Social Champions
At Lily Arkwright, Community Matters Lily Arkwright’s roots lie in leafy Didsbury, Manchester. While we have grown into one of the UK’s leading fi...
Read moreLab-grown alexandrite engagement rings are distinctive for gemstones that can appear greenish or bluish in daylight and shift towards warmer hues indoors. Explore alexandrite centres in platinum and gold, with designs from graceful solitaires to decorative shoulder-set styles. The strength of each stone's colour change varies, making its appearance in different lighting part of the attraction.
At Lily Arkwright, Community Matters Lily Arkwright’s roots lie in leafy Didsbury, Manchester. While we have grown into one of the UK’s leading fi...
Read moreThis year marks Lily Arkwright's 5th year of supporting Unicef during Black Friday building upon our successful 2019 Unicef Halloween Ball partne...
Read moreWe’re proud to be recognised consistently by the UK jewellery industry’s leading awards programmes. In 2026, Lily Arkwright has been shortlisted for Branded Boutique of the Year at the Professional Jeweller Awards and Bridal Jewellery Retailer of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards, reflecting our continued commitment to exceptional customer service, product innovation, and ethical craftsmanship.
These latest nominations build on previous industry recognition, including being shortlisted for Bridal Jewellery Retailer of the Year at the 2025 UK Jewellery Awards and Independent Retailer of the Year at the Professional Jeweller Awards 2025. We were also finalists for Retail Team of the Year at both the Retail Jeweller Awards and Professional Jeweller Awards in 2024, recognising the passion, expertise, and dedication of our team.
We’re honoured to be recognised for helping thousands of couples find the perfect engagement rings and wedding rings, with a strong focus on choice, transparency, and personalisation. As an award-winning jeweller, we remain committed to delivering exceptional service, exceptional craftsmanship, and responsibly sourced lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, and natural diamonds, ensuring every customer can find a ring that perfectly reflects their love story.
Alexandrite is valued for the way its colour can change with different lighting conditions. A lab grown alexandrite engagement ring may appear greenish or teal in daylight and more purplish under warmer indoor light, although the strength of the change varies from stone to stone.
Ask to see the actual stone under more than one type of light if possible. Photographs taken in a single setting may not capture its full character. The cut and proportions can also influence how clearly the shifts in colour appear. A solitaire keeps attention on this unusual optical effect, while a diamond halo gives the centre a brighter frame.
Consider the colour of the metal surrounding the stone: white gold and platinum provide a cool contrast, while yellow or rose gold introduce warmth. Check the setting profile and practicality for your daily routine. For gemstone colours that behave differently, explore the wider lab grown gemstone engagement ring collection.
One of the loveliest qualities of alexandrite is that its colour can shift with the light. A stone may appear more greenish or bluish in daylight and move towards reddish or purplish tones under warmer illumination, although the effect varies. We'd recommend seeing the actual gemstone in both conditions, as a single studio photograph can't tell the full story. Choose the combination of colours you love rather than expecting every alexandrite to change in exactly the same way.
Yes. Lab-grown alexandrite is genuine alexandrite, a variety of the mineral chrysoberyl, produced in a controlled laboratory environment. Its capacity for colour change is part of its characteristic appeal. We'd focus on the actual stone's appearance and how strongly the shift is visible, alongside the setting and its proportions. The mineral is not the same as sapphire or emerald, so its care and optical qualities should be considered separately.
Alexandrite is relatively hard and can make a beautiful engagement-ring centre, but we'd still take care to protect it from sharp impacts. The shape of the stone and the way its edges are supported matter. We'd also consider the height of the mounting and whether it sits comfortably with a wedding band. For a look at different stones and design options, our coloured gemstone engagement rings offer further inspiration.
Our jewellery specialists would be delighted to help you compare designs at our London or Manchester showrooms, or in a virtual consultation.










