Short answer: June has three birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. Pearl is an organic gem grown inside a mollusk. Moonstone is a feldspar with a soft, floating glow. Alexandrite is a rare chrysoberyl that changes from green in daylight to red under warm indoor light. That gives June the widest choice of looks of any month.
Why does June have three birthstones?
The 1912 list adopted in the United States gave June pearl and moonstone. When the list was updated in 1952, alexandrite was added. Each is very different: an organic gem, a softly glowing feldspar and a hard, color-changing crystal.
Pearl
How do pearls form?
Pearls are organic gems that grow inside the tissue of a living saltwater or freshwater mollusk, either an oyster or a mussel. A natural pearl forms when the mollusk secretes layers of nacre around an irritant, such as a parasite, that has entered its shell.
Cultured pearls are grown with human help. Technicians implant a piece of mantle tissue, alone in most freshwater pearls or with a shell bead in saltwater pearls, into a host mollusk. The mollusk covers it with nacre, just as it would a natural pearl. Thousands of years of pearl fishing have depleted natural pearl beds, so cultured pearls make up the vast majority of pearls sold today.
Kinds of cultured pearls
- Akoya pearls are classic white saltwater pearls, farmed mainly in Japan and China.
- South Sea pearls are large white to golden pearls farmed from northern Australia through Indonesia to the Philippines.
- Tahitian pearls are dark, often black to gray and green, cultured in French Polynesia.
- Freshwater pearls come in many shapes and soft colors. China is the dominant source.
Pearls in history
Natural pearls have been found in the Persian Gulf for at least 5,000 years, and the Strait of Mannar has produced pearls since about 2000 BCE. Ancients in the Middle East believed pearls were teardrops fallen from heaven, and in China they were said to come from the brain of a dragon. One of the most famous natural pearls, La Peregrina, found in the Gulf of Panama in the 1500s, passed through European royalty and was later given to Elizabeth Taylor.
Pearls have long been associated with purity, humility and innocence, and were traditionally given as wedding gifts.
Moonstone
Moonstone is a feldspar whose microscopic layers scatter light into a soft glow called adularescence, the finest with a blue sheen on a nearly colorless body. It has been associated with the Roman and Greek moon deities, and Hindu mythology describes it as made of solidified moonbeams. It rates 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and can crack if knocked.
The moonstone guide covers how it forms, its varieties, and how to tell it from rainbow moonstone and glass.
Alexandrite
Why does alexandrite change color?
Alexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. Its color depends on the light: the most prized stones look vivid green to bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light, and intense red to purplish red under incandescent light. Some alexandrite also shows a cat's-eye effect when long, thin inclusions line up.
Where does alexandrite come from?
Major deposits were first found in 1830 in Russia's Ural Mountains, and the gem was named after the young Alexander II, then heir to the throne. It caught attention partly because its red and green echoed imperial Russia's military colors. The Ural deposits were eventually mined out. Today most alexandrite comes from Brazil, Sri Lanka and East Africa, and fine stones, especially in larger sizes, are among the more expensive colored gems.
Which June birthstone should you choose?
| Pearl | Moonstone | Alexandrite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Organic gem | Feldspar | Chrysoberyl |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 2.5 to 3 | 6 to 6.5 | 8.5 |
| Look | Soft luster, many colors | Floating glow | Color change, green to red |
| Best for | Necklaces, earrings | Pendants, earrings | Rings and daily wear |
| Price | Wide range | Affordable to moderate | High for fine stones |
How do you care for June birthstones?
- Pearl: at 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, pearls are soft. Store them apart from other gems and metal jewelry, and never in a plastic bag, which can damage their surface. Put on perfume, hair products and cosmetics before your pearls. Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth after wearing.
- Moonstone: clean with warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, and avoid knocks and high heat.
- Alexandrite: hard, tough and without cleavage, so it suits rings worn every day. Warm, soapy water is best; ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe.
Browse crystals and minerals at Digital Towns Market
Digital Towns Market
June birthstones in stock
Frequently asked questions
What is the June birthstone color?
June has no single color. Pearls are white, cream, gold, pink or black; moonstone glows white to blue; and alexandrite shifts from green to red depending on the light.
Are cultured pearls real pearls?
Yes. Cultured pearls grow inside a living mollusk, which coats an implanted nucleus with nacre just as it would a natural irritant. They make up the vast majority of pearls sold today.
Why is alexandrite so expensive?
Fine alexandrite with a strong, clean change from green to red is scarce, especially in larger sizes. The original Ural deposits were mined out, and stones from newer sources often show a weaker color change.
Which June birthstone is most durable?
Alexandrite. At 8.5 on the Mohs scale, with excellent toughness and no cleavage, it is suited to everyday rings. Pearl is the most delicate.
Can pearls get wet?
Pearls can be wiped with a soft, damp cloth after wearing. Avoid soaking them, and keep them away from perfume, cosmetics and household chemicals.
Sources
- GIA, June Birthstones: https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/june-birthstones
- GIA, Moonstone: https://www.gia.edu/moonstone
- American Gem Society, Birthstones: https://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones/
- Wikipedia, Birthstone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthstone
- Wikipedia, Alexandrite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandrite