Hello June babies and jewelry lovers! Did you know that there are three birthstones associated with June? That’s right, June babies get to pick from pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone.
All three are so beautiful, but today on the blog we are all about moonstone.
Time to nerd out!
A little history:
Moonstone has been used in jewelry for millennia. Ever heard of Pliny the Elder? It’s the name of one of the best beers you can drink, an IPA from Russian River Brewing Company in California. Trust me, it’s great.
But I digress…
Pliny the Elder is also the name of Roman philosopher and naturalist born in AD 23. Pliny coined the name moonstone, because he believed the stone’s shimmery appearance shifted with the phases of the moon.
A little mythology:
In Hindu mythology moonstone was said to be made from the moon’s ethereal light. Romans admired moonstone because it was created by solidified moonbeams, and both Greeks and Romans associated moonstone with lunar deities.
Moonstone is aligned with lunar magic and has a calming, balancing energy. It can supposedly tune into natural biological rhythms and help with fertility. Also know as the Traveler’s Stone, it is believed to protect travelers at night and also encourage restful sleep.
The facts:
Moonstone is feldspar, with a pearly, opalescent luster. Deposits can be found in Armenia, Australia, Austria, Mexico, Madagascar, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, India, Switzerland, and the United States. The finest moonstones, transparent with a blue shimmer (swoon!), come from Sri Lanka.
Moonstone is a 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale- a scale from 1-10 measuring mineral hardness (for reference, diamonds are a 10). It should be handled with care in jewelry, as it is relatively soft and prone to stress cracks.
Be especially mindful of moonstone set in rings or bracelets, because those pieces tend to endure more daily wear and tear than necklaces or earrings.
Up your trivia game:
In 1970 moonstone became the state gemstone of Florida to commemorate the moon landings, which took off from Kennedy Space Center.
Happy Birthday June babies!
When shopping for birthstone jewelry, do you go for pearl, alexandrite, or moonstone? Tell me in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
~ Claire