What is MexiFire®?
Our product MexiFire is created Fire Opal. Similar to a Natural Opal, which takes millions of years to form, MexiFire undergoes manufacturing process for many months to become a high quality created gemstone. Manufactured in-house, MexiFire has the distinction of being the first player in created Fire Opal category worldwide. MexiFire is nonopalescent and imbibes the true personality of a high quality Fire Opal. It's dazzling and luminous Orangish-Red Shade is a veritable head turner. What does the name MexiFire® mean?
Alexite is a created gemstone akin to a types of hi-tech glass with rare earth minerals added to it to bestow the color changing traits. We have got two different offerings under our Alexite category. Both our products acquire different sets of hues when viewed under diverse lights.
Mapping MexiFire's® attributes
MexiFire is Silica Gel having a chemical composition similar to Natural Opal. MexiFire has only miniscule quantities of water, which in turn helps it retain its quality even when exposed to natural elements and thus prevents crazing. The brilliant color is attributed to the presence of certain trace chemicals. Its hardness measures from 5.5 to 6.5 on Moh's scale. MexiFire is available in almost any size as per the user's wish. Natural opal doesn't have this flexibility and also experiences exponential increase in cost with increase in size. MexiFire is a very high quality created stone and its physical properties and chemical composition are similar to natural Opal. It is a created stone and scores over simulants as it doesn't have plastic in its composition.
Properties
MexiFire
Natural Fire Opal
Color
Yellow/Orange Red
Yellow/Orange Red
Refractive Index
1.37 - 1.46
1.37 - 1.46
Transparency
Transparent
Transparent to Opaque
Crystal System
Amorphous
Amorphous
Dichroism
Singly Refractive
Singly Refractive
Hardness
5.5 - 6.5
5.5 - 6.5
Specific Gravity
1.70 - 2.00
1.25 - 2.23
Composition
SiO2 n H20
SiO2 n H20
Crazing
No Crazing
May craze
Caring for MexiFire®
MexiFire is a very durable stone. It doesn't demand any special effort to maintain its quality. Unlike Natural Opal, which can craze because of high water content, MexiFire, with its miniscule water content, doesn't craze even after repeated exposure to natural elements. During jewelry manufacturing and cleaning process, MexiFire should not be exposed to high temperature or sudden heating and cooling. As with natural fire opal, Mexifire should not be subjected to chemicals such as those used for Gold or Rhodium plating or strong acids etc.MexiFire® and cuttings
MexiFire is a stone that responds brilliantly to certain kind of cuttings that bring out its color. Fine cabochon cutting will bring out the transparency in MexiFire. MexiFire also increases in beauty when
it's cut in facets to bring out its fireworks.
