0.50 Ct. Alexandrite from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This alexandrite begins its story in the ancient soils of Ceylon, where monsoon seasons and the patient work of local miners reveal hidden crystals from river gravels and weathered bedrock. From those first discoveries this half carat gem was recognized for something rare, a shifting personality of color and a transparency that promised exceptional brilliance. Weighing 0.50 carat, and measuring 5.44 by 3.98 by 3.14 millimeters, the rough was entrusted to skilled hands who understood both the science and the poetry of cutting. At The Natural Gemstone Company we honor that lineage, tracing each stone back to its place of origin and respecting the traditions of Sri Lankan gem craft. The alexandrite in your hand carries that lineage visibly, an intense color that feels alive, with a subtle drama that roots it in Ceylonese soil and in a long history of treasured gems from that island.

The transformation from rough to pear shape mixed brilliant cut is where geology meets artistry. The cutter chose a pear outline to celebrate the stone's dual nature, tapering light through a rounded end into a soft point, creating a visual pathway that enhances the color change from green to brownish yellow. The mixed brilliant strategy works by combining well proportioned brilliant facets on the crown with complementary pavilion facets that direct light back through the table with concentrated flashes. This arrangement increases the number of internal reflections, creating scintillation that alternates with larger flashes of color. Because this alexandrite is transparent with a clarity described as very very slightly included at eye level, the faceting pattern was tailored to minimize the visibility of those inclusions while maximizing light return. The excellent polish on each facet gives the surface a mirror finish, allowing light to enter and exit the gem cleanly, and amplifying the intimate play between hue and brilliance that makes alexandrite so coveted.

The gem exhibits an intense color intensity that is both vivid and nuanced, responding differently to varied light sources. In natural daylight the dominant green notes are fresh and deep, resonant with the cool tones of Sri Lankan forest and river shadows. Under warmer light the stone leans toward brownish yellow, a subtler and more autumnal expression of its chromatic range, allowing the wearer to experience the gem as if it were changing mood rather than merely color. The mixed brilliant pear shape intensifies this experience, because the carefully placed crown facets act like windows that reveal the gem’s heart color, while the pavilion structure returns contrasting flashes that give the stone life. With no enhancement of any kind, this alexandrite is wholly natural, its color and optical behavior the result of its unique chemical composition and internal structure. Small, well seated inclusions are a sign of natural formation, and at eye level they do not detract from the gem’s beauty, instead they serve as fingerprints of its origin.

When you imagine this gem set in jewelry the cut and proportions suggest settings that allow light to reach the table and crown unobstructed, encouraging the dynamic color change and lively reflection that define its character. A simple solitaire ring or a pendant set to allow movement will showcase the pear shape and invite changing light to play across the surface. The slender point of the pear makes a striking focal line, while the rounded end offers a heart like fullness, together creating a design that is both elegant and emotionally resonant. At The Natural Gemstone Company we recommend settings that protect the point and expose the crown to light, and we are happy to advise on mounting styles that will preserve the stone’s excellent polish and deliver its full optical potential. This alexandrite is a small but profound treasure, a half carat of geological time and human craft, a piece that tells the story of Ceylon’s earth, of careful cutting, and of a gemstone that changes with the light, inviting a lifetime of discovery.