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Alexandrite

Tsarstone collectors guide

Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?

Although Russian alexandrites have the most historical value, fine stones are occasionally available from deposits in Brazil, India, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, there has been little production of alexandrites from any deposit in recent years. Some alexandrites are still unearthed in India, and some are discovered in the alluvial gravels of Africa but few stones are ever available. The Brazilian mines are reported to be operational but few stones are appearing on the market. Top stones are extremely rare but every deposit seems to produce some exceptional stones from time to time.

People always talk about the quality of Russian stones, but there is no current commercial production of stones from Russia at all. Overall the best alexandrites are probably from Brazil, but exceptional stones can also be found in India, Tanzania and Madagascar.

Brazilian stones are known for their distinctive color change that looks great under any kind of light. Brazilian stones typically show the best reds under incandescent light but Indian stones are well known for their superior bluish green daylight colors. Tanzania and Madagascar seem to produce the largest stones and some of these stones are of excellent quality.

India is still producing the bulk of today's alexandrite production but serious mining is being prevented as a result of political conflicts. The major deposits are in Andrha Pradesh province, near the city of Vishakhapatnam in the towns of Narsipattnanm and Araku. The Narsipattnanm deposit was discovered and opened in 2005 but now only three years later, production has dwindled and only lower quality stones are available.

Like the bulk of the production at every alexandrite deposit, most of the Indian stones are not clean and do not display a strong color change. However, there are exceptions and some stones are very clean with vivid colors that show an excellent color change that rivals the best alexandrites from any deposit.


Bibliographic details
Page title Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?
Author David Weinberg
Website title Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide
Date published 03 July 2010 04:42 UTC
Date accessed 21 May 2026 18:17 UTC
Permanent link http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134
AMA style
David Weinberg. "Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?". In Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. July 03, 2010, 04:42 UTC. Available at: http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134. Accessed May 21, 2026.
APA style
"Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?". (2010, July 03). In Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. Retrieved 18:17, May 21, 2026, from http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134.
Bluebook style
"Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?", http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134 (last visited May 21, 2026).
Bluebook: Harvard JOLT style
See Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide, "Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?", http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134 (Although Russian alexandrites have the most historical value, fine stones are occasionally available from deposits in Brazil, India, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, there has been little production of alexandrites from any deposit in recent years. Some alexandrites are still unearthed in India, and some are discovered in the alluvial gravels of Africa but few stones are ever available. The Brazilian mines are reported to be operational but few stones are appearing on the market. Top stones are extremely rare but every deposit seems to produce some exceptional stones from time to time. ) (as of May. 21, 2026, 18:17 GMT).
CBE/CSE style
David Weinberg. "Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?". In Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. 2010 Jul 03, 04:42 UTC.[Internet], Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide; 2010 Jul 03, 04:42 UTC [cited 2026 May 21]. Available from: http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134.
Chicago style
David Weinberg, "Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?", http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134, (accessed May 21, 2026).
MLA style
"Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?". Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. 03 Jul 2010, 04:42 UTC. 21 May 2026 http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134
MHRA style
David Weinberg, "Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?", Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide, 03 July 2010, 04:42 UTC, http://m.alexandrite.net/viewpage.html?id=GG-0134 [accessed 21 May 2026].
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