June is one of the few months that has three stones associated with it – moonstone, pearl, and the mysterious alexandrite. The June stone alexandrite was named after Russian Tsar Alexander II. It is said that he came of age the same day the stone was discovered, hence the name Alexandrite.
Alexandrite became the national stone of Russia because of its red and green colors which are similar to the national military colors of imperial Russia.
Alexandrite is an incredibly rare and sought-after gemstone and is favored amongst collectors for its pleochroic effect, which means color changing. Its main color in sunlight varies in shades of green, with possible undertones of brown or blue.
The most sought-after Alexandrite has a deep green or blue-green color in sunlight, which changes to red or purple under incandescent ligh. It is for this reason many jewelers describe alexandrite as emerald by day and ruby by night!
Due to its association with the Tsar, alexandrite is favorite among men as a masculine stone. Also, because of its natural beauty, rarity and what it represents – good fortune and love, this mysterious gem has become a popular choice for engagement rings, particularly among brides born in June.
This stone is an ideal fit for June babies, since we all know about the split personalities of Geminis, right. So, if your bride is also born in June, then here are some popular designs of Alexandrite engagement rings to choose from.
Eden Engagement Ring
This design of an engagement ring is inspired by nature and features of leaf motif and twisted shank. This engagement ring looks elegant, and an alexandrite surely adds an air of mystery to it.
Florentine Style Engagement Ring
Many jewelry designs are evergreen; one of them is a Florentine style engagement ring. The main feature of this ring is intricate carving and artwork. The June stone alexandrite at the center with surrounding diamonds makes the ring a perfect jewel to express love.
Pear-Shaped Engagement Ring
An engagement ring with pear cut color-changing alexandrite and diamonds all around is a masterpiece to make your engagement day special and memorable. If you choose an alexandrite of size for this ring, it will reveal the real beauty of this gemstone.
Heart-shaped Engagement Ring
An engagement is a ceremony of love, so choosing a heart-shaped ring will be a good idea to express your emotions with a simple gesture. Alexandrite is a color-changing gemstone and a ring with one heart-shaped gemstone is enough to amaze everyone around.
Alexandrite belongs to the chrysoberyl mineral family, but the color-change quality in alexandrite is actually caused by trace amounts of the mineral chromium. By the way, chromium is also a trace element in beryl, giving emeralds their lush green color. When the first alexandrite was discovered, it was actually mistaken for an emerald.
Some Interesting Facts About Alexandrite
- Top-quality natural alexandrite can sometimes cost more than $30,000 per carat.
- The largest uncut gem-quality alexandrite specimen ever found is the Sauer Alexandrite that weighs 122,400 carats and was found in Bahia, Brazil, in 1967.
- Although alexandrite birthstone doesn’t have a very long history, it has been strongly associated with good fortune. As per some beliefs, it enhances creativity and focus.
- Alexandrite is now mined in parts of Africa, Brazil, and Sri Lanka although the gem is still extremely rare and valuable.
- Because of the gemstone’s rarity, many types of imitations and synthetics have been in the market since the early 1900s. Fake alexandrite from the 1920s was made out of the mineral corundum and then laced with chromium or vanadium to create the color-change effect
GemsNY has a phenomenal collection of natural alexandrite rings. You should definitely check it out! Especially for June babies, your lucky stone awaits you!
For more detailed information about the June birthstone alexandrite and its properties, visit our Alexandrite Education Section here.
