Natural Alexandrite vs Lab Alexandrite: What Most Buyers Don't Realise
Why Is Natural Alexandrite So Expensive?
One of the questions we are asked most often at Bijoux de Chagall is:
"Is your Alexandrite natural?"
The question is usually followed by another:
"I would really like a natural Alexandrite instead."
Over the years, we have spoken to many customers who feel fascinated by Alexandrite but also somewhat puzzled by it. They discover a gemstone with a magical colour change, begin researching online, and quickly find themselves surrounded by conflicting information.
Some websites describe Alexandrite as one of the rarest gemstones on Earth. Others offer large "natural Alexandrites" for surprisingly low prices. Some sellers talk about laboratory-grown Alexandrite, while others use the same name for materials that are not Alexandrite at all.
It is no wonder that many people feel uncertain about what they are actually looking at.
So, if you are curious about Alexandrite, wondering why natural Alexandrite is so expensive, or trying to understand the difference between natural, laboratory-grown, and imitation stones, this guide is for you.
Alexandrite is one of the most extraordinary gemstones ever discovered, and we hope this article helps you better understand what makes it so special.
Few gemstones inspire as much fascination as Alexandrite. Famous for its remarkable colour change, Alexandrite can appear green or bluish-green in daylight and shift to purplish-red under warmer light. It is often described as "emerald by day, ruby by night."
Because of its magical beauty and rarity, Alexandrite has become increasingly popular for engagement rings and heirloom jewellery. Yet one question appears again and again:
Why are some Alexandrites advertised for £40, while others cost thousands of pounds per carat?
The answer lies in understanding the difference between natural Alexandrite, lab-grown Alexandrite, and the many misleading listings that appear online.
Natural Alexandrite Is One of the Rarest Gemstones on Earth
Natural Alexandrite was first discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains during the nineteenth century. The original Russian material displayed an exceptional colour change and quickly became one of the world's most sought-after gemstones.
Today, fine natural Alexandrite is extraordinarily rare, its almost extinct..
Most stones available on the market are small, often under half carat, and larger examples with strong colour change are highly prized by collectors. Fine natural Alexandrite can easily sell for several thousand pounds per carat (from £11,500), while exceptional stones may command much higher prices (from £54,000 and higher).
For this reason, natural Alexandrite is often considered rarer and more valuable than many diamonds, sapphires, or emeralds.
Why Are Some "Natural Alexandrites" So Cheap?
If natural Alexandrite is so rare, why are there hundreds of online listings offering large stones for surprisingly low prices?
In many cases, the answer is quite simple: they are not natural Alexandrite.
Some sellers are offering:
- Lab-grown Alexandrite
- Synthetic colour-change corundum
- Glass imitations
- Other colour-changing materials marketed as Alexandrite.
While there are many honest sellers, buyers should be cautious when a large stone is described as natural Alexandrite but is priced similarly to costume jewellery.
A genuine natural Alexandrite weighing several carats would typically be worth many thousands of pounds, not tens of pounds.
Not All "Lab Alexandrite" are the Same
Another source of confusion is that the term "lab Alexandrite" is sometimes used to describe very different materials.
A genuine laboratory-grown Alexandrite is real Alexandrite created in a controlled environment. It shares the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural Alexandrite and displays the remarkable colour-change effect for which Alexandrite is famous.
However, some products sold online under the name "lab Alexandrite" are actually simulants rather than Alexandrite.
These may include:
- Colour-change synthetic corundum (often called colour-change sapphire)
- Glass-based materials with colour-changing additives
- Nano-crystal glass products
- Cubic zirconia or other imitation gemstones designed to mimic Alexandrite's appearance.
While these materials can be attractive in their own right, they are not the same as genuine Alexandrite.
The Lab Grown Alexandrite We Use is Real Alexandrite
At Bijoux de Chagall, we use high-quality laboratory-grown Alexandrite produced using the Czochralski growth method, one of the most established and respected techniques for creating fine Alexandrite.
This Lab-grown Alexandrite was grown by skilled scientists using advanced gemstone-growing techniques.
In this process, carefully controlled Lab environment & conditions recreate the same natural environment where Alexandrite gemstones are formed in Earth.
The result is a gemstone with the same optical structure, gemological properties, and beauty as its natural counterpart - Alexandrite gemstone with exceptional clarity, durability, and a dramatic colour change from teal-green in daylight to purplish-red under warm artificial lighting.
The only difference between natural Alexandrite and Czochralski grown Lab Alexandrite is the origin - Natural Alexandrite formed in nature, Lab Alexandrite is grown in Laboratory.
Both display the remarkable colour-change effect that makes Alexandrite so beloved.
Because this gemstone’s crystal structure is grown rather than assembled from glass or imitation materials, the gemstone displays the optical properties and beauty that make Alexandrite so highly prized.
For those seeking the magic of real Alexandrite's famous colour change, a well-grown Czochralski Alexandrite offers the same colour-change experience to natural Alexandrite unlike the many of the inexpensive simulants (corundum, nano gems and others) commonly found online.
Explore Our Alexandrite Jewellery
If Alexandrite's extraordinary colour change has captured your imagination, you may enjoy exploring our collection of handcrafted Alexandrite engagement rings and alternative bridal jewellery:
• Alexandrite Engagement Rings
Why Lab-Grown Gemstones Changed Our Perspective
When we first learned how laboratory-grown gemstones are created, we expected to be disappointed.
Like many people, we assumed that natural gemstones were somehow the only truly desirable option and that anything grown in a laboratory must be a lesser substitute.
The more we learned, the more our perspective changed.
We discovered that genuine laboratory-grown gemstones are not imitations. They are real gemstones grown under carefully controlled conditions that recreate the conditions in which gemstones naturally form. The result is a gemstone with the same crystal structure, physical properties, and beauty as its natural counterpart.
Rather than feeling disappointed, we felt relieved.
For the first time, we realised that appreciating a gemstone's beauty did not necessarily require relying on increasingly rare natural deposits. Human ingenuity had found a way to create extraordinary gemstones while reducing pressure on finite natural resources.
In many ways, it reminds us of the growing acceptance of laboratory-grown diamonds. Once misunderstood, lab-grown diamonds are now widely recognised as a responsible and environmentally conscious choice by many modern couples.
We still admire the rarity and history of natural Alexandrite. But we no longer believe that rarity alone determines beauty or value.
What matters most is exceptional craftsmanship, meaningful design, and the connection people feel to the jewellery they choose to wear.
Why We Choose Lab-Grown Alexandrite
At Bijoux de Chagall, we specialise in handcrafted jewellery featuring carefully selected lab-grown Alexandrite.
We choose laboratory-grown Alexandrite because it allows us to offer beautiful gemstones with excellent colour change, exceptional clarity, and sizes that would be almost impossible to source naturally.
For many clients, lab-grown Alexandrite offers the opportunity to enjoy one of the world's most fascinating gemstones without the extraordinary cost associated with rare natural specimens.
Natural Alexandrite and Lab Alexandrite: Which Is Better?
Neither option is inherently better.
Natural Alexandrite appeals to collectors who value geological rarity and are prepared for the significant cost that accompanies it.
Lab-grown Alexandrite appeals to those who love the beauty, symbolism, and colour-changing magic of Alexandrite while seeking greater practicality and value.
The right choice depends entirely on what matters most to the individual wearer.
The Magic of Alexandrite
Whether natural or laboratory-grown, Alexandrite remains one of the most extraordinary gemstones ever discovered.
Its ability to transform colour under different lighting conditions creates a sense of wonder that few gems can match.
For many couples seeking an unusual engagement ring, Alexandrite offers something truly special: a gemstone that seems to change and evolve, revealing different facets of its personality throughout the day.
