June Birthstone Moonstone
June birthstone moonstone is the third beautiful gemstone for this particular month.
Named by the Roman natural historian, Pliny, who described the moonstone as a shimmering appearance, shifting with the waning and waxing phases of the moon.
How is Moonstone Formed?
June birthstone moonstone belongs to the feldspar group of gemstones, it is the most well-known gemstone of this group.
Moonstone is composed of two other members of this group, orthoclase and albite intermingling with each other.
Where is Moonstone Found?
The most important deposits of moonstone are found in Sri Lanka and India. Moonstone is also found in Brazil, Germany, Myanmar, Australia, Mexico, Norway, Tanzania, Switzerland, and the USA.
Jarno from Rotterdam, Netherlands / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Moonstones from India are usually brown, orange or green in colour and quite affordable due to their abundance.
Is Moonstone Heat-Treated?
Moonstone is not subjected to any treatments which are known to benefit other gemstones. Your moonstone jewellery is made of natural moonstone.
What Colour is Moonstone?
Moonstone is usually colourless but can be found in the colours grey, brown, yellow, orange, green, pink, blue and white. The most common colour is bluish-white through to a silvery colour.
The finest moonstones are colourless with blue shimmer and are found in Sri Lanka.
Some moonstones have cat’s eyes which are a rare phenomenal reflection of light, causing the moonstone to look like a cat’s eye.
Does Moonstone Scratch Easily?
Scoring 6.0 to 6.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, moonstone is not particularly hard. It can scratch easily.
Avoid knocks and bumps on hard surfaces and refrain from hard manual work when wearing moonstone rings.
How do I Clean my Moonstone?
Only clean your moonstone with warm soapy water and dry with a soft cloth.
Do not use an ultrasonic or a steam cleaner on your moonstone jewellery.
How Much is Moonstone Worth per Carat?
Moonstone is valued by colour, cut, clarity and carat.
Blue is the most valuable colour.
Moonstone often carries inclusions so the clearer the stone, the more valuable it is.
Moonstones are usually cut into beads, cabochons or faceted. The Cabochon Cut shows the natural beauty of the stone.
This beautiful gemstone is found in large and small sizes, the large stones are rarer and therefore more valuable.
Can a Moonstone be used in an Engagement Ring?
Yes but, bear in mind this gemstone must be treated with more care than other popular gemstones. Although moonstone is not ideal for an engagement ring that’s worn 24/7, with very special care it is however possible.
Chose wisely!
Fun Facts, Myths and Legends
Moonstone was known to ancient civilizations where it was worn as powerful talismans.
The Romans believed it was formed from moonbeams and the stone depicted the image of the moon goddess, Diana.
Similar, Hindu mythology tells of moonstones being made from moonlight.
In medieval times moonstone was popular and saw a revival with the arrival of the New Age Movement.
Since 1970 the June birthstone moonstone has been the official gem of the State of Florida, to commemorate the Apollo 11 landing on the moon.
Moonstone is said to be calming, giving balance to the wearer.
Moonstone is said to adopt the bio-rhythm of the wearer.
Moonstone is believed to spark passions in old and new relationships and is a crystal of fertility.
It is believed to protect travellers at night and is often referred to as the travellers stone.
It is used to treat insomnia and sleepwalking, allowing pleasant dreams.
The chemical formula for moonstone is KAlSi₃O₈
Moonstone symbolizes the 13th wedding anniversary and every 13th-year after.
See a complete list of all birthstones and Months of birth here.
