Marc Aronstam on color-change gem stones

Gem stones are amazing things. The science and nature-loving geek in me loves to study each gem before I ever consider how it might look housed in a ring or a necklace.

Particularly fascinating to me are the gems that change from one color to another depending on the type of light, from red to green, purple to blue, and so forth.

Color-change is an optical phenomenon defined as a distinct change in the body hue of a gemstone when viewed under varying light sources. True color-change gemstones are very rare. Daylight, incandescent light, firelight, or even daylight at different times of day can reveal color-change in a gemstone. Like people, some color-change gems are shy about proclaiming their individuality, requiring very specific conditions to utilize their gifts and change their color. Others will fight for their right to be different and show off their diversity if you even get them near an uncovered window.

Most notable of the color-change gems is Alexandrite. Its switch from raspberry red to teal green has caught a lot of eyes over the last 180 years, and it continues to be the color-change gem against which all other color-change gems are compared.

Another variety I love to work with is the newly discovered color-change garnet. I’ve also recently obtained a few color-change sapphires. Spinel, fluorite, tourmaline, dioptase, and sugilite also produce color-change varieties, and I’m happy to track them down for you, especially if you’re looking for something that expresses your individuality.

Ostentatious to subtle, warm tones to cool tones, color-change gems reflect those people who like a little mystique, or who see inherent value in the atypical because it is what it is. If you love to wear very distinctive jewelry, find a color change gem stone that speaks to you.