A rare chrysoberyl gemstone that appears green in daylight but red or brownish under artificial light due to its unique crystal structure.
Named after Tsar Alexander II of Russia in 1842, when the stone was first discovered in the Ural Mountains. The -ite suffix is standard for mineral names. The stone's color-changing property made it particularly prized in Russia's imperial court.
Alexandrite's magical color-changing ability comes from chromium impurities in its crystal lattice that absorb different wavelengths depending on light type—it's literally a gemstone that shifts its personality based on its environment, like a mineralogical chameleon.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.