SLX01 Chrysoberyl var. Alexandrite
Novello Mine, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
8.7x 4.9x 4.8 cm
$1500
A sharp chrysoberyl twin on matrix, from recent finds in Zimbabwe. Good matrix examples are exceedingly hard to come by, pretty much everything I saw last year were either single matrixes crystals, or crystals on clusters of more crudely formed alexandrite. This one has been well exposed on a schist matrix (you can see a bit of the work around the crystal) and is exceptionally sharp and well formed. It also shows pretty significant color change, from a dark grass green in daylight or equivalent lighting, to a sort of purplish green under incandescent lighting. Please note: the color is NOT purple as shown in the pictures, for some reason the camera picks up on this color, when in reality it is more of a dark purplish green mix. All in all however, this is a great alexandrite specimen-- very hard to find this sharp, on matrix, with good color change-- and I think this is a very good piece for the price.