June Birthstones: Alexandrite, Moonstone, and Pearls

June Birthstones Those fortunate enough to be born in June have three birthstones they may identify with: alexandrite, moonstones, and pearls. While most months have one birthstone, the only other months that have three are December and August. Alexandrite, moonstones, and pearls are three unique birthstones that offer June babies the freedom to choose from a variety of colors and styles. It’s easy to find beautiful jewelry for June babies because of the birthstones' varying price points, sizes, and colors. Alexandrite Alexandrite is a rare birthstone that changes colors depending on the light. When exposed to fluorescent lights, alexandrite shows a greenish-blue color. In incandescent light, alexandrite looks red. This birthstone receives its name from King Alexander II of the Russian Empire. The Russians found alexandrite in the Ural Mountains and were fascinated by its colors which resembled the Russian army colors. There are no longer Alexandrite mines in the Ural mountains; now, most alexandrite deposits are in Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Africa. Although there are still alexandrite deposits, the original mines produced clearer and purer gems. This clearer alexandrite is increasing in price due to its exclusivity. Alexandrite is an 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It's perfect for daily-wear jewelry. This gem is extremely tough, but you should still take care of it. Keep alexandrite jewelry in a cloth bag and avoid putting it with other jewelry. It’s crucial to polish your gems with soft dish soap and a toothbrush to keep them clean and glossy. Moonstone When light passes through a moonstone, it scatters and creates the blue sheen that makes it so popular. These polished stones are associated with love and passion and were objects of wonder throughout history. The shade of moonstones can vary from green to orange, but the blue stones are the most sought after. There are moonstone mines in North America, Asia, Africa, and South America. Miners dig these precious stones from the clay, most famously in India and Sri Lanka. Moonstone scores from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness; it is a soft stone and damages easily. Don’t expose gems to cleaning products, abrasive chemicals, or rubbing alcohol. Store moonstones separately from other jewelry and clean them with soft dish soap, a toothbrush, and warm water. Hot water can damage moonstones and other delicate gems. Pearls Pearls are naturally organic and naturally occurring birthstones; they’re aquatic-born and form inside mollusks. When particles become stuck in a mollusk, the mollusk will cover the particle in layers of aragonite and conchiolin as a defensive mechanism until it becomes a pearl. Farm-raised pearls form through the same process; the difference is farmers insert the particle manually. There is more variety to these gems than one might expect. Pearls come in many colors and sizes, depending on where and how they form. Pearls grow worldwide, and the location directly impacts the type of pearl that the mollusk will produce. These gems are some of the most versatile, timeless birthstones. Pearls can be worn casually or to black-tie events; pearls are also popular with all age groups. Whether you’re buying a necklace, bracelet, or earrings, pearls are always an excellent option, especially in June. Pearls are delicate birthstones; they’re a 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale of hardness. To keep them safe, they should be stored inside cloth separately from other jewelry. Never apply perfume, lotion, sunscreen, etc., while wearing pearls or jewelry. Choosing from such a wide variety of birthstones can be challenging. Hopefully, the information we’ve shared can help you select the perfect piece. If you need help picking out a gift, or have any more questions regarding birthstones or jewelry in general, come to Malak Jewelers at the Arboretum Shopping Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.