Alexandrite Engagement Rings: Meaning, Durability, and Types
Alexandrite History and Types
Alexandrite is a color-change gemstone, that bounces back and forth between a deep aqua green color, to a magenta, to a lavender eggplant purple. Alexandrite is the gemstone of luck, prosperity, and intellect. It represents the balance between the physical and the spiritual, and can bring you into the balance of who you are.
Alexandrite is a relatively new gemstone. It was discovered in Russia in the 1830’s. At first, the miners mistook the stone for emeralds, because of it’s deep green hue, and because they were mining for emeralds at the time. It wasn’t until the light changed and the stone changed to purple that they realized they had discovered an entirely new gemstone. It was named “alexandrite” after Alexander the II, the Tzar of Russia, and was especially revered because it’s red and green color matched the colors of Imperial Russia.
Today however, most alexandrites come from Sri Lanka, Brazil, and East Africa. Alexandrites can also be grown in a lab.
Both The Margo and The Katy feature alexandrite center stones with diamond accents.
Alexandrite Engagement Ring Meaning and Uses
Because the miners who found Alexandrite struck particular luck in discovering an entirely new gemstone in an emerald mine, Alexandrite is considered to be a good omen. It can bring you good luck, good fortune, and longevity. It’s a color change stone, and it is considered to go between two worlds, the spiritual and the physical, a stone of the mind. Alexandrite is a stone that can really bring you into balance of who you are because it has two different worlds. It is such a stone of mutation, of change, of juxtaposition of two different things that might even be opposite, which in a way really is super powerful. Alexandrite can play a role in reminding you who you who you are and your life’s purpose, as well as really centering you and a spiritual capacity.
If you are astrologically inclined, Alexandrite is a stone for Gemini and Aries. Gemini being so contrasting – one day one thing, one day the next thing, Alexandrite really represents them well. It represents Aries too, who has such a fire but also that grounding ability. It is also a stone that represents the planet Mercury, the planet of the mind, so it is a very cerebral stone as well.
Alexandrites color-change between an aqua blue and deep purple.
Alexandrite Engagement Ring Durability
Alexandrite ranks at a 1.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, the universally accepted scale of ranking gemstone and mineral durability. Alexandrite ranks just under sapphire and ruby which are a 9 on the scale, but it is still an excellent choice for an engagement ring. Any gemstone above a 7 generally will be hard to scratch, and makes a wise choice for jewelry intended for long term wear like an engagement ring. However, like all engagement rings, there will be times when you should not wear your alexandrite, but if you work with a skilled jewelry designer like Abby Sparks Jewelry, you can be sure you’ll start with a high quality stone that’s set in a design that will protect your alexandrite from everyday damages.
If you love alexandrite, be sure to check out all of our alexandrite engagement rings, non-traditional engagement rings, and gemstone engagement rings. If you would like to create your own custom alexandrite engagement ring book an appointment or send us an email at hello@abbysparks.com.
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