By Kevin P. McVay
Have you ever thought about adding color-changing gemstones to your jewelry collection? We’re not talking about well-known colored gemstones like rubies, sapphires or emeralds, but gems—such as opal gemstones—that actually change color depending on the lighting. From rings to pendants and everything in-between, color-changing gemstones, known as phenomenal gems, are unique and go well with many types of jewelry designs. Here are some of our favorites:
Alexandrite
This rare gem was discovered in 1834. During the day, it beams green or bluish-green. In incandescent light, it turns to a soft shade of red. The Alexandrite’s optical changes along with its rarity make it a very valuable gemstone.
Opal
Some say that they can see fire, lightning, rainbows, stars and seas in opals. This gemstone ranges in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red and blue. The beauty and brilliance of opal gemstones is the product of the contrast between its color play and its background.
Zultanite
This gem’s colors range from kiwi to champagne to raspberry depending on the lighting. Like Alexandrite, Zultanite is a very rare gem. Besides changing color, Zultanite also possesses a beautiful cat’s eye effect. This gem is truly spectacular!
There are more phenomenal gemstones out there, but these are three of our favorites. Please let us know if you have any gems you’d like to see featured on our blog by commenting below!
If you’re looking for jewelry featuring color-changing gemstones, visit an AGS jeweler near you.
