It is no secret that alexandrites are one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Long prized for their color-changing ability, natural alexandrite is becoming increasingly rare. And those with strong color shifts and considerable size are even rarer. However, collectors and museums have discovered only a few, and therefore these notable pieces earned places in prominent private collections. So, we have brought here for you some of those exceptional and famous alexandrite gems.
The Famous Whitney Alexandrite
The Whitney Alexandrite weighs a whopping 17.08 carats, and miners discovered it in Brazil’s prestigious Minas Gerais mine. It is notable not only for its significant size but also for its dramatic and rich color change. It displays a blue/green color under sunlight and a purplish-red under incandescent light.
Gemologist Coralyn Whitney donated the alexandrite to the Smithsonian National Museum in 2009, and the museum named the stone after her.
The Sauer Alexandrite
Like many world-famous gemstones, legend and mystery surround the Sauer Alexandrite. Discovered in 1967 in Bahia, Brazil, the Sauer Alexandrite is the world’s largest uncut Alexandrite. It weighs a massive 122,400 carats (or approximately 54 pounds)! The Sauer Alexandrite received its name after its discoverer, jeweler and collector Jules Roger Sauer. It was put on display in Sauer’s own museum in 1989.
It stayed on display until 2017, when curators sadly removed it following Sauer’s passing. Since then, the whereabouts of the massive alexandrite are unknown. The museum staff are either unaware of the alexandrite’s existence or refuse to discuss it.
The Smithsonian’s Alexandrite
A famous alexandrite from Sri Lanka weighing about 65.7carats is the largest faceted alexandrite. Currently, it resides at the Smithsonian Institution since it’s an exceptional stone. However, a majority of alexandrites weigh under one carat. In spite of the huge size of this stone, it displays a remarkable color shift. These two uncommon attributes of the Smithsonian’s alexandrite undoubtedly makes it the king of alexandrites.
Fun Fact: Famous Alexandrite in Japan
Outside of Russia, the most prestigious alexandrite mines are in Brazil. The 1980s was a booming era for Brazilian alexandrites but the Brazilian deposits have depleted in recent years. Some of the world’s finest alexandrites are from Brazil during the ’80s and astonishingly the vast majority of them were sold in Japan. From 1980 to 2000. Japan was the largest market for high-quality Brazilian alexandrites. And even later it remained one of the most significant consumer markets of alexandrites.
Shop Alexandrites @ GemsNY
Most of us haven’t seen these famous alexandrites up-close. But if their beauty fascinates you, then you should browse the collection at GemsNY. Besides alexandrites, you can also pick diamonds, rubies, emeralds etc. in their natural & lab avatars. Shop today for exciting offers!
