June Birthstones: Pearls, Moonstone, and Alexandrite
Those who are lucky enough to be born in June have quite the choice to make regarding birthstone jewelry. These three beloved stones have meaning and value that dates back hundreds of years. The only hard part will be deciding which one to feature in your next piece.
Starting with the most well-known option, Pearls. These wonders of nature are the only gemstones that are made by living organisms. Mollusks produce these glorious stones by depositing calcium around a grain of sand that makes its way inside the shell. However, in ancient societies, the origin of pearls was definitely up for debate. In ancient China, it was believed that pearls came from the brains of dragons, while in ancient Middle Eastern society, they were thought to be gifts directly from heaven to the people of the world. Luckily, we have advanced in our understanding of how the world works, and now know much more about the creation process. The most beautiful pearls are formed in the wild with absolutely zero human interference. These natural pearls are really only found in either the Persian Gulf or off the coast of Australia in the Indian ocean. Unfortunately, instances of natural pearls being found are dwindling in numbers, so humans have transitioned to pearl farming. Pearl farms are commonly found in China, the Philippines, and Indonesia and are typically farmed in freshwater, although saltwater farms do exist. Pearls are commonly associated with feelings and actions of purity, humility, and innocence.
Moving onto another option for June babies, Moonstone is a peculiar kind of gemstone. It is composed of many microscopic layers of feldspar that appear to change color depending on how light hits the surface of the stone. Originally, moonstone was believed to change colors with the changing moon cycles. Today, the finest moonstones come from Sri Lanka, but they can also be found and mined in India, Australia, Myanmar, Madagascar, and in the United States.
Last, but definitely not least is Alexandrite. The chemicals necessary to create this enigmatic gemstone are rarely found in the same areas, making alexandrite one of the rarest and most expensive gemstones on Earth. Often referred to as “emerald by day, ruby by night”, this gemstone changes colors seemingly at the drop of a hat when exposed to daylight versus low light at night. The alexandrite deposits found in Russia are home to the highest quality stones on the planet, and act as a baseline for top-quality alexandrite. However, the stone can also be found and mined in Sri Lanka, Brazil, and parts of Eastern Africa.
Shop CLT Jewels today for the best selection of antique and vintage estate jewelry. Stop by Malak Jewelers today to browse our collection of pearl, alexandrite, or moonstone jewelry, other gemstones, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, 22k gold, estate jewelry, rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and other fine jewelry. We are located in South Charlotte, North Carolina, in The Arboretum Shopping Center at the corner of Providence Road and Pineville-Matthews / Highway 51. We are open from 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday.