JUNE BIRTHSTONES: PEARL, ALEXANDRITE and MOONSTONE

The month of June has 3 different birthstones! I have written about pearls previously (https://fonya.com.au/blogs/blog/pearls-natures-hidden-gems). A future offering will cover Moonstone.

This blog will concern itself with Alexandrite – a truly remarkable gem. Alexandrite has been described as “emerald by day, ruby by night,” (see the attached photo) – the same gem appears blue/green in daylight and red in incandescent light. This is due to it being a very rare colour-change variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. It possesses different light absorbing qualities. Originally discovered in Russia’s Ural Mountains in the 1830s, it is now found in Sri Lanka, East Africa and Brazil. It was named for Czar Alexander II of Russia. Because of its rarity it is a relatively expensive gemstone.

In addition to its colour change under different lighting conditions, Alexandrite is a pleochroic gem – meaning that it shows different colours when viewed from different angles. These colours are red, green and orange. This quality is different from its light absorbing qualities. Furthermore, it can exhibit chatoyancy (cat’s eye phenomenon) when certain inclusions are oriented parallel to one another. Alexandrite is a hard stone – 8.5 on Mohs scale – making it suitable for use in rings or other mountings subject to daily wear.

Alexandrite is believed to bring luck, love, and good fortune to those who own it. Many believe that the stone brings harmony between the physical and spiritual worlds. It is said to balance the thoughts and emotions and to encourage spiritual growth.

Rare in every sense of the word, Alexandrite is a unique and many facetted stone.