Alexandrite

Precious gem Birthstone of June Chrysoberyl

8.5Hardness (Mohs)

BeAl₂O₄:CrChemistry

4Known origins & mines

"Emerald by day, ruby by night." Discovered in Russia's Urals in the 1830s and named for Tsar Alexander II. The color-change effect is caused by chromium; today Brazil, Sri Lanka and Tanzania produce the finest stones. One of the rarest birthstones (June).

Known origins & mines

Ratnapura Gem Fields · Sri Lanka

Active mining · Legendary locality

"City of Gems" — 2500 years of pit mining in river gravels yield ruby alongside nearly every other gem species. Sri Lankan ruby leans pink (…

Tokovaya Mine · Russia

Historic mine · Legendary locality

Where alexandrite was discovered in 1830 (emerald miners mistook green day crystals for emerald until evening red revealed them). Russian st…

Hematita-Novo Oriente Fields · Brazil

Historic mine · Major source

The 1987 Hematita discovery flooded the market with fine Brazilian cat's-eye alexandrite; pockets exhausted within years — today Novo Orient…

Garimpo De Carnaiba · Brazil

Active mining · Notable deposit

Mineral family: Chrysoberyl

Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye