Wear the same necklace or earrings in the daytime, or at night, in florescent lighting or incadescent lighting and make people think you have a whole wardrobe of jewelry. Most people that have ever had anything to do with gemstones are aware that certain stones change color under varying light conditions. Many of these color differences are apparent only to the trained eye, but the so-called "color-change" gems exhibit this tendency to such a dramatic degree that it is obvious to even the untrained eye.
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For most Alexandrite is the everyday example and all know the saying : Emerald by Day - Ruby by Night", greenish under daylight or flourescent light and reddish under incandescent light.
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Color-change Garnet changes from bronze in daylight to a rose pink under incandescent light.
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Although most Sapphires have some color change to them and why good Sapphire markets only trade during daylight, the color-change Sapphire exhibits a range of many different color changes. Most color change Sapphires are blue under natural light and purple under incandescent indoor lighting.
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But there is a fourth color-change stone that in sizes from 5 carats up, exhibits a raspberry red to leaf-green color change as dramatic and complete as that of fine Alexandrite. So why doesn’t this Turkish delight get the respect it deserves? It's true name is Turkish Diaspore. But recently it has been given a new name - Zultanite. This marketing name - Zultanite—a deliberate misspelling of Sultanite which was already the registered trade name for another Turkish product. One would think Turkish-sounding names like Ottomanite or Caliphanite would have done a better job of invoking Turkish history, than substituting a “z” for an “s”? In any case, Zultanite Gems LLC, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, has been doing its best since 2005 to capture attention for this inexpensive, all-natural rare gem with a hardness between 6 ½ and 7, and minuscule yields of 3 percent from the rough. Maybe the fact that this company has the sole rights to mining of this gem at its only known source, some 4,000 treacherous feet up in the mountains of Anatolia, prevents others from joining the company in the promotion of this gem.
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So take a look at these pictures above and note that unlike other color change gems that need separate lighting environments to show their color states, this highly pleochroic gem can perform multi-colored wonders when cut with that purpose in mind.
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One other stone that must be mentioned at this point because of it's popularity is Zandrite. This stone is a type of synthetic glass that was developed by a major glass manufacturer. One of the developing scientists realized that there was a gemstone marketing application possible and started the ball rolling to create a new synethic gemstone sensation. Based on the reaction from the public, he was quite successful. Since Zandrite changes color is the reason for it being named Zandrite ... sort of a cutesy take-off on the name of Alexandrite. It was most likely an effort to fool the unknowing consumer who might mistake the Zandrite name with the Alexandrite name and think they were getting the real thing for pennies on the dollar compared. Zandrite is a man-made lab created stone that was specifically produced to mimic Alexandrite, an imitation not a synthetic, but in many settings is a beautiful gemstone in its own right. This mimicing went over so well, that there are now other color-changes available in Zandrite gems.
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And not to be left out, is the Russian Lab-created Alexanderite. Synthetic lab grown (created) Chrysoberyl Alexandrite gems many times exceed natural Alexandrites in clarity and color change, and since they are 'real' Alexandrites grown from seed stones, confuse even some of the best gemologists and jewelers. Synthetic lab grown gemstones are like comparing a rose grown outside to one grown in a greenhouse, both are the real thing - BUT ! Also be cautious when buying lab-created Alexandrite, because many dealers indiscriminately use the term imitations and are making reference to color-change Corundum, which Alexandrite is a member of the family, instead of stating it is synthetic Alexandrite. A fine line but a distinction that should be made and disclosed to customers.
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Additional Info --- I have been informed I left out color-change Tourmaline. I was unable to find any reference to such, but do remember hearing about it the Tucson Gem Fair. I do not have one or have I ever seen one. If anyone can provide a picture showing both colors I would definitely appreciate it.
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Thanks to the ISG, Zultanite Gems LLC and others for information and pictures of color-change gemstones.
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Above is seen a 5mm pearl purchased as an Akoya cultured pearl. Notice that it is uniformly round from the seed all the way out to the outer nacre layer, which is the thin line you see at the very edge of the pearl. What was quite remarkable about this pearl is that the center of the pearl is a hollow plastic looking bead, not the Mississippi mussel shell bead that was expected. You can see the circular structure of the Akoya cultured pearl with the bead and resulting layers being rather uniform from center to outer nacre layer.
Thus these pictures show what would be seen if you dissect one of those expensive little jewels you have on that string of pearls you got as a gift.
And taking it one step further, perhaps a reused piece of plastic for the starter bead. Why the multiple holes in the starter bead? Was the pearl farmer recycling plastic? Why place a used, multi-drilled plastic starter bead inside an oyster to make what could turn out to be a very expensive South Sea Tahitian Pearl in the first place?
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