About AlexandriteFrom Russia with LoveLegend has it that alexandrite was discovered in 1830, on the day that Russia’s Crown Prince Alexander came of age. Alexander’s gift does an amazing thing: it actually changes color, appearing bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light and reddish purple under incandescent light. Alexandrite is an alternate birthstone to the pearl for June. Color and pedigreeAlexandrites are usually green, red, or purple. Natural alexandrite jewelry does exist – it’s made from stones mined mostly in Brazil and Sri Lanka. But lab-created alexandrite is much easier to find. Taking it homeAlexandrite is a great choice for everyday wear, because it is highly resistant to scratches, chipping and breaking. Clean alexandrite jewelry with liquid jewelry cleaners, or just mild soapy detergent and water. Ultrasonic cleaning is safe, unless there are noticeable inclusions. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on alexandrite. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
