2.09 Ct. Alexandrite from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

There is a certain gravity that surrounds gemstones which carry both ancient provenance and a rare, almost theatrical personality. This 2.09 carat oval alexandrite from Ceylon offered by The Natural Gemstone Company is one such stone, a quiet heirloom that commands attention through subtlety and history. The gem measures 8.86 x 6.78 x 4.01 mm, a size that translates into a wearable presence for a ring or pendant without overwhelming daily elegance. Its mixed brilliant cut has been chosen to balance internal reflection with the breadth of its color change, creating broad flashes and scintillation that reveal themselves differently as light moves and the wearer moves. Clarity is very slightly included, evaluated at eye level, giving the stone a natural authenticity that many collectors prize, and the excellent polish ensures that every facet edge reads cleanly, enhancing the gem’s classical silhouette. This alexandrite has no enhancement, and its origin in Sri Lanka places it in a lineage of gemstones traded, treasured, and crafted for millennia, a continuity that will appeal to those who appreciate legacy and provenance.

Alexandrite has always occupied a romantic place in gem lore, first celebrated under the northern lights and named for a 19th century tsar, while Ceylonese stones have their own storied past in the trading ports and royal courts of Asia. This specimen bridges those narratives, offering the historic color change phenomenon that defined alexandrite as a jewel of paradox, shifting from a cool green to a warm brown depending on light source. The intensity of color in this particular gem is vivid and immediate, with deep green notes in daylight and fluorescent lighting, and warm brown tones that glow under incandescent light. The mixed brilliant cut amplifies these transitions, using a carefully balanced arrangement of crown and pavilion facets to gather and release light in broad planes rather than narrow pinpoints. The result is not a riot of spectral fire, but a dignified, layered luminosity that feels both ancient and modern, a true testament to the timelessness that collectors seek.

When comparing reflective qualities to other gemstones in the same family and in adjacent categories, this alexandrite shows a distinctive character. Alexandrite belongs to the chrysoberyl family and carries an adamantine to strong vitreous luster that is generally more brilliant than the softer, more glasslike sheen of emerald. Against sapphire, which is known for its strong sparkle and rigidity of color, this alexandrite offers less uniform sparkle but compensates with a chameleon like depth. Each facet seems to hold a private conversation between color and light, yielding broad, velvety flashes rather than the tight, needle like scintillation seen in some brilliant cuts. Compared to color change sapphires or garnets, this stone’s reflections feel warmer and more sculptural, shifting the viewer’s perception of the entire piece rather than scattering light into distinct spectral points. Unlike diamonds which display high dispersion and a lively fire, alexandrite’s reflective poetry lies in the interplay of hue and tone, the way the surface and pavilion facets collaborate to transform whole planes of color as lighting conditions evolve.

For the discerning buyer seeking a piece that speaks of legacy, this alexandrite is a compelling choice. The gem’s combination of intense color saturation, excellent polish, and mixed brilliant cut produces reflections that are generous and contemplative rather than merely flashy. Its very slightly included clarity makes it unmistakably natural, a physical narrative of formation and time, while the absence of enhancement ensures the color change you see is wholly geological in origin. Set in a classical mount, it will wear as an emblem of continuity, evoking the long history of Sri Lankan gemcraft and the larger tale of alexandrite’s rise to legend. At The Natural Gemstone Company we present this alexandrite as more than a stone, it is a durable expression of tradition and transformation, suitable for those who value the layered beauty of history rendered in light and color.