Antique jewelry glossary

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Synthetic alexandrite

See our: alexandrite jewelry.

A misnomer for a synthetic gemstone that is either a synthetic corundum (sapphire) coloured bluish-green by oxide of vanadium, or a synthetic spinel, both of which resemble alexandrite. Such stones were once miscalled 'scientific alexandrite' owing to their having the property of changing colour in the manner of alexandrite. The synthetic corundum has been sold under the trade-name of 'Syntholite'. An experimental synthetic chrysoberyl has been produced as a true synthetic alexandrite.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson