June Birthstone

Not satisfied with just one, or even two birthstones, June has claimed three for itself. There were only two – pearl and moonstone – until 2016, when alexandrite became the third June birthstone.

Pearl has long been popular as a gemstone, despite being fundamentally different from most other crystal-based precious and semi-precious stones. Moonstone has been a part of gemstone usage for millennia, with the Romans believing it was formed from solidified rays of the moon. In stark contrast, Alexandrite was first mined less than 200 years ago.

• What are the Birthstones for June?
• Myths About Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite
• Birthstone Style Quiz (NEW)
• Mining Locations
• Cultivating Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite
• Physical Properties
• June Birthstones in Jewelry (Infographic)
• Shopping Tips for the June Birthstones
• Caring for June Jewelry

What are the Birthstones for June?

The birthstones for the month of June are Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite.

The pearl is the most popular birthstone for those incorporating the month-stone into jewelry. Alexandrite is the most popular birthstone to be placed into a ring.

Moonstone isn’t very popular, but those who love moonstone are usually very passionate about it.

Myths About Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite

Pearl has always been associated with the calming of both mind and body and being able to cure stomach ailments. Japanese folklore says that pearls are from the tears of mermaids. Legend, meanwhile, has them as dewdrops that fell from the moon to the sea.

Moonstone, according to mythology, can bring magical and beautiful dreams. In other cultures, it was a cure for insomnia and sleepwalking.

Alexandrite lacks any kind of associated mythology without any long history like the others. Ironically, given its unique properties, it has been around for much longer. It likely would have had a whole string of magical powers attached to its legend had it been discovered.

Birthstone Style Quiz

We’ve created a user-friendly style quiz that can help you determine which type of birthstone ring you should start browsing.

Mining Locations of the June Birthstones

Pearl is unique amongst gemstones, as it is a product of a living thing. In theory, any mollusk can produce a pearl, but very few can produce gem-quality examples. Many pearls are now grown by stimulating the host mollusk to secrete the nacre solution required to build the pearl layers. These are less expensive than natural pearls and have the name cultured pearls.

Moonstone occurs in a wide range of locations across the world. These include the US, Myanmar, the Austrian Alps, and Armenia. The legendary island of gems, Madagascar, also has small deposits of moonstone.

Alexandrite occurs in very few places compared to many semi-precious stones. Originally mistaken for emerald from a source in Russia, it has since been found in Brazil, India, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka. It has since become a very popular center stone for engagement rings.

How Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite Are Made

Natural pearls take between 6-months to 2-years to form inside the host mollusk. Cultured pearls have a nucleus injected into the shell, which forces a reaction from the mollusk, which coats the invading item with nacre. This allows a pearl of suitable size and quality to become harvestable much sooner.

Natural pearls of gemstone quality only occur in 1-in-70000 mollusks. This means true natural pearls are incredibly rare. It also means the price is usually far in excess of other pearls, however good an example it might be.

Click here to learn more about the difference between saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls.

The formation of Moonstone crystals occurs when two other minerals have become intermingled. The combination of two elements with separate densities and physical characteristics gives the moonstone its unique light dispersal properties.

Alexandrite needs a unique set of precise actions before the crystals grow. If any trace element is missing or added, it is a different type of crystal that will not show different colors in different lighting conditions as alexandrite does.

Physical Properties of the June Birthstone

Pearls are quite fragile creations. by gemstone standards. They measure only 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and suffer damage easily. This includes the mild acids in our sweat.

Cultured pearls form in the same way, but the introduction of a foreign body to create the nucleus of the pearl promotes faster growth. This greatly shortens the time it takes to create a finished pearl.

Moonstone crystals form from two types of the mineral feldspar. They form a separate, distinct layer in the crystal stacks as they join and cool. It is light falling between the layers, which gives moonstone its unique ethereal glow.

Alexandrite is a type of chrysoberyl. Despite having beryl in the name, and often having a color similar to emerald, the two are not related. Chrysoberyl crystals contain traces of aluminum. In order for it to be alexandrite, some aluminum ions must be replaced by chromium. This causes the absorption of light in the yellow spectrum. Alexandrite will appear green in daylight due to the way our eyes are more sensitive to green light. In incandescent light, alexandrite will appear red due to the low levels of the green light present. This light-shifting makes alexandrite almost unique and accounts for its great desirability.

June Birthstones in Jewelry

Pearl, of course, makes spectacular jewelry. Natural pearls and their rarity means that they are difficult to find on the open market without paying a hefty price. If natural pearls are available, they are unlikely to be truly round. The natural formation often means they are slightly off-round. To have a natural pearl that is also round is one of the great privileges of life. Click the article to learn more about Natural Pearls.

It is very rare to find a moonstone that is cut with facets like other semi-precious stones. Instead, it is polished as a cabochon when cut for use in jewelry. Cabochons are rounded instead of faceted. See the picture of the earrings above.

Alexandrite is very rare and usually appears in stones under 3 carats. Jewelry containing alexandrite is often a custom request by an owner of a stone. It is not usual to see ready-to-wear alexandrite jewelry for sale.

Shopping Tips for the June Birthstones

The three June birthstones need very different approaches to buying.

Pearls have a quality that is hard to beat when seen at its best. The problem is that many have suffered from neglect, making high-level pearls difficult to find.

If buying a pearl necklace, look for damage to the hole through which the silk string is threaded. Also, look for wear damage as the pearls have rubbed against each other on the string. The quality of the luster determines the price of a pearl rather than the weight.

Rub natural or cultured pearls against your teeth if you want to feel the grittiness. Imitation pearls and mother of pearl do not have this.

Moonstone, ideally, should be almost transparent and have a blue sheen. Other colors, from orange to green, are available at lower prices and will suit all budgets. Blue moonstones rarely occur over 15 carats, but white moonstone appears in single gems weighing hundreds of carats. Each color has its own appeal, so you should consider the setting.

If you find it at all, Alexandrite is likely to be more expensive than the equivalent diamond, ruby, emerald, or sapphire. Most stones are in the hands of collectors, and the few stones appearing for sale aren’t available for long. Should you be lucky enough, the most important factor is the level of color change. The brighter the colors and the more dramatic the change, the better.

Caring For Your June Birthstone Jewelry

You should always wipe pearls with a damp cloth after every wearing to remove any sweat or other substances which will damage the outer layer of the nacre. Wash moonstone and alexandrite with warm water and mild soap before drying with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Important Note: Pearls are very sensitive to even mild soaps. Only clean with room-temperature

• Ultimate Guide for Cleaning Engagement Rings
• Cleaning Earrings
• Cleaning Wedding Bands

Learn about the Other Birthstones

Each month has a fascinating birthstone (or birthstones) associated with it. Click the links below to learn more about each month.

• January Birthstone
• February Birthstone
• March Birthstone
• April Birthstone
• May Birthstone
• June Birthstone
• July Birthstone
• August Birthstone
• September Birthstone
• October Birthstone
• November Birthstone
• December Birthstone