June Birthstone- Pearls, Alexandrite, and Moonstone!

June babies get their choice of three birthstones (lucky!), alexandrite, pearl, or moonstone.

Pearls are natural, organic gemstones that come from oceans, lakes, or rivers. Pearls form when an irritant enters either a freshwater or saltwater mollusk (either an oyster or a mussel). The mollusk reacts to this irritant and that reaction creates a pearl.

Due to the creation of cultured pearls (let’s be clear, these are still organic pearls made from a living mollusk, a human has just introduced the irritant instead of it happening naturally) natural pearls are rare and do command a premium price. Pearls can come in a variety of shapes and sizes and colors.

Pearls are commonly bleached, and this is a very accepted practice. Pearls are sometimes dyed as well, sometimes this treatment is very obvious and other times you will need to take a very close look.

Pearls require special care and are very sensitive to chemicals. Only use warm, soapy water, and let the pearl strand dry thoroughly before wearing again.

The basics

• Mohs Scale: 2.5-3.0

• Mineral: Calcium carbonate

Moonstone has been adored for centuries, the blue sheen moonstone shows is the most desired. Moonstone is part of the feldspar group of minerals. It is often associated with love, passion, fertility, and brings luck to its wearer. Moonstone can be found throughout the world in places such as India, Sri Lanka, the United States, and others. Moonstone does require special care as it can crack when brought to high temperatures, so best to use warm, soapy water, or take it to your local jeweler!

The basics:

• Mohs Scale: 6.0-6.5

• Mineral: Feldspar

Alexandrite

Emerald by day, ruby by night. The illusive and sought after alexandrite commands high prices for natural stones due to its rarity (it has been synthesized for over a hundred years, so always double check that the stone you have is natural or synthetic).

When exposed to fluorescent light the stone will normally be a greenish color and when exposed to incandescent light the stone turns a purplish-red.

Originally only found in Russia, alexandrite has now been found in Sri Lanka, East Africa, and Brazil. Remember, fine quality alexandrite is RARE and will command a premium price.

The basics:

• Mohs Scale: 8.5

• Mineral: Chrysoberyl

• Gift for the 55th wedding

Fun Facts

• Pearls are associated with humility, innocence, and purity

• Pearls were traditionally given as a wedding present

• Some believe that pearls alleviate indigestion

• The feldspar group of minerals make up more than half of the earth’s rocky crust

• Alexandrite was discovered in Russia in 1830

• Alexandrite can show both cat’s eye and color-change in one stone

• Most antique jewelry set with “alexandrite” is actually set with lab-created alexandrite, have your local jeweler double check for you