Did you know that Moonstone finds a mention in ancient Greek, Roman, and Indian culture?

While people in India revered moonstone as a symbol of the third eye, the Romans claimed that Goddess Diana could be seen in every stone.  The Greeks called it Aphroselene in honor of the goddesses Aphrodite and Selene. In ancient Asia, mystics believed that the gem was a solid ray of moonlight filled with righteous spirits.

How beautiful is the moonstone?

Think of a somber night where the moon is shining at its brightest, and a thin veil of clouds passes by.  The alluring white light of the moon gets scattered into thousands of fragments and creates a spellbinding play of light.  This milky, bluish iridescence exudes an enchanting aura that can freeze a moment in time.  The texture of Moonstones is compared to the captivating beauty of a night like this.

Such is the beauty of Moonstones.

What is a Moonstone?

Moonstones are a type of feldspar mineral formed by the combination of Orthoclase and Albite. These two minerals are separated into thin, alternating layers throughout the stone. As light falls on a moonstone, the light gets scattered into gleaming, white bands that have a different glow every time you move the stone.  This property of moonstones is known as adularescence.

Hundreds of civilizations throughout the course of history revered the moonstone for its ethereal sheen and captivating texture. The stone continues to mystify gem lovers across the world.

Where is Moonstone Found?

Moonstones are generally found in various parts of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, and the United States of America. The deposits of moonstones have also been discovered in Austria, Finland, Madagascar, Tanzania, Norway, Switzerland, and Mexico. Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, and India are considered the finest sources of Moonstones.

How is Moonstone Formed?

Moonstones are most commonly a member of the Orthoclase, Oligoclase, or Microline class of Feldspar minerals. Feldspars consist of a mixture of silica and aluminum.  This specific mixture that resulted in the formation of Feldspar resulted from the cooling of erupting magma millions of years ago. The metamorphism of Feldspar and the mineral impurities that mixed with it caused the crystals to form Moonstones as we know them now.

What are the Different Types of Moonstones?

The most common variants of moonstones, known as blue moonstones, are white or colorless and feature a bluish sheen. You can also find moonstones in a wide variety of colors like blue, green, orange, pink, rose gold, brown, purple, gray, or yellow.

Rare variants of the moonstones such as the Cat’s eye and Rainbow Moonstones are also quite popular amongst gem lovers. Star moonstones or Cat’s eyes reflect light into thin bands that resemble the eye of a cat or a star of 4 or 6 rays. Rainbow Moonstones are considered a variant of the moonstone, although they belong to the Labradorite group as they have a shimmer similar to moonstones.

What are the Properties of Moonstone Stone?

Moonstones have a monoclinic crystal structure and a vitreous luster. The hardness of Moonstone ranges from 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is slightly lower than quartz (7). Moonstones have the chemical formula KAlSi₃O₈ which shows the proportion of their constituents, Aluminum (Al) and Silica (Si).

The 4Cs of Moonstone

The 4 Cs of any gemstone – Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat weight helps us identify precious, high-quality gemstones. If one is aware of these 4Cs, then the chances are rare to get a duplicate stone.

Color: The commonly found moonstones do not have a color. The blue sheen that you can see is a result of adularescence. Along with the colorless variants, moonstones are also available in green, peach, brown, pink, yellow, orange, and gray, each having a distinct blue, silver, white, or rainbow adularescence.

Cut: Moonstones are generally available in a smooth, rounded, dome-shaped, and polished cut, known as the cabochon cut. This cut helps show prominent adularescence and also makes it easier to repolish the gem if damaged.

For rings made from moonstones, the faceted cut is also highly popular. A faceted cut enables light to enter the moonstone from different directions and gives the moonstone a more prominent glow.  Pendants or brooches are made from large pieces of moonstones, while earrings are made from smaller moonstones. Beaded moonstones are also quite popular for necklaces and bracelets.

Clarity: The clarity of Moonstones ranges from translucent to transparent. Stones that are free of inclusions have higher transparency and considered more valuable. A slight translucency is beneficial in accentuating the adularescence and glow.

Carat Weight: Moonstone is available in a wide range of sizes. Large-sized moonstones rarely have a fine appearance. Hence, if a moonstone is large and transparent, it has the highest value. You can find clear, high-quality crystals in the 1 to 5 carats range. You can also get moonstones in sizes up to 20 carats, but these are extremely rare to find. 

What is Moonstone Used for?

Moonstone finds application in a variety of areas. Some of these are listed as below:

Chemical Industries: Moonstone belongs to the class of Feldspars, which have plenty of functionality in the chemical industry. The high alkali and alumina content in Moonstone makes it a good fluxing agent that aids in the production of ceramics, glass, paints, rubbers, plastics, and adhesives.

Jewelry: Moonstone is a prized possession for gem lovers for its natural aesthetics. Exquisite pendants, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings can be crafted using moonstones. Its versatile texture also finds applications in sculpting and mineral collections.

Moonstone Healing Properties

Mystics consider moonstones to have a strong, feminine energy that can be used to stabilize the hormonal system, boost the health of reproductive organs, and aid in conception, fertility, and pregnancy. Crystal healers also use it to heal degenerative issues with skin, hair, and eyes. Mystics claim that moonstones may also boost the health of your circulatory and immune system, by reducing water retention, and detoxifying the blood.

Moonstone and Spirituality

Moonstones are often associated with mythological or spiritual energy. In ancient times, moonstones were believed to have fallen from the sky.  The idea that moonstones have a supernatural origin led to them being revered by cultures across the world . According to one of the Indian belief systems, moonstones are a talisman that can protect you from evil and ill happenings. Chinese folklore describes moonstone as the stone that can balance the yin yang or the positive and negative energies, leading a person towards a peaceful and fruitful life.

What Chakra is Moonstone for?

According to metaphysics, there are seven energy centers or chakras in our bodies. An imbalance in either of them can hamper the balance in our lives. Moonstone is associated with the Third Eye, Crown, and the Soul Star Chakras.  In Ayurveda, moonstones are also related to the heart chakra.

Metaphysics further states that an imbalance in the third eye, heart, or crown chakras can cause a lack of concentration, anger issues, fear, anxiety, and a lack of motivation. Healers use the moonstones to treat such imbalances. 

Moonstone Metaphysical Properties

Moonstones may make the wearer wiser, calmer, and more empathetic. In metaphysics, moonstones negate evil, spark more happiness and love, and help a person feel more confident and satisfied. Therefore, it is recommended to people with a short temper, people in long-distance relationships, couples facing relationship issues, and artists.

Moonstone Birthstone

Moonstones are considered as the birthstone of people born in June and may prove beneficial to anybody who is born in this month.

Moonstone Value

Moonstones are not very expensive and are priced reasonably. The price of a common moonstone can range from $1.30 per carat to $60 per carat, depending upon the type, clarity, and sizes.  You can get a piece of decent jewelry for as low as $10. However, this price can go as high as $1000 depending upon the type of metal that the stone is set in.

How to identify real moonstones?

Moonstones can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. Although you can also get a very transparent stone, these are very expensive. Natural moonstones will contain some milky or opaque appearance. There can be minor inclusions or ‘peppered specks’, faint milky texture, or small cracks. All naturally occurring precious and semi-precious gemstones have a slight amount of such flaws.

If there you do not observe any of these signs or notice that the rainbow/blue sheen is too strong, then there are chances that the stone is probably fake.

How to clean and store moonstones?

Since moonstone has a hardness of only 6, it is prone to fracture and breakage. Always be careful while cleaning your moonstones. Avoid using ultrasonic or steam cleaners and hard scrubs. Use warm water and mild detergent to clean your moonstones. If you wish to scrub, use your hand or a soft toothbrush.

Store moonstones in a cool, dark place away from excessive heat or light as these factors can induce fracture in your stone. Use a separate cloth or pouch and store it away from other gemstones to avoid indentations and scratches. Also, remove your moonstone jewelry if you are doing physical work or handling chemicals, detergents, or cosmetics.

Where can you buy Moonstones?

You can buy moonstones from jewelry and gem stores. Online stores are a great way to buy moonstones, as a trusted seller like GemsforJewels  can provide you with a wide range of choices and help you pick the one that suits your taste.

Why GemsforJewels?

GemsforJewels provides you with one of the largest selections of gemstones online. You can choose from an awe-inspiring collection of varying shapes, sizes, and colors. The gemstones at GemsforJewels have an uncompromising quality and the most reasonable prices you’ll find online.