Alexandrite Ring – Frequently asked questions regarding Alexandrite Rings

History – Named after the Russian Czar Alexander II in 1834, the Alexandrite was found inside an Emerald mine situated in the Ural mountains in Russia. Now Alexandrite gems can be discovered in Hematita Brazil, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, India, Madagascar, Burma, Zimabwe, and Russia. Amongst the rarest and most expensive of jewels in the present day, the Alexandrite is not merely a collectible but is to be considered an investment. Alexandrite rings are often an heirloom and are inherited from family member to family member.

Color – The expression “Emerald by day and Ruby by night” is linked with Alexandrite because of its rare character of absorbing and reflecting light. The light of day creates superior proportions of blue and green colors all the way through the range which the Alexandrite consumes, whereas incandescent lighting produces additional crimson and is reflected. Your Alexandrite ring shows unmatched style with a teal, emerald green or blue-green coloring in sunshine, and a bottomless red, purple-red coloring in non-natural illumination.

Hardness – Alexandrite possesses a hardness of 8.5 on the MOH range, ranking just between the Ruby and Sapphire. The MOH ranking was named for the German mineralogist Friedrich Mos in 1812, and the scale ranks minerals on a magnitude from 1 (exceptionally pliable) to 10 (extraordinarily solid). This characterizes the ability to defy abrasions from typical wear which is another reason it is so highly sought by collectors.

Value – Alexandrite rings can be valued somewhere from $70.00 to in excess of $100,000.00 depending on different qualities, and a superior quality one may cost more expensively than a Diamond. The most vital things to scrutinize in the Alexandrite are color, clarity, cut and size. The cut will influence the value and more or less all Alexandrite will be cut for maximum weight retention. Due to Alexandrite’s unusual availability the price of a 1 ct. Alexandrite could vary anywhere from $500 to $12,000, plus since 1913 all gems are weighed by the carot. Intensity of the color is particularly of great consequence when purchasing your Alexandrite ring and must be taken into deliberation as far as value. The bigger the color change, the more expensive the Alexandrite will be, but the exquisiteness and durability will outlive a lifetime.

Genuineness – When purchasing your Alexandrite ring, significant factors should be taken into reflection. Locate a highly regarded merchant and don’t forget, sizeable Alexandrite gems are very uncommon and if you discover one available for an unusually low cost, be careful. Take the ring to a trained gemologist or have it tested at a lab for legitimacy. Reliable dealers will be more than happy to provide you a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) or a gemologists information.

Want even more information on Alexandrite Rings?  A free resource that I highly recommend is the very popular Alexandrite Ring discussion board at Bid and Blog (http://alexandrite-ring.bidandblog.com).  Not only will you find a tremendous about of user-contributed reviews, answers to questions on Alexandrite Rings, but also realtime Alexandrite Ring auctions, as well.