June Birthstone: The Moonstone

If you were born in June, you are in luck: three birthstones are associated with you — the pearl, the alexandrite and the moonstone. This article is devoted to the last of the three, the most poetic: with its bluish glow that seems to float across the surface, the moonstone is one of the most fascinating gems in the mineral world.

What is moonstone?

Moonstone belongs to the feldspar family. Its distinctive feature? A unique optical phenomenon called adularescence: a milky, white-to-bluish glow that glides across the surface of the stone as you move it in the light. The effect is produced by light scattering between the crystal's fine internal layers — a play of light that nature takes millions of years to compose.

A glow from the moon: history and symbolism

The Romans believed moonstone was born of a solidified moonbeam, and associated it with Diana, the lunar goddess. In India, it has always been regarded as a sacred, luck-bringing stone. Closer to us, the great jewellers of Art Nouveau, René Lalique first among them, made it one of their favourite gems.

A stone of intuition, femininity and new beginnings, it makes a birth or birthday gift full of meaning — all the more so for those born in June, whose official stone it is.

How to choose a fine moonstone

Three criteria determine a moonstone's quality:

• Transparency: the clearer the body of the stone, the more sought after it is;
• Adularescence: a vivid, well-centred bluish glow is the most prized (known as “blue sheen”);
• Cut: traditionally cabochon, but faceted cuts — cushion, emerald, Asscher — reveal a more contemporary elegance.

Which jewel for a moonstone?

With a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, moonstone is a little softer than sapphire or spinel. It therefore flourishes ideally as a pendant or earrings, where it is protected from everyday knocks. In a ring, it is best kept for occasions rather than intensive daily wear.

Like all our stones, it can be set in a bespoke mounting by our partner jeweller to create a unique piece — for example a birthstone pendant to celebrate a baby born in June.

Our natural moonstones

All the moonstones photographed in this article come from our own selection, sourced directly in the producing countries. Find our moonstones and other luminous gems in our white gems collection, or book an appointment at our Paris office to see the available stones and admire their adularescence in person — no photograph does it full justice.

This article opens our birthstone series: each month, discover the gem associated with your date of birth.