The June birthstone, Alexandrite, is one of those gemstones that instantly makes people look twice. It is rare, a little unexpected, and has a reputation in jewellery that sets it apart from the usual classics you see everywhere. There is a reason it has stayed so talked about since its discovery in the 1800s, and it is not just down to how it looks at first glance.
What really makes Alexandrite interesting is that it never quite stays the same. It reacts to light in a way most gemstones simply do not, which is where things start to get a lot more fascinating. And once you start noticing it in jewellery, it is the kind of detail that completely changes how you see it.
The Story Behind Alexandrite
Alexandrite was first found back in the 1830s in the Ural Mountains of Russia, and at the time it was actually discovered in what were thought to be emerald mines. What surprised everyone was that this stone didn’t behave like an emerald at all. It looked completely different depending on the light, which instantly made people stop and take notice.
It was named after the future Tsar Alexander II, and because its colours were said to reflect the Russian imperial flag, it quickly became linked with the royal court. From that point on, the June birthstone started building a reputation as something rare and a little bit special, and natural Alexandrite is still incredibly hard to come by today.
What sets Alexandrite apart from most gemstones is its strong colour-change effect, caused by the way it absorbs light in different conditions. In daylight it typically appears green to bluish-green, while under incandescent light it shifts towards red, purple or raspberry tones. This effect is known in gemmology as “pleochroism”, and it is one of the key reasons the June birthstone is considered so unusual in fine jewellery.
Alexandrite in Permanent Jewellery
Alexandrite, the June birthstone, brings a unique touch to permanent jewellery creations. Known as the “Chameleon Stone,” it is recognised for its rare ability to shift between emerald green in daylight and deeper ruby red tones under warmer lighting, giving it a distinctive character within fine jewellery.
It is traditionally associated with transformation, balance and good fortune. The shifting nature of the stone is often seen as a reflection of life’s different phases, while its historical link to Russian royalty has contributed to its reputation as a symbol of prosperity. It is also connected with intuition and creativity, often linked with the crown chakra in gemstone traditions.
In permanent jewellery, it is often chosen for its birth month or the meaning it holds, or simply because of its colour and character.
Fun Facts About the June Birthstone
- It’s one of the few gemstones that can genuinely look like a completely different stone depending on the lighting around it.
- Fine natural Alexandrite is rarer than diamonds in some qualities, especially larger, clearer stones. Even small Alexandrite stones are considered valuable due to how scarce good-quality material is.
- Synthetic Alexandrite is much more common in permanent jewellery because natural material is so limited.
- The strongest colour change is usually seen in stones that contain trace elements like chromium.
- It is one of the most studied gemstones in gemmology because of its unusual light behaviour.
From its 19th century discovery to its rarity in today’s jewellery market, Alexandrite continues to be a distinctive choice, often used in birthstone charms and connectors that can shift the feel of any welded piece, from more luxe finishes to something a little more playful.
