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Moonstone

Looking at the silky surface of a moonstone and the liquid glow that seems to radiate from within the stone itself it should not be a surprise that our ancestors thought they had magical powers.

Indeed, one of the earliest legends about these gemstones was that they were created by frozen moonbeams.

Moonstone Colors

Moonstones come in a variety of subtle colors – white, cream, gray, yellow, orange, brown, pink and red are the most common. While the color is very important, of course, it is the surface sheen or shimmer – known as adularescence – that appears to float on top of the background hue that makes this gemstone so special.

Read more about gemstones colors here

Moonstone Species

Moonstones are a type of feldspar – a material that makes up half the world’s crust. Two feldspar species, orthoclase and albite, mix together in layers as they form in the warmth of the earth’s mantle before they cool and harden.

When light shines on these layers it scatters all over the place producing their famous gleam.

Rainbow Moonstone is usually grouped together with other moonstones as they have very similar sheen but it is technically a different species – labradorite.

There are also star and cat’s eye moonstones which are a very unique looking and spiritually powerful gemstone.

Moonstone Price

To discover the value of most gemstones we usually begin with the color and go on from there to things like clarity, cut and carat weight.

Moonstones are a little different, we start with the shimmer or gleam – scientifically, adularescence – and then consider color, size etc.

Once it has been established that the moonstone has a lovely glow, blue is the most popular and sought after color then a clean white like the moon itself. The other colors become a matter of personal preference and are all similarly priced.

Carat Weight

Most moonstones are cut to be around 5 to 10 carats in weight as this size shows off the glow at its best and is a convenient size for jewelry items. The price per carat does not change as the stone gets larger.

Depending on the overall quality of the gemstone, most moonstones will cost between a little more than $1 per carat up to $15 per carat for the brightest stones.

Good examples of Rainbow Moonstones can range from $5 – $60 per carat and nice Cat’s Eyes can be from $3 – $50 per carat.

Moonstones are nearly always cut into cabochons with flat bottoms and domed tops. Look for gemstones with quite high domes as this will show off the adularescence better.

For more details please refer to our full Moonstone Info page here

Treatments

As far as we can tell, Moonstones do not undergo any treatments like heat or dye to improve their appearance, just the cutting and polishing into stunning gemstones.

Where are Moonstones found?

Moonstones were famously found in Sri Lanka and can still be mined on the island. Neighboring India and Myanmar also supply good quality gemstones as well as Brazil, Madagascar, Australia and the US.

What jewelry is Moonstone suitable for?

Moonstones are rated at 6 – 6.5 on Mohs hardness scale meaning they are hard enough for most types of jewelry but some care should be taken with rings or bracelets which are exposed to more knocks and bumps than earrings or pendants.

Birthstones and Anniversaries

Moonstones are one of the official birthstones for June

Moonstones can be used to celebrate the 13th wedding anniversary.