Chrysoberyl – a mineral and precious stone with a golden glow
The term chrysoberyl refers to both a mineral and a stone.
“Chryso” is Greek for ‘gold’. It owes its name to its golden glow and beryllium content. Well-known chrysoberyls include alexandrite and cat's eye chrysoberyl.
Alexandrite is a very rare and valuable stone. Depending on the light source, this stone can change its color. While it appears greenish in daylight, it appears reddish in candlelight. It was discovered in an emerald mine in Russia and named after Tsar Alexander II. Because of its color, it was initially thought to be an emerald. In candlelight, alexandrite resembles an amethyst.
Cat's eye chrysoberyl, often simply called cat's eye, resembles a cat's eye. The term comes from the French “chatoyance” or “chatoyieren”, which means something like a cat's eye effect. Like a cat's pupil in daylight, the gemstone also has a fine line. This comes from needle-shaped inclusions.
Use
Chrysoberyl is suitable for jewelry and, thanks to its rarity, is also appreciated by collectors.
Due to their high hardness, these gemstones are particularly suitable for processing into jewelry. You can use the stone for rings, earrings, necklaces or bracelets. When processed into a piece of jewelry, gemstones make ideal gifts for special occasions.
Formation & mines
Chrysoberyl is formed in magmatic or metamorphic rock. The deposits are often accompanied by other minerals such as tourmaline, quartz or topaz.
It is mined in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Russia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Brazil, Myanmar, Australia and the USA, among other places.
Properties
Chrysoberyl is a beryllium aluminum oxide (BeAl2O4).
The stone has a glass-like shine and is transparent. It also has a Mohs hardness of 8.5, making it a very hard mineral; only corundum (sapphire and ruby) and diamond are harder.
Most common cuts
Clear crystals in a golden-green color are shown off to their best advantage by facet cuts. The alexandrite is also faceted. The cat's eye, on the other hand, is only found in a smooth cabochon cut.
In contrast to the cabochon cut, facet cuts can be recognized by their corners and edges. The light is reflected through these, highlighting the color and color nuances of the stones.
