Alexandrite Necklaces

18 inches (princess length) is the most common and works across most necklines and wearer heights — sitting at or just below the collarbone. 16-inch chokers sit at the base of the throat for higher-necklined outfits. 20-24 inch lengths sit at the upper-to-mid chest, suited to statement pendants and layering with other necklaces.

6mm and above for the color shift to read clearly at normal viewing distances. Statement pendants in the 8-12mm range maximize the color-change phenomenon. Smaller accent pendants at 4-6mm display the color shift as a quieter detail.

Yes — alexandrite layers particularly well with white-stone pendants (diamond, moissanite, pearl) for brilliant-contrast framing, mixed-metal chains for visual contrast, or longer alexandrite drops anchoring shorter plain chains for vertical interest.

Sterling silver and white gold offer neutral framing that lets the color change be the focal point. Rose gold harmonizes with alexandrite's red phase while contrasting the green. Yellow gold creates warm contrast against both phases. The choice depends on which phase of the color change you want to emphasize.

Yes — alexandrite handles daily wear well, and pendants face less impact stress than rings (they don't get caught on hard surfaces during manual tasks). Store separately from harder gemstones to prevent surface scratching. For complete care guidance, see our jewelry care guide.

Yes — stone selection (natural vs lab-grown), custom pendant setting design, alternate metals, custom chain length, engraving on the back of the pendant, and matched necklace-and-earring sets are all customizable. For fully custom alexandrite necklace designs, see Design Your Own Custom Ring.

Alexandrite is a color-change variety of chrysoberyl, and the shift is the stone’s defining trait: it reads green under daylight and turns toward red or purplish-red under warm incandescent light. The effect comes from the way the crystal absorbs light, not from any treatment or coating. At 8.5 on the Mohs scale it is one of the harder colored stones, which is part of why it suits pendants worn every day.

Pendants in this collection are made in 925 sterling silver, 14K rose gold vermeil, and a black ruthenium finish. Sterling is a solid alloy of 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper, so the metal is the same all the way through. Vermeil bonds a layer of at least 2.5 microns of 10K-or-finer gold over that same sterling base, the standard set by the US FTC.

Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap, and a soft brush or cloth are all an alexandrite pendant needs. Rinse it, then dry the stone and the chain fully before storing, and keep the pendant in its own pouch or compartment so harder stones cannot scratch the setting. Clasps and jump rings benefit from an occasional check. Fuller instructions for every metal we work in are in our jewelry care guide.