Click picture to see entire image:

Cost per bead:

8.8 cents

Bead material:

Glass

Country of origin:

Czech Republic

Size/shape:

12mm leaf-shaped with the hole through one end; the leaves are about 3mm thick.

Colors/description:

Translucent deep alexandrite.  In incandescent light, these beads look like a very pale amethyst purple.  In fluorescent and daylight, they look lavender or violet, like the beads in the picture.

Hole size:

1mm (estimated).

Defects:

The beads appear to be in good shape.

How photographed:

At the window in natural daylight.

Comments:

I've noticed that the Czech manufacturers have started fooling around with the alexandrite color.  Sometimes it is light and sometimes dark (as in this case).  I've also noticed that it sometimes turns a deep fuchsia.  In this case, it is the normal alexandrite color, but much darker than normal.