This iridescent and pearlescent gem has been revered for centuries. If you are a June baby you can claim this gem as your birthstone. Lucky June babies! This gem is predominately white but also can be grey or peach colored. Black inclusions can occur too. These inclusions are actually tourmaline. Personally I prefer the white version. Locations around the world mine this gem. A few of the more prominent are Scotland, India, Norway and Australia.

What I love about this gem is the play of colors in the light. Moonstone formation consists of micro fine lines at right angles to each other. They are rarely visible in the stone since the lines are so tiny. However these lines are what allow the light to reflect the color spectrum in the gem. This iridescence is called ‘schiller’ and it happens during the crystallization process.

Moonstone legends abound.

One of my favorites is from Ancient Rome. Romans believed that moonstone was actually a shard of solid moonlight. Furthermore if you glanced into the stone you would see the Goddess Diana. She then would grant you love and good fortune.

In India this gem is used as a tool to reach divine wisdom and clairvoyance. Moonstone is also a popular wedding gift in this culture. in many Arab cultures moonstone is considered to be a family stone. When worn by women it is believed to produce large numbers of children.

Moonstone is also revered as a tool for healing and as a protection for travelers.

Complementary Gems for jewelry designs

Since moonstone is milky white it essentially complements every gem. I adore using it in combination with turquoise, rainbow quartz, onyx, ruby zoisite and more. The pendant shown here is created using Lace Agate from Indonesia.

When designing with this gem I tend to spend time (sometimes as much as an hour) going over the options for a complementary gem. Not only does the combination of the two have to feel right to me, but the actual shape of the gems is a major consideration. Playing with the options is part of the fun of designing.

Recently I discovered another option to bring out the beauty of this gem. Details are in the video below. Enjoy!

Moonstone

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