Lab Created Alexandrite (Synthetic Alexandrite) vs Natural Alexandrite
Lab-created alexandrite and natural alexandrite are both forms of color-changing chrysoberyl, but their origins are fundamentally different. Natural alexandrite forms in the earth under rare geological conditions, while lab-created or synthetic alexandrite is grown artificially in a controlled laboratory environment.
Lab-grown alexandrite can have essentially the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural alexandrite and can also display the characteristic alexandrite color change. This means that a synthetic alexandrite is not necessarily a fake gemstone—but it is not a natural alexandrite, and it should always be clearly disclosed as laboratory-grown or synthetic.
The most important differences for a buyer are origin, rarity, value and identification. Fine natural alexandrite is exceptionally scarce and can command substantial prices, while laboratory-grown alexandrite can be produced more readily and is generally far less expensive.
So how can you tell the difference, and does lab-grown alexandrite change color just like natural alexandrite? This guide compares lab-grown vs natural alexandrite, including their color change, composition, durability, clarity, appearance and value—and explains why professional gemological testing may be necessary to determine whether an alexandrite is natural or synthetic.
If you're interested in seeing how these characteristics appear in fine jewelry, explore our collection of natural alexandrite rings, featuring genuine, untreated alexandrites.
Properties of Real Alexandrites
Natural alexandrite is a rare, color-changing variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that forms in the earth under specific geological conditions. Its most famous characteristic is the alexandrite effect—a change in apparent color under different types of lighting. Fine natural stones may appear green or bluish-green in daylight and shift toward purple, purplish-red or reddish tones under warm incandescent light.
Natural alexandrites can vary considerably from one stone to another. Their color, strength of color change, clarity, inclusions and overall appearance depend on the individual gemstone and its formation. Some natural alexandrites display a dramatic color change, while others show a more moderate change.
Importantly, color change alone does not prove that an alexandrite is natural. Laboratory-grown alexandrite can also exhibit a strong alexandrite effect and may have chemical and physical properties very similar to natural alexandrite. In some cases, distinguishing natural from synthetic material requires examination by a trained gemologist using specialized equipment.
For a significant alexandrite purchase, an independent gemological laboratory report is the most reliable way to establish whether the gemstone is natural or laboratory-grown. Buyers should therefore be cautious of claims that authenticity can be determined solely from photographs, color change or visual appearance.
Where Are Natural Alexandrites Found?
The first alexandrite deposits were discovered in Russia in the Ural mountains. Back then, the Russian alexandrites were the only source of this precious gemstone in the market. However, high demand for the naturally occurring alexandrite from Russia leads to the depletion of sources in the Ural mountains. By then, the interest in this precious stone had dwindled in the market, but with the discovery of new alexandrite reserves in Brazil, the craze for alexandrites shot up again. Alexandrite deposits were also found in India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, however alexandrites from these countries did not consistently produce outstanding specimens like from Brazil which eventually gained recognition and popularity across the world.
How Can a Stone Change Its Properties?
It’s almost difficult to believe that a stone has the ability to change colors, right? Alexandrites are one of a few precious stones that can change their color, thanks to their composition. Naturally occurring alexandrite is a blend of different minerals, of which chromium is the most important. Chromium is the key color-changing element in alexandrites, and we can safely say - the more the amount of chromium in alexandrite, the better its color-changing properties will be.
The color-changing alexandrite is a strongly pleochroic gem, and it absorbs light easily. When the alexandrite absorbs light, it only takes in the yellow and blue light spectrum. This leaves behind the green, orange and red spectrums, visible to us. This precious stone is exceptional at reflecting green wavelengths of color. It shines in a blue green color when exposed to fluorescent light. On the other hand, in incandescent light, the green wanes away, and you can see it’s a plum-red, shiny, and bright alexandrite.
If alexandrites display a 100% color change, you’ve found a high quality alexandrite. But finding these near-perfect alexandrites these days is a task. It is nearly impossible to find any natural alexandrite that displays a 100% change in color. But yes, alexandrites come in different hues and shades as well. So, just because your stone doesn’t change from blue-green to purple-red and vice versa, it doesn’t mean you don’t have an alexandrite. As long as the color-changing properties of the gemstone are visible enough, they can be categorized as alexandrites.
Apart from their color-changing properties, alexandrites are also known for their pleochroism. This means that the gem also appears in different colors from different directions! Surprised? Well, there’s not just one feature that makes this gemstone so unique and different from all the other precious stones! Alexandrites aren’t your ordinary gemstones - they are rare, special, unique, and resplendent!
Synthetic Alexandrite vs Real Alexandrite
Natural and synthetic alexandrite can look remarkably similar, and both can display the distinctive color-change effect for which alexandrite is famous. The fundamental difference is their origin: natural alexandrite forms through geological processes within the earth, while synthetic or lab-grown alexandrite is produced artificially under controlled conditions.
A true synthetic alexandrite is not simply an imitation. It can have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure and many of the same physical and optical properties as natural alexandrite. However, the conditions under which the crystals grow are different, and these differences can leave internal, chemical or spectroscopic characteristics that trained gemologists can use to distinguish natural from laboratory-grown material.
It is also important to distinguish synthetic alexandrite from alexandrite imitations. Some color-changing synthetic sapphires and spinels have historically been sold or described as alexandrite even though they are different gem materials. Genuine synthetic alexandrite is laboratory-grown chrysoberyl, whereas an imitation only resembles alexandrite in appearance or color change.
So how do natural and lab-grown alexandrite compare in durability, color, clarity, appearance and value? Let's look at the differences more closely.
Durability
Natural and lab-grown alexandrite are both highly durable gemstones. Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl and ranks approximately 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, giving it excellent resistance to scratching compared with many other gemstones. It also has excellent toughness and no cleavage, making alexandrite suitable for rings and other jewelry intended for regular wear.
Because genuine synthetic alexandrite has essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties as natural alexandrite, there is not a meaningful durability advantage simply because an alexandrite is natural rather than laboratory-grown. Both can be durable choices for jewelry when properly cut, set and cared for.
Buyers should remember, however, that not every gemstone marketed as “synthetic alexandrite” is actually lab-grown chrysoberyl. Color-change synthetic sapphire or spinel may sometimes be used as alexandrite imitations, and those materials have their own physical properties.
Color
Both natural and genuine lab-grown alexandrite can display a strong color change. This means that the presence of a dramatic color change does not, by itself, prove that an alexandrite is natural. Synthetic alexandrite is specifically produced to reproduce many of the optical properties that make natural alexandrite distinctive.
Fine natural alexandrite is prized for an attractive change from green or bluish-green tones in daylight to red, purplish-red or reddish-purple tones under incandescent light. However, natural stones vary considerably, and not every natural alexandrite displays the same colors or the same strength of color change.
Lab-grown alexandrites can also show attractive and sometimes very strong color changes. Therefore, claims that a stone must be natural simply because it changes dramatically from green to red should be treated with caution. Color change is an important quality characteristic, but it is not a reliable test of natural versus laboratory-grown origin.
There are also alexandrite imitations, particularly color-change synthetic sapphire and, less commonly, synthetic spinel. These may resemble alexandrite's color-change effect but are different gem materials rather than synthetic chrysoberyl alexandrite.
For a significant purchase, an independent gemological laboratory report is the most reliable way to determine whether an alexandrite is natural or laboratory-grown. GIA reports, for example, can identify whether an alexandrite is natural or laboratory-grown.
Source: https://www.alexandrite.net/chapters/chapter7/index.html
Clarity
Clarity can differ in both natural and lab-grown alexandrite, and it should not be used by itself to determine whether a gemstone is natural or synthetic. Fine natural alexandrites can be quite clean, although natural stones may contain crystals, needles, fluid inclusions, growth features or other internal characteristics formed during their geological growth.
Lab-grown alexandrites can also range from very clean to visibly included depending on the method used to grow them. Certain synthetic growth processes can produce characteristic features such as flux inclusions, platinum platelets, gas bubbles or curved and irregular growth structures. These can sometimes provide trained gemologists with clues about how the stone was formed.
Therefore, a very clean alexandrite is not automatically synthetic, just as an included alexandrite is not automatically natural. Some stones do not contain sufficiently diagnostic inclusions for a conclusive visual identification, which is one reason laboratories may use techniques such as infrared spectroscopy to distinguish natural from synthetic alexandrite.
From a quality perspective, clarity can still affect the beauty and value of a natural alexandrite. Fine stones with attractive color change and high clarity are particularly desirable, while certain oriented inclusions can occasionally create the rare cat's-eye effect.
The Difference in Color in Lab Generated and Real Alexandrites
Color alone cannot reliably determine whether an alexandrite is natural or lab-grown. Both natural and genuine synthetic alexandrite can display the characteristic alexandrite effect, changing appearance under different types of light. A strong green-to-red or bluish-green-to-purplish-red color change can therefore occur in either natural or laboratory-grown material.
Natural alexandrites themselves also vary considerably in color. Fine stones are often prized for green to bluish-green colors in daylight and red to purplish-red colors under incandescent light, but not every natural alexandrite displays this ideal combination. Geographic origin, trace elements and the individual crystal can influence the colors observed.
Likewise, synthetic alexandrites can be produced with attractive and sometimes dramatic color changes. The appearance of the color change may provide a gemologist with useful information, but it should not be treated as proof that a gemstone is natural or synthetic.
Professional gemological identification considers multiple characteristics rather than color alone. Laboratories may examine inclusions and growth features and use analytical techniques such as infrared spectroscopy to distinguish natural from synthetic alexandrite, particularly when a stone lacks diagnostic inclusions.
For this reason, buyers should be cautious of online claims suggesting that natural alexandrite can always be identified simply by its colors or by how dramatically it changes under different lighting. For a significant purchase, an independent laboratory report provides much stronger evidence of whether an alexandrite is natural or laboratory-grown. GIA's alexandrite reports, for example, state whether the stone examined is natural or laboratory-grown.
Final Verdict
Natural and lab-grown alexandrite can both be beautiful color-changing gemstones, but they are fundamentally different products. Natural alexandrite forms in the earth and is exceptionally rare, while lab-grown alexandrite is produced artificially under controlled laboratory conditions.
Genuine synthetic alexandrite can share essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure and many of the same physical and optical properties as natural alexandrite. It can also display a strong and attractive color change. For this reason, color, clarity or visual appearance alone should not be relied upon to determine whether an alexandrite is natural or laboratory-grown.
The greatest differences for buyers are rarity, origin and value. Fine natural alexandrite is one of the world's rarest colored gemstones, particularly in larger sizes with strong color change, attractive colors and good clarity. Lab-grown alexandrite can be produced more readily and is therefore generally available at substantially lower prices. GIA similarly notes that fine natural alexandrite is rare and valuable and recommends an independent laboratory report for significant purchases.
Buyers should also distinguish genuine lab-grown alexandrite from alexandrite imitations. A true synthetic alexandrite is laboratory-grown chrysoberyl, whereas materials such as color-change synthetic sapphire may resemble alexandrite without actually being alexandrite.
Ultimately, choosing between natural and lab-grown alexandrite depends on what matters most to the buyer. Someone primarily interested in the appearance of the color-change phenomenon at a lower price may consider laboratory-grown material. A collector or jewelry buyer who values natural rarity, geological origin and the individuality of a gemstone formed in the earth may prefer natural alexandrite.
Safiya specializes exclusively in natural, untreated alexandrites, with a particular focus on exceptional Brazilian alexandrites from the Hematita mining region. For an important purchase, we recommend appropriate independent gemological documentation rather than relying solely on photographs, seller descriptions or visual appearance to establish whether an alexandrite is natural.
Now, scroll through 10 of the most stunning natural alexandrite jewelry designs.
1. Midnight Dream - 14K White Gold Ring
Our Midnight Dreams ring features an alternating Alexandrite and Diamond pattern to spark an elegant play of brilliance and reflections. The meticulous work of Safiya’s artisans find expression in the delicate contours of the fully set ring, great for stacking or perfect on its own.
2. Floral Temptation - 18K White Gold Pendant
Like so many flowers dancing in the breeze, the Floral Temptation by Safiya stand out with it’s dainty and airy aesthetic. Shimmering diamonds bestows a brilliant radiance upon the colour-changing Alexandrite hand-set in the shape of petals. Give into the temptation, and see how this captivating pendant transforms colors from day to night.
3. Cupid's Touch - 18K White Gold Pendant
Looking for a way into her heart? This Cupid’s Touch pendant will help you do just that. Simple, and petite with a modern twist this pendant features one of the rarest gemstones - Alexandrites. Sneak into her thoughts subtly when you gift her this playful pendant that also incorporates shimmering diamonds in 18K White Gold. She’ll get the hint, trust us.
4. Floral Essence - 18K White Gold Ring
Named Floral Essence, this unique piece celebrates your emotional well-being. Set in an 18K White Gold band, the ring features seven round-shaped beautiful Alexandrite 0.21cts stones adorned with a border of shimmering Diamonds. The perfect ring to bring an elegant flare to any outfit.
5. Tantalice - 18K White Gold Ring
This gorgeous Tantalice ring bridges the gap between a statement piece and a classic band. Featuring four natural Alexandrite stones and a shimmering Diamonds in an alternating pattern, its a ring perfect to declare your love and adoration. Layer up on elegance with this delicate ring that pairs seamlessly with others or perfect on its own!
6. Princess Lady - 18K White Gold Earring
The stud for every occasion. Our Princess Lady earrings feature a mesmerizing Alexandrite at the center and sparkling Diamonds on a circular earring stud. Crafted from 18K White Gold, this is truly a standout piece. Wear this jewel for the ultimate lobe statement.
7. Twin Waves - 18K White Gold Natural Alexandrite Ring
Want to commemorate the idea of intertwining lives? This Twin Waves ring does just that. With stunning Brazillian Alexandrites and sparkling Diamonds designed in the shape of infinity, this is a timeless ring symbolizing an unconditional bond with your loved one.
8. Love Potion - 14K White Gold Ring
A ring with all the right moves. Mindful of mother nature, this expertly crafted ring features a natural and untreated Alexandrite stone with several round diamonds glittering on a 14K gold band. An expert at catching light. Skillful at drawing attention. A real crowd-pleaser. What are you waiting for?
9. The Admirable - 14K White Yellow Gold Ring
Crown your finger with this glam Admirable ring from Safiya. Showcasing three brilliant natural Alexandrite stones held by Yellow Gold claws to enlarge the look of Alexandrites, the Diamonds set in an alternate pattern brings subtle glamor to the ring. The combination of Gold, Alexandrite and Diamond adds boost of elegance to your daily look.
10. Emerald Love - Platinum Ring
Celebrate the love you hold in your heart with this elegant and sophisticated Alexandrite ring design by Safiya. Emerald Love has been intricately handmade in Platinum and features a delicate stepping as the ring travels through the round brilliant cut Diamonds on the shoulder up, into the larger Diamonds and finishing with the pinnacle, an alluring princess cut Brazilian Alexandrite. A ring as impassioned in it's craft and design as you are for one another.
