June Birthstone - Moonstone
June’s other birthstone, the moonstone, has captivated people for centuries by glowing a milky white that resembles the shine of the moon. Moonstones can range from being colorless to blue, peach, green, pink, yellow, brown or silver. The stone is most commonly found in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Norway, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Switzerland, Tanzania and the United States.
A Hindu History of Moonstone
Moonstone has a tradition of importance amongst many religions, especially Hindu, even today being used as a symbol of good fortune. According to Hindu legend, the gemstone was formed from beams of moonlight, and when held in one’s mouth during a full moon, it is known to allow the wearer to see his or her future.
A Roman History of Moonstone
The Roman’s shared the belief that the stone was formed by drops of moonlight. They viewed the stone as having properties that were generally associated with the moon: romance, femininity, intuition, dreams and emotion. It was said that two people wearing moonstone when the moon is high will fall passionately in love with each other.
Moonstone’s Popularity in Modern History
The moonstone saw a sharp increase in popularity during the Art Nouveau period (early 1900’s), and continued into the Art Deco period of the 1920’s, especially after attracting the attention of famous designers Rene Lalique and Louis Comfort Tiffany. It was very common for men to wear tie-pins, cufflinks, rings and watch fobs made of moonstone. The gemstone was also a popular choice for women in bracelets, brooches, rings, earrings and necklaces. The stone regained popularity in the 1960’s and again in the 1990’s, mainly set in white metal.
Mystical Properties of Moonstones
Even today, many people who follow Eastern tradition view the moonstone as being lucky and highly desired. In addition to the traditions first adopted by the Ancient Romans, the stone was said to inspire dreams of prophesy when placed under the pillow; dreaming of moonstone tells of certain danger. The gemstone has been said to cure or treat epilepsy, nervousness, cancer and fear. It was also known as the “traveler’s stone” for its ability to protect travelers on long journeys.
Fun Facts About Moonstone
- Moonstone is the official state gem of Florida. The state legislature chose the stone in 1970 to commemorate Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s famous moon landing.
- Moonstone is not found naturally in Florida or on the moon
- Moonstone is the most valuable stone from the feldspar group