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The next month, she made another expensive purchase: a diamond and alexandrite ring.

The fugitive greenish hue of a rare alexandrite at another booth she likened to “the color of petrol.”

A small sterling silver ring with a blue alexandrite center stone surrounded by tiny gems of cubic zirconium was also found with the body.

Rich finds of a valuable ruby, sapphire, cat’s-eye, amethyst, alexandrite or star stone, are comparatively rare; it is only of the commoner gems, such as moonstone, garnet, spinels, that a steady supply is obtained.

Occasional alexandrites, so called in honor of the Russian Czar, are found in the island.