Early in the 19th century, Alexandrite was found in Russia, and Russian monarchs soon came to love it. Alexander II, the future Czar, inspired its name. Wearing alexandrite is said to improve intelligence and bring luck. High-quality alexandrite will turn bluish-green, like emeralds, when exposed to sunshine. Instead, in incandescent illumination at night, the gemstone will appear to be a purplish-red hue similar to rubies. Clear and noticeable color shifts are a feature of high-quality stones.