What is a Chrysoberyl gemstone ?
Chemical formula | BeAl₂O₄ (Beryllium Aluminium Oxide) |
Refractive index | 1.746 – 1.755 |
Hardness (Mohs scale) | 8.5 |
Crystal structure | Orthorhombic |
Specific gravity | 3.70 – 3.78 |
Optical Characteristics | Double refractive |
Mineral family | Chrysoberyl |
Colours | Yellow, greenish-yellow, yellow-green, green, brownish-yellow and brown |
Source/ deposit | Sri Lanka, Madagascar , Tanzania , Russia and Brazil (Alexandarite) |
The chrysoberyl mineral or gemstone is made out Aluminium and beryllium oxide that comes in multiple colours varies from yellow, yellowish green, green, brownish yellow and brown making it very suitable for day today jewellery as the hardness is 8.5 (Mohs scale). Sri Lankan and Madagascar is considered as the main deposit/sources for Chrysoberyl .
Varieties of Chrysoberyls
1. Chrysoberyls cats eye
Fine silk inclusions (mineral rutiles) can create cats eye effect on chrysoberyl, specially when they are polished in cabochon shape . Most famous colours for chrysoberyl cats yes are Apple green and Honey cats eye. The more intense and sharper ray is considered as better in the industry.
2. Star Chrysoberyl
Mineral rutiles or silk inclusions formed in multiple direction can create an asterism or star like effect in Chrysoberyls. This effect becomes prominent when polished in cabochon shape and quite rare to be found.
3. Alexandrite
Alexandrite is an extremely rare colour changing variety of chrysoberyl. This colour changing phenomena occurs due to the absorption of different light wave lengths, trace
elements such as chromium absorbs incandescent light and appears as red, purplish red and raspberry. Alexandrites were first discovered in Ural mountains Russia 1830 and named after Alexandre 2nd of Russia
Most common and notable colour change in Alexandrite is from Green, Bluish Green to Red or Purplish Red .
Alexandrite sources/Deposites – Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Russia (Ural Mountains) and Brazil.
4. Vanadium Chrysoberyl
Vanadium Chrysoberyl is a rare minty bluish green variety is chrysoberyl which colour is caused by trace element Vanadium. Colour may vary from bluish green, Minty Bluish green to Mint green.
Vanadium chrysoberyl were initially discovered in Tunduru region in southern Tanzania in the 1990s, other major sources and deposits are Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Chrysoberyl Prices
Please note that below prices are only an indication of current market 2026. Prices are indicated for well cut , colour even eye clean chrysoberyl gemstones
Price per carat for well Cut , Eye clean, Colour even gem piece | ||||
Colour | 1ct to 2ct | 2ct to 3ct | 3ct to 4ct | 4ct to 5ct |
Yellow | 80-100 USD/CT | 160- 200 USD/CT | 240 – 300 USD/CT | 320- 400 USD/CT |
Brown | 80-100 USD/CT | 160- 200 USD/CT | 240 – 300 USD/CT | 320- 400 USD/CT |
Yellowish green | 140-200 USD/CT | 250- 400 USD/CT | 450- 600 USD/CT | 650- 800 USD/CT |
Greenish Brown | 140 – 250 USD/CT | 300- 500 USD/CT | 550 – 650 USD/CT | 700 – 900 USD/CT |
Green | 200 – 350 USD/CT | 500 – 650 USD/CT | 750 – 900 USD/CT | 1000 – 1300 USD/CT |
