Sapphire Engagement Rings
Tough enough for a ring worn every day. Hardness 9.
Read guide
Gemstone engagement rings / Alexandrite
Is an alexandrite engagement ring right for you?
Alexandrite changes colour: green in daylight, red or purple under warm indoor light. It’s hard and tough enough for daily wear. It’s also one of the rarest gems there is, which shapes everything about buying one.
PK
Parth KananiOctober 2026 · 5 min read
In short: Natural alexandrite is rare and expensive. Most lower-priced “alexandrite” rings are lab-created, which is fine if it’s described that way. Some are simulants that only imitate the colour change. Always ask which you’re buying.
Green in daylight, red in lamplight
Illustration
Everyday wear
How well does alexandrite wear?
Tough enough for a ring worn every dayHard and tough. A rare, excellent ring stone.
Alexandrite8.5 / 10 hardness
Diamond10 / 10 hardness
Hardness (Mohs scale) is resistance to scratching. Toughness, how well a stone resists chipping and cracking, matters too, which is why our verdict isn't based on hardness alone.
What to know
What jewellers don't always tell you about alexandrite
The colour change is the point
Good alexandrite shifts clearly from green or blue-green in daylight to red or purple under warm light. A weak change, or a muddy colour, is worth much less.
Natural, lab-created or simulant
Natural alexandrite of good colour costs thousands per carat. Lab-created alexandrite is the same mineral at a fraction of the price. Simulants (often colour-change sapphire) only imitate it. All three are sold as “alexandrite” online.
Searches are rising
UK searches for alexandrite engagement rings are up about 30% on last year, the fastest growth of any coloured stone we track.
Prices
What alexandrite engagement rings cost in the UK
Real prices, not estimates: the range across 7 UK retail listings we checked in October 2026.
From
£375
Typical
£1,219
Up to
£3,500
At least 3 of these 7 are sold as lab-created, and most of the rest don’t say. Natural alexandrite with a strong colour change costs far more than anything here, so treat a “natural” label at these prices with suspicion.
For comparison: a 1ct round diamond solitaire in 18ct white gold costs about £3,900–£5,600 in Hatton Garden, or £1,650–£2,850 with a lab-grown diamond. See our Hatton Garden price guide.
Before you buy
What to ask and check
- 1Ask, in writing: natural, lab-created or simulant? If it’s natural, ask for a lab report.
- 2See the stone in daylight and under a warm lamp. The change should be obvious.
- 3Be very wary of “natural alexandrite” at low prices. It’s almost never what it claims.
Which metal?
Both work. Yellow gold flatters the red side of the change; white gold and platinum flatter the green.
Which setting?
Alexandrite is tough, so any setting works. A diamond halo is popular; a solitaire lets the colour change speak.
Ready to look at real rings?
Coloured stones vary far more than diamonds, so see the actual stone in daylight before you commit. Many Hatton Garden jewellers will source a alexandrite for a bespoke ring. Compare them in our independent jeweller reviews, or start designing online.
Compare other gemstones
Or see every stone side by side in our gemstone engagement ring guide.
Common Questions
Is alexandrite good for an engagement ring?+
Yes. At 8.5 on the hardness scale and very tough, it handles daily wear well. The challenge is buying the real thing at a fair price.
Why is alexandrite so expensive?+
Natural alexandrite with a strong colour change is extremely rare. Lab-created alexandrite has the same properties and costs far less, which is why most alexandrite rings are lab-grown.
How much does an alexandrite engagement ring cost?+
Across 7 UK retail listings we checked in October 2026, alexandrite engagement rings ranged from £375 to £3,500, with a typical (median) price of £1,219. At least 3 of these 7 are sold as lab-created, and most of the rest don’t say. Natural alexandrite with a strong colour change costs far more than anything here, so treat a “natural” label at these prices with suspicion.
How hard is alexandrite?+
Alexandrite is 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, where diamond is 10. Our verdict: tough enough for a ring worn every day. Hard and tough. A rare, excellent ring stone.