The moonstone, the gemstone of intuition and guidance, expresses the moon’s illuminating beauty. It is white or colorless but comes in other hues like pink, blue, peach, green, or beige. Moon stone is special for its exclusive surface phenomenon called “aldurascence”. This optical phenomenon makes the gem appear to glow from the inside. It has a distinctive characteristic and, when crafted in jewelry, brings its beauty to the most. Moonstone symbolizes feminine energy and is useful in healing, relationships, and spirituality.
About
It comes from the feldspar mineral family and has a chemical formula, KAlSi3O8. These gems are formed through a combination of hydrothermal and magmatic processes. Hydrothermal processes are caused by magma that heats water whereas magmatic processes are the ones that evolve from volcanoes. Igneous rocks such as granite and pegmatite form interlocking crystals when magma cools. Exsolution is another process that makes moonstone formation more unique. Orthoclase and albite feldspars separate into alternating layers, scattering light. This causes the adularescence effect. These gems are found most commonly in Sri Lanka and India. They rank on the Mohs Scale of hardness as 6-6.5, which means they are relatively hard.
History
Moon stone was known as the “traveler’s stone” in ancient times. This is because it was believed to offer protection to travelers in the sea during the night. Due to its mystical appearance, it was a famous jewelry stone during the Art Nouveau period. This shimmering beauty was adorned as a talisman in ancient civilizations. Romans and Greeks associated this gem with lunar Gods. Writers coined them as the moon’s phases due to their appearance, making it seem like shimmering light is floating inside the stone. Moonstone is the official state gemstone of Florida.
Benefits
Moon stone is the birthstone of June along with pearl and alexandrite. It also celebrates its 13th anniversary, depicting the epitome of longevity and love in married life. This beautiful gemstone is an amulet protecting individuals from accidents, thefts, and losing directions. This gemstone is a miracle stone for those seeking true love in their life. It induces love and happiness in married life.
Moreover, wear moonstone jewelry if you suffer from conflicts and want peace and harmony in your love life. It is a stunning gem for every day, but taking care of it is essential as it has low hardness. This shimmering gemstone activates the heart, third eye, and crown chakra. Thus helping individuals gain self-confidence and intuition and removing stress and anxiety. Also known as goddess stone, this variety of feldspar is a must have gem for women. It induces fertility and regulates hormones.
Who should Wear
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Those seeking luck and wealth are suggested to wear this gem. It is a perfect stone for females as it helps in pregnancy.
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For females who suffer from morning sickness and fatigue during pregnancy, this gem helps bring relief. If you are feeling anxiety, stress, or depression during childbirth, this is a relaxing stone that offers you tranquility.
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It is an ideal stone for those who want to enhance their intuition and creativity. This is suitable for artists, writers, and people in the creative field.
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Zodiac signs such as Cancer, Scorpio, and Libra can wear this stone.
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Moon Stones can be worn by those who want personal growth in their profession or studies.
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Those who want to enhance their intuition and connection with the higher self can wear this gem.
How to wear
It is believed that wearing a gemstone correctly gives you various benefits. Lets see how you can wear this fantastic natural gem:
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Keep moonstone crystals close to your body for direct, energetic benefits. You can carry them in a pouch or keep them under your pillow while sleeping. This will help you get rid of insomnia.
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Hold the gem or place them nearby while meditating to deepen your spiritual connection and enhance intuition.
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Since this June birthstone is believed to comprise feminine energy, wearing it as jewelry by women can provide them with immense healing benefits.
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Wear a moonstone bracelet to keep you cheerful throughout the day.
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Style this gem with any metal, like gold or platinum, to enhance its look.
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Pair Moon stone with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, or sapphires. It adds more beauty to the stone, adding a contrasting pop of color.
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Gift your loved ones the treasure of spirituality, healing, and everyday positivity with this gemstone.
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Price and Quality
The price of moonstone starts from US$100 to US$2,000 per carat, depending upon the 4C’s.
Color: The color ranges from white, blue, orange, gray, pink, and brown. Rainbow moonstone features a blue iridescence or flashes in the colors of a rainbow. This effect gives many hues simultaneously, making this stone look amazing. A real moonstone with a blue sheen is most valuable and is thus priced higher.
Clarity: Inclusion-free and transparent gemstones are preferred. These gems showing the property of adularescence are considered the finest of all. The common inclusions include fissures, parallel lines, and cavities. Higher inclusions give a dull look to the gem.
Cut: Since the moonstone gem has the property of adularescent, it is generally cut as a cabochon. These can be carved to make decorative pieces as well. Faceted gems also look beautiful and are an excellent stone for jewelry. These stones can be cut in oval, marquise, pear, rectangle, or square shapes. Choose cuts that have clean edges and a symmetrical appearance.
Carat Weight: Large-size gems are rare and are perfect for investment, especially if you are thinking of heirloom moonstone jewelry. Small-sized stones are readily available and are the least expensive.
Origin: These feldspar varieties obtained from Sri Lanka and Southern India are some of the best quality.