Alexandrite Gemstones

The birthstone for those born in June and one of the popular choices for a fifty-fifth wedding anniversary, Alexandrite is the color change variety of the mineral species chrysoberyl. When this gem is illuminated by sunlight and many types of fluorescent light, which contain a large number of green and blue rays, its color is green. Under candlelight and incandescent light, which contain more red rays, the stone appears red. Fine alexandrite is a rich purple-red in incandescent lighting and a rich bluish green with daylight.

Alexandrite is a fairly modern gem, unknown before 1830 when it was discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains. Discovered on Czar Alexander II's birthday, the day he became of ruling age, the stone was named after him. Also notable is that the gem's green and red colors were those of the Russian military.