composition (Al₂O₃ versus BeAl₂O₄). The two stones are unrelated except for their color-change behavior.
The color shift in alexandrite is typically green-to-red — a more dramatic transformation than most color-changing sapphires, which tend to shift between blue, violet, and purple, or between blue and gray. Alexandrite's shift from cool green to warm red is wider on the visible spectrum, which makes it more visually striking.
Alexandrite rates 8.5 on the Mohs scale; sapphire rates 9. Both are hard enough for everyday wear.
Price-wise, fine natural alexandrite commands higher prices than fine natural color-changing sapphire. In lab-created form, both are accessible for jewelry use at comparable price points.
If you are drawn to the color-change phenomenon specifically and the green-to-red shift, alexandrite is the right choice. If you prefer a blue-to-violet or blue-to-purple shift, color-changing sapphire may suit you better. They are not interchangeable — they are two distinct stones that happen to share a characteristic.
How to Care for Alexandrite Jewelry
Alexandrite's hardness (8.5 Mohs) and lack of cleavage make it one of the most practical gemstones for everyday wear. It does not require the careful handling that softer stones like pearl, opal, or turquoise demand. That said, a few basic care practices will keep alexandrite looking its best.
Cleaning: Warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft-bristled brush are all you need. Scrub gently around the setting to remove any buildup. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe for alexandrite, but use caution if the setting includes other stones or materials that may not tolerate ultrasonics. Steam cleaning is not recommended.
Storage: Alexandrite rates 8.5 Mohs, which means it can scratch softer stones if stored together. Store alexandrite jewelry separately from pearls, opals, and other softer pieces. A soft pouch or lined jewelry box works well.
Chemicals: Avoid prolonged exposure to chlorine (swimming pools, hot tubs) and household cleaning chemicals. These will not damage the stone but can dull the metal setting over time.
Settings: Bezel settings fully encircle the stone and provide the most protection for everyday wear. Prong settings allow more light to enter the stone (which matters for showing off the color change) but leave the girdle more exposed to impacts.
Shopping for Alexandrite Jewelry
When shopping for alexandrite jewelry, the two most important things to look for are color change strength and metal quality.
Color change: Ask specifically about the color shift. A good alexandrite shows a clearly visible shift from green or teal in daylight to red or purplish-red under warm indoor light. If the stone only shifts between two shades of brownish-gray, the color change is weak. Look for a stone where both colors are clean and distinct.
Metal quality: Solid 14K gold or recycled sterling silver are the appropriate choices for a stone of alexandrite's caliber. Avoid gold-plated settings for a stone you intend to wear daily — the plating will wear through and the stone deserves better.
Disclosure: Any reputable seller should clearly state whether the alexandrite is natural or lab-created. We use lab-created alexandrite in all our pieces and state this clearly in every product listing. If a seller is vague about origin, that is a red flag.
Browse our full alexandrite jewelry collection, including bezel-set charms from $125, pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings in 14K gold and sterling silver. All pieces are handcrafted in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Want something custom? Design your own through our GemBar.
For the full context on June birthstones — including how alexandrite compares to pearl and moonstone — see our June birthstone guide.
For stone-specific buying guides and care instructions, visit our Birthstone Guides resource.