Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a rare and highly collectable variety of chrysoberyl that ranks alongside diamond, emerald, ruby and padparadsha as the world's most desirable and expensive gemstone. Discovered in 1830 on the silver birch clad banks of Russia's Tokovaya River, this extraordinary gem was named after the young Czarevitch, Alexander Nicolajevitch who would later become Czar. For over 100 years now, alexandrite has commanded one of the higher positions in the pecking order of gemstone desirability with some stones more valuable than diamonds. Alexandrites have been found in Burma, Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Tanzania and even Zimbabwe.
Scant availability combined with remarkable color change, excellent durability and a sparkling adamantine luster, makes alexandrite an excellent gem for the connoisseur and individual looking for an exciting alternative in an engagement ring. However, while ranked as one of the world's most desirable and expensive gems, alexandrites do come in an affordable range depending on size and degree of colour change. 
Colour change is what makes alexandrite rare and valuable. Although famous for changing colour from emerald green in sunlight to ruby red in incandescent light, few alexandrites actually make a full colour change. Usually there is a bleeding of colour from one colour to the other. The degree of colour change along with the colours they change from is one of the determining factors for value. Some stones change in colour from brownish green to brownish red.
Most alexandrites are poorly cut due to the high expense of rough alexandrite, the shape of "native cut" polished gems are often tightly bound to that of the rough gem. As a consequence, alexandrites are regularly submitted for recutting, which pushes per carat prices up even further as the strive for perfection dictates a second visit to the polishing wheel and the inevitable weight loss it entails.
Like fine emeralds, fine alexandrites can be found to have very small visable inclusions. These inclusions can be overlooked in stones that are of a fine colour change and cut if they do not detract from the stones overall beauty. Inclusions in lower priced stones can make the stones look cloudy but are still valuable because of the gem's rarity.
Alexandrite is a fine gem that would make your next purchase the true jewel it should be. SilverQueen.ca has one of the largest selection of these stones on the internet. We offer some of the finest stones available. Most of our gems have been appraised by Toronto’s best appraisers. This ensures that you can purchase with confidence.
