Moonstone

History of Moonstones

One of the most mystical and mythical of all gemstones, the moonstone has a unique, milky-opaque sheen and is highly valued by gemstone collectors and crystal healers. It was named by the Romans because it reflects moonlight and to the people of India it is a sacred stone.

Moonstone is in the feldspar mineral family and is the most valuable of its kind. It is found in a number of countries throughout the world including Sri Lanka, Mexico, Tanzania, Germany, Brazil, Madagascar and India.

Moonstone became a popular gemstone during the Art Nouveau period of the 1880s. It was used to decorate jewelry designed by the French master goldsmith Rene Lalique. Many of these pieces still exist in museums or private collections.

Myth, Legend and Folklore

Moonstone is said to protect the wearer and bring good fortune. Legend says if you hold a piece of moonstone in your mouth during a full moon it will give you the ability to predict the future. Moonstone is also believed to soothe and regulate the emotions, help make wishes come true, improve intuition and bring you closer to your feminine side. Dreaming of moonstones can portend good health and travel and may also signify the gradual development of spiritual depth and psychic abilities. They have traditionally been used to treat ailments such as nosebleeds, sunstroke, epilepsy and heartburn.

Different types of moonstone are believed to have specific mystical properties:

White moonstone – promotes spiritual growth

Rainbow moonstone – protects the wearer from psychic attacks

Blue moonstone – helps strengthen telepathy

Peach moonstone – heals a broken heart

Gray moonstone – helps the wearer to predict the future

The Ideal Stone

Moonstone is available in a range of colors including the most common milky-white, blue-gray, pink, yellow, peach, brown and transparent. Typically the more transparent the stone is, the greater its value. Traditionally moonstones are cut as cabochons. The height of the stone and the location of the crystal axis are crucial to achieving the desired reflection and play of light. Moonstone cat’s eye and star moonstone are the most rare of the different varieties of this gemstone.

Features

• Hardness: 6
• Refractive Index: 1.518 - 1.526
• Specific Gravity: 2.61
• Birthstone: June
• Wedding anniversary: 13th year