FSUE Almazjuvelirexport Service of Market Researches
Unique ledge deposits of alexandrite are found at the Urals Emerald Mines in Russia, where these stones are extracted along with emeralds. According to available data, from the moment the deposit was opened until 1921, about 100kg of alexandrite was extracted, mainly from the Krasnobolotsky mine — the mine where the best and largest crystals of alexandrite were found.
Development of alexandrites has not been officially carried out since 1995, largely due to the cessation of work on the Malyshevskoye deposit. Also, in December, 2004, work on the Krasnoye Boloto deposit was stopped for safety reasons.
Although periodically renewed between 1937 and 2001, geological prospecting in the Emerald Mines region did not result in the opening of any new industrial projects. Only in 2000, were new displays of alexandrite found in the Glinsky region located 130km northeast of Ekaterinburg. However, because there was no state financing, the works were stopped in the autumn of 2001.
Also in 2000, an alexandrite weighing over 500 grams, later called “Patriot,” was found on the Malyshevskoye deposit amongst ore stored in a warehouse. Originally experts from the Ural Mine Academy evaluated the stone at 0,000, but RF Gokhran experts valued it at only ,000. The main defect which influenced the stone’s evaluation was the barren rock surrounding it.
Alongside Russia, the most important supplier of alexandrites to global color gem market has been Ceylon Island (now Sri Lanka), where alexandrites, along with another version of chrysoberyl, “the cat's eye,” are contained in gravel deposits.
Deposits of alexandrites in Brazil were discovered in the mid-80s in Minas Jerais in the Hematita area. Within only three months (April-June, 1987), the deposit was almost completely developed. As a result, about 50kg of alexandrites reached the market. In the following years, discoveries of stones were incidental.
Tanzania and Madagascar were among several new countries supplying alexandrites to the world market. There, alexandrites are found in areas of ruby and sapphire extraction. Isolated high-quality alexandrites were found in mid-90s on the ruby-differous Tunduru deposit in Tanzania. In general, alexandrites from African deposits are characterized by a low contrast of color cycling.
Alexandrite discoveries are marked in Burma on the ruby-differous Mogok deposit.
There are no statistical data describing the manufacture of alexandrites, thus it is impossible to estimate the manufacture of the stone in different countries of extraction.
MANUFACTURING CENTERS
There are no cutting centers specializing in alexandrite cut. Stones are processed both in main manufacturing countries and in traditional centers of color gem processing.
In view of the rarity of alexandrite, practically all extracted rough is cut. A significant share of goods coming to the market have many defects, because, in order to preserve the bulk weight of the rough stones in order to maximize profits, the proportions of the cut stones are often far from perfect. High-quality crystals and large alexandrites are found once in a blue moon so much so that stones weighing over 3 carats are considered to be rare. The largest cut alexandrite, a 65.7 carater from Sri Lanka, is stored in the Smithson’s Institute Museum in Washington. The second and third largest, a 43 and 27.5 carater from Ceylon, are kept in the British Museum of Natural History.
MARKET DEMAND AND PRICE DYNAMICS
Alexandrite is considered to be the rarest among gems and one of the most expensive. In some years high-quality stones of over 3 carats fetched over ,000 per carat. Alexandrite from Russia is considered to be the most expensive. However, when the global market has practically no Russian goods, the Brazilian stones fetch the highest prices.
According to The Guide, Richard Drucker's famous reference guide for diamond and gemstone prices, a general downward tendency was observed in the majority of classes during the last decade. A price rise was marked on high-quality small-size stones, presented on the market of color gems.
