Alexandrite: The Royal Russian Gem

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• Many gemstones have links to a historic past, but
  few claim the colorful history of alexandrite.
  Discovered in the 1830s, in emerald mines of
  Russias Ural Mountains, the stone was destined
  for greatness, thanks to its
• Rarity it was unknown anywhere else in the
  world.
• Changeability only alexandrite changes colors
  so dramatically, from blue-green in daylight to
  red-purple at night.
• Colors this remarkable gem had just the right
  blend of Tsarist Russias official flag, red and
  green, leading to its adoption as the national
  stone.

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• Alexandrite was named for the young tsar,
  Alexander II, forever linking it to the turbulent
  history of this ruler and the Russian nation.
• Alexander was highly educated, spoke five
  languages, and was the first ruler to travel to
  the far reaches of his domain.
• Despite his bold decision to free Russian serfs
  in 1861, Alexander was assassinated in 1881, at
  the hands of dissatisfied revolutionaries.

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• The richly colored stone, originally found only
  in the Urals, is now mined in other parts of the
  world too, although scarce Russian stones are
  considered more collectable.
• An important new source of alexandrite was
  discovered in 1987 in Hematita, Brazil. These
  stones show very good clarity and color change.
• Additional sources of alexandrite are found in
  Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and other locations, though
  colors are not considered comparable to Russian
  stones.

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• Part of the mystery and intrigue of jewels comes
  from their origins deep in the Earth. Perhaps the
  geologic forces that produced such a rarity
  explain our attraction to it.
• Alexandrite is a chrysoberyl, containing iron,
  titanium, and chromium.
• Chromium is the special element that causes its
  astounding color changes.
• Beryllium and chromium are found together, which
  is extremely rare in nature, while the lack of
  silicaalso highly unusualprevents the growth of
  emerald.

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• June babies get to pick from several traditional
  birthstones, unlike most who have just one
  choice.
• The month of June can be commemorated with
  alexandrite, moonstone, or pearl.
• Alexandrites unique color-changing ability is
  said to inspire creativity and bolster intuition
  when solving difficult problems.

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• This mysterious gem is best displayed in your
  choice of natural alexandrite rings. Settings can
  be white or yellow gold, contemporary to
  traditional. Sparkling diamonds around the center
  stone bring out its colors.
• Buy from reputable dealers, like Alaska Jewelry,
  who have the expertise to assess the true value
  and explain the history of this rare gem.
• If budget allows, you could acquire a true
  natural Russian Alexandrite ringamong the very
  rarest gems in the world, with ideal color
  transitions.

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• High values are not limited to Russian stones. A
  1.55 carat natural Brazilian alexandrite stone in
  emerald cut, and with GIA certification, is
  priced to match its eye-popping beauty and size.
• Shape or cut of the ring conveys differing
  personalities and qualities in the stone itself.
• Look for alexandrite jewelry that expresses your
  individuality. Find cushion or emerald cuts,
  princess cuts, pear-shaped, or triangular
  trillions.

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• How to tell if your stone is natural or not? The
  better synthetic stones can only be identified by
  gemologists through magnification. They study
  inclusions, like curved striations or gas
  bubbles, to determine the process used to grow
  synthetic stones.
• Some versions achieve very good colors and
  color-change, though few equal the Russian gems.
  As a result, they are more affordable.
• Synthetic alexandrite has existed since 1909,
  and should be labeled as cultured, laboratory
  grown, or created, but not as a gemstone. It is
  found in jewelry today, and in many heirloom
  pieces thought to be natural.

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• Alaska Jewelry is a family-owned business located
  in Sitka, Alaska. Sitka was the capital of
  Russian America, and this connection with Russia
  is what inspired them to become experts in
  Russia's most famous gemstone, and build one of
  world's best selections of natural Alexandrite
  jewelry.
• Contact Alaska Jewelry at 1-800-360-5744 or visit
  www.alaskajewelry.com.