A marquise lab-grown alexandrite held north–south in a milgrain frame, with alexandrite marquise rays radiating out into an eight-point starburst. The stone shifts between teal-blue and raspberry-violet as the light changes. Solid 925 sterling silver with a black ruthenium finish throughout, on an 18-inch box chain.
Lab-Grown Alexandrite
Visible Color Shift
Marquise Cut
Black Ruthenium Finish
18" Black Box Chain
Solid 925 Sterling Silver
How the Pendant Is Built
Tapered Bail
A plain polished bail carries the pendant and slides freely on the chain, so it always rights itself.
Marquise Center
The center stone runs north–south inside a milgrain frame, ringed by a halo of small round accents.
Ray Points
Marquise rays radiate from the frame into an eight-point starburst, closing on one more marquise at the base.
The pendant is the necklace half of the Nightbriar family and repeats the ring's vocabulary at a smaller scale — the milgrain frame, the marquise rays, the starburst. Our necklace length guide covers how an 18-inch chain sits, and how to layer necklaces is worth reading if you wear more than one. For the wider style, see our guide to gothic necklaces.
The Alexandrite and Its Color Shift
Alexandrite is the stone that changes color. Under daylight it reads teal to blue-green; under warm indoor light or candlelight it swings to raspberry, violet and plum. The effect is real optics — the mineral absorbs light unevenly across the spectrum, so what you see depends on what is illuminating it.
The shift is fully visible here. The stones are faceted and held in open prongs, so light passes through them. Our piece on whether synthetic alexandrite changes color explains the mechanism.
These stones are lab-grown. Natural alexandrite is among the rarest gemstones on earth and prices accordingly — the lab-grown material has the same chrysoberyl chemistry and the same behavior. Our comparison of lab-grown versus natural alexandrite lays out the trade-offs.
Each center stone is marquise cut and set north–south, the most elongating orientation — the same reasoning our guide to marquise cuts sets out for rings applies here.
Metal and Stones
Pendant, bail and box chain are all solid 925 sterling silver with a black ruthenium finish — a platinum-group metal that settles to a deep gunmetal rather than a flat black. Running the finish through the chain as well is what keeps the piece reading as one dark line rather than a dark pendant hung on a bright chain, and the slight reflectivity keeps the milgrain readable instead of flattening it.
Smaller lab-grown alexandrite marquises form the rays and the point at the base, and they shift with the center stone. The white accents — the halo of rounds around the frame and the pavé along the upper edge — are cubic zirconia. Moissanite or lab-grown diamond accents are available as a custom order.
Part of our necklaces collection and the rest of our black ruthenium jewelry. Alexandrite is a June birthstone — see our June birthstone guide and the June birthstone collection, or work out which stone is yours.
Specifications
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Style: Pendant necklace on a box chain
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Center stone: Lab-grown alexandrite, marquise cut, set north–south
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Color shift: Teal-blue in daylight to raspberry-violet in warm light — fully visible
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Accent stones: Lab-grown alexandrite marquises; cubic zirconia throughout
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Metal: Solid 925 sterling silver, black ruthenium finish throughout
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Chain: Box chain, black ruthenium finish, 18 inches, lobster clasp
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Setting: Milgrain frame with marquise rays
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Hardness: 8.5 on the Mohs scale
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Presentation: Free luxury velvet jewelry box
Care
Alexandrite is 8.5 on the Mohs scale and well suited to daily wear. Clean with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and household chemicals, which dull the ruthenium finish, and lay the chain flat in its velvet box rather than coiling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the color shift actually show?
Yes. The stones are faceted and set in open prongs, so light passes through them and the shift is clearly visible — teal-blue in daylight, raspberry-violet under warm indoor light.
Is the alexandrite real?
Yes. It is genuine alexandrite — chrysoberyl — lab-grown rather than mined. Same chemistry, same hardness, same color-change behavior.
Do the smaller stones change color too?
Yes — the marquise rays are lab-grown alexandrite as well, and they shift along with the center stone.
Is alexandrite a birthstone?
Yes — alexandrite is one of the June birthstones, alongside pearl and moonstone.
Are the white accent stones diamonds?
No. They are cubic zirconia. Moissanite or lab-grown diamond accents are available as a custom order.
How dark is the black ruthenium finish?
Ruthenium finishes to a deep gunmetal rather than a flat jet black. The slight reflectivity is what keeps the milgrain and the marquise rays visible instead of flattening them.
What is it made of?
Solid 925 sterling silver throughout, with a black ruthenium finish. No brass or base metal.
How long is the chain?
18 inches — princess length. It sits just below the collarbone on most necks, which is where this pendant is sized to hang.
Is the chain included?
Yes. The pendant comes on a solid 925 sterling silver box chain with a lobster clasp, finished to match the pendant; nothing is sold separately.
Can the pendant be worn on another chain?
Yes. The bail is open enough to take most standard chains and cords, so you can move it onto a longer chain if you prefer.
Does it match the Nightbriar ring set?
Yes. The pendant shares the milgrain frame and marquise rays of the Nightbriar rings in the same colorway, so the pieces read as one family.
Are the stones ethically sourced?
Yes. All Aquamarise stones are conflict-free and responsibly sourced, and every order arrives in a free luxury velvet jewelry box.
