Alexandrite Stone: Origin, Characteristics, and Feng Shui Meaning

Alexandrite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world, belonging to the Chrysoberyl mineral group. The special feature that makes Alexandrite unique is its ability to change color depending on the light source.

• Under daylight: Alexandrite is usually green or bluish green.
• Under artificial light (incandescent light): The stone changes to red or purplish red, creating a spectacular color-change effect that few gemstones possess.

With a hardness of up to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, Alexandrite is not only rare but also highly durable, making it suitable for crafting high-end jewelry. It is precisely the combination of mysterious beauty, outstanding hardness, and rarity that has made Alexandrite one of the gemstones more valuable than diamonds.

Alexandrite was first discovered in 1830 in the Ural Mountains of Russia, in a gemstone mine rich in chrysoberyl. This gemstone was named after Prince Alexander II of Russia, who later became Tsar, because its unique changing colors matched the two colors representing the Russian military at that time (green and red).

Famous Alexandrite mines around the world

• Ural mine (Russia): This was the first place Alexandrite was mined; however, its reserves have almost been depleted.
• Hematita mine (Brazil): Discovered later, it supplies Alexandrite stones with impressive color-change effects.
• Ratnapura mine (Sri Lanka): A source of many high-quality Alexandrites with distinctive color shades.
• Tanzania & Zimbabwe: Supply Alexandrite with diverse colors but without as strong a color-change effect as Russian Alexandrite.
• Some mines in Andhra Pradesh, India, have also discovered Alexandrite, but with differing quality.

Feng shui meaning of Alexandrite

Alexandrite is not only rare but also carries strong energy, helping balance life and attract good luck. In feng shui, Alexandrite has the following meanings: 

• Attracting wealth and prosperity: Alexandrite is considered a stone of prosperity and wealth. Businesspeople, leaders, or those working in finance believe this stone can attract fortune and enhance career growth opportunities.
• Balancing energy, helping maintain mental clarity: Due to its ability to change color depending on the light, Alexandrite symbolizes the balance between emotion and reason.
• Wearing Alexandrite jewelry helps the owner gain clear thinking, reduce stress, and make accurate decisions.
• Bringing luck and protection from negativity: Alexandrite is a protective stone, helping its owner stay away from negative energy and strengthen intuition.
• In feng shui, it is regarded as a protective talisman, helping the owner overcome difficulties and avoid misfortune.

Which element is Alexandrite suitable for?

In feng shui, Alexandrite carries strong energy that helps balance emotions and attract luck and wealth. With shades changing from green under daylight to red or purplish red under artificial light, Alexandrite is suitable for the Fire and Earth elements. 

Alexandrite is suitable for the Fire element : 

• According to the generating cycle of the five elements, the green color of Alexandrite belongs to the Wood element, and Wood generates Fire, so it is very suitable for people of the Fire element.
• People of the Fire element who wear Alexandrite will encounter more luck in work and enhance their leadership and creativity.
• In addition, the red color when Alexandrite changes color also belongs to the Fire element, helping increase energy, confidence, and decisiveness.

Alexandrite is suitable for the Earth element:

•  Fire generates Earth, so people of the Earth element are also very compatible with Alexandrite. 
• The energy of the stone helps strengthen stability, perseverance, and sustainability in life. 
• People of the Earth element wearing Alexandrite will easily attract wealth, status, and build lasting relationships.

For the Wood element, Alexandrite may be suitable because it is green itself; however, people of the Wood element should consider it carefully because the stone turns red when it changes color (which belongs to Fire). For the Metal and Water elements, Alexandrite is less suitable for these two elements, because its colors do not belong to the Metal or Water elements in the five-element system.

Criteria for evaluating Alexandrite

Alexandrite is one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones in the world. To determine the quality of Alexandrite, experts rely on the following important criteria:

• Color Change Effect: Alexandrite has the ability to change color from green under daylight to red or purplish red under artificial light. The more distinct the color change, the higher the value of the stone. Stones with an almost complete color transformation are the rarest and most valuable.

• Color: The ideal color of Alexandrite is deep green during the day and deep red at night. Stones with lighter shades or those tending toward brown or gray usually have lower value.

• Clarity: Alexandrite belongs to the chrysoberyl mineral group and usually contains some natural inclusions. Stones with high transparency and few inclusions are more highly valued. Inclusions or large cracks can affect the durability and brilliance of the stone, reducing its value.

When choosing to buy Alexandrite, buyers should prioritize stones with a strong color-change effect, clear color, and high clarity to ensure optimal value and beauty.