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Gemstone Encyclopedia

Alexandrite

Wholesale alexandrite — buying guide for the trade

The famous colour-change chrysoberyl: green in daylight, red in incandescent light. Top stones from the original Russian Ural deposit are among the rarest gems on earth.

Key properties

Mineral
Chrysoberyl (BeAl₂O₄)
Hardness
8.5 (Mohs)
Key origins
Russia (historic), Sri Lanka, Brazil, Tanzania, India
Typical treatments
None standard — synthetics common, declare!

What to look for when buying wholesale

  • Strength of colour change is everything: 100% (full) is the trade benchmark.
  • Synthetic and simulated alexandrite is everywhere — always require lab confirmation.
  • Russian provenance commands a 3–5× premium and SSEF/Gübelin reports are the trade standard.

Certification guidance

Any natural alexandrite over USD 1,500 should travel with a recent independent lab report stating natural origin and colour-change percentage.

Treatment disclosure

Natural alexandrite is almost never treated; synthetics are the main risk and must always be disclosed.

Typical wholesale price tiers

TierWholesaleNotes
Commercial$300–$2,000 / ctWeak colour change, included
Fine$2,000–$15,000 / ctStrong change, eye-clean
Exceptional$15,000–$100,000+ / ctRussian, 100% change, large sizes

Prices are indicative wholesale-to-trade ranges. Actual offers depend on origin, certification and supply at the time of enquiry.

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