Alexandrite Crystals & Gemstones: Names, Meanings & Benefits

Alexandrite is actually a chrysoberyl and belongs to the oxide class of minerals. It is made up of beryllium, chromium, and aluminium oxide. It takes its blue-green color from the chromium. This stone was named after Tsar Alexander II as it was first discovered in Russia’s Ural Mountains. It’s a gemstone with an incandescent light which helps it change color in different lights. The meaning of Alexandrite is good luck and fortune.

If Alexandrite doesn’t entice you, then take a look at our healing guide to essential gemstones and pick a stone that makes you swoon.

The Gemstone of Good Fortune 

There’s so much wild and regal energy stashed inside the Alexandrite stone. First dug out of the Ural Mountains in the 19th century, everyone was smitten by this rare gemstone that seemed to flash with different shades. Sometimes it would appear purplish-red and other times it would ripple to blue and green. The color change certainly made this stone stand out and it was celebrated and named after the Tsar, Alexander II, as it was first discovered on his birthday. 

The tale of its unearthing is fascinating. The Ural Mountains was home to an emerald mine and the workers were digging through collecting the radiant green gemstones. The haul of the day was carried back to camp and beside the flickering firelight, some of the stones started to shine with a deep red color. As the dawn dwindled in, the stones returned to their hue of green and the miners believed there must be some magic stashed within. Of course, these gems were Alexandrite. As they flashed with the shades of Imperialist Russia, they became known as the signature stone of Russia. Alexandrite holds a mixture of different elements beneath its surface which is why it has such a strange and fascinating color scheme. The chromium brings it blue and green and perhaps the elements of titanium and iron lend it that lush ruby red shade. Alexandrite is still considered a rare gem although it has also been found in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Myanmar, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. It is one of the hardest gemstones out there, hitting an 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. 

Alexandrite is a stone of fortune, luck, and embracing change. Just like the gem that switches shades in the light, it reminds us of the importance of being balanced and open to all the emotions we hold within. 

Alexandrite benefits

Alexandrite is a stone of joy, grace, and glory. But rather than just grant you joy, Alexandrite goes even deeper, encouraging you to learn to kindle your own fires of pleasure, laughter, and the ability to see the beauty in every situation. Alexandrite is all about cleansing energy, a shift in self-esteem, and as its changing colors suggest - embracing every bright angle of your being. Take a look at all the ways in which Alexandrite keeps your body, mind, and soul in check.

Physical 

Alexandrite has big healing energy when it comes to the body. This gemstone is a good talisman to keep close by when you are recovering from an illness or long-term ailment. It has the power to restore the body back to health and it also encourages healthy blood circulation and cleansing of the internal organs too. Alexandrite is said to be especially beneficial for the pancreas and spleen and is excellent at detoxing the body of chemicals and impurities too. 

Emotional healing 

Get ready to raise your flag of self-esteem and welcome a whole lot more joy into your world with the Alexandrite stone. This shape-shifting gem can help you climb the ladder of emotional maturity, process your feelings, and find pleasures aplenty along the way. Low self-esteem can weigh us down when we feel like we don’t have the willpower to make decisions that positively affect our life. But Alexandrite changes all of that as it helps us find a balance between the emotional and the rational - a perfect formula for fabulous decision making. It’s also a stone of love and inner wealth. It helps us to clear the internal pathway of debris so we can open up and be ready to receive all that comes our way. If you have been feeling distracted, lost, or mired in the muddy banks of life, Alexandrite can get you back on track.

Metaphysical 

Alexandrite makes for a gorgeous guardian stone as it certainly always has your best interests at heart. It’s almost like Alexandrite wants your soul to be light and free which is why it does all that it can to get you there. Along with lashings of joy, emotional balance, and physical strength, Alexandrite is all about the spirit too. This gem brims with magnetism pulling awesome things into your orbit. It also works as a heart chakra cleanser, and helps to untangle any knots that have been holding your heart rigid in place. When our hearts are cleared and pure and open, we can love free and full and live in the light of our being without fear. Along with the heart chakra, Alexandrite likes to take things higher. It’s a crown chakra cleanser too. The crown chakra is all about bigger picture thinking and leaping to the highest levels of spirituality. 

Check out our Crown Chakra Pack

Zodiac properties 

Alexandrite is awesome for anyone who feels drawn to it but it may be especially beneficial for those born in the month of June. As a June birthstone, this means that Alexandrite is a glorious gemstone for those who share the zodiac of Gemini. Gemini’s are naturally joyful creatures. They are sociable, clever, and also pretty flexible. The Alexandrite gemstone helps to strengthen all of these traits and also helps the gemini with their issues around indecisiveness. 

How to use 

Welcome Alexandrite into your world and you will reap a harvest of joy, fortune, and inner wealth. There are tons of ways you can say yes to Alexandrite whether it’s through jewelry or having a gemstone close by to use in your Feng Shui practice or when dealing with any kind of spiritual work. If you are looking for gemstones that make a magical match for Alexandrite you can look to the likes of Tourmaline and Garnet. 

Tourmaline has powerful protector energy and can be an awesome grounding force, helping you to stay light and luminous. Garnet is a gemstone of passion and fire. It’s a stone that awakens creativity and keeps us steeped in sincerity. You can also use other soft sweet gemstones like Morganite, the heart stone of Peridot, or if you are looking for something to strengthen the nerve tonic - earthy Botswana Agate or cooling Amazonite will do the trick.

Jewelry 

One of the best ways to get the most out of your Alexandrite stone is to wear it. Alexandrite jewelry has the added benefit of being pressed against the skin, which means it can directly connect its own vibrations to your vibrations and start syncing up with all that delicious healing energy. Wearing Alexandrite pendants will keep the heart chakra open. Wearing Alexandrite earrings can be an awesome way of ensuring your crown stays swirling in beautiful purple light. Wearing an Alexandrite bracelet keeps the stone beating against your own pulse. 

Home & office 

Alexandrite in the home can ensure your environment stays positive, perceptive, and ever ready to receive lashings of good luck. Remember, this twinkling color-changing gem is all about abundance and fortune. When placed in a work area or creative space, you can expect it to up your energy levels and assist you in making the right choices for welcoming more fortune into your world. When placed in the center of the home or any shared space, Alexandrite will ensure that your home remains a good vibe zone. 

How to cleanse Alexandrite Stones 

Like all crystals, it's important that you keep your Alexandrite stone cleansed and charged so it's ready for action. All crystals need a little TLC especially as they do essential energy work on the body, mind and soul. Crystals that are overworked can get clogged up with stagnant energy and just by indulging in a quick and easy clean, you can get it back to its original energetic brightness once more. Alexandrite can be cleansed by letting warm water run over the stone. This will instantly wash away any stagnant energy and refresh the gem. If you want to charge Alexandrite back up, you can leave it in a slant of sunlight or smudge it with your favorite incense. Alexandrite can also be charged by leaving it in the presence of charging crystals, placing it in the earth, and with the use of tuning forks and singing bowls.

Geological Properties

Final Thoughts 

Alexandrite is a gorgeous guardian stone that is just a dream to have close by. Just gazing at its unique color changing style is enough to enchant anyone as it keeps us connected to a striking sense of flexibility, seasonal growth, and embracing the beauty of the moment. When we open ourselves to ideals of love, joy, and being, we open ourselves to the power of possibility. This means whatever the universe has in store for us - our arms, hearts, and eyes are open. 

What are your thoughts on the Alexandrite stone? Does this chameleon-like gemstone strike a chord with you? Share all your thoughts in the comments.