Is Alexandrite Expensive?
Yes, high-quality, natural alexandrite can be incredibly expensive compared to other gems. It is, arguably, the most expensive gemstone on the planet. And the finest examples can sell for more than $40,000 a carat.
That high price is partly because the gemstone is quite rare, perhaps hundreds of times rarer than a high-quality diamond. But mostly, alexandrite is expensive because it displays a unique visual phenomenon. Alexandrite changes color!
Whether you're looking for a priceless alexandrite to call your own or would be happy with an alexandrite alternative, the Greis Jewelers team is here to help you find the best jewels at honest prices.
About Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a rare chrysoberyl. Depending on the light, the best examples change from a vivid blue-green to a "grapey" purple. Without getting too technical, know the gemstone itself doesn't change at all. It just absorbs different types of light in different ways. The stone stays the same. The color-change effect is happening in your brain.
Alexandrite is also:
- Harder than a garnet, but softer than sapphire, with a hardness of 8.5 on Moh's scale
- Graded based on a percentage of color change, a higher percentage of changing color is a more expensive stone