Moonstone is an attractive stone that has been loved for many centuries and across multiple cultures. The presence of light and its movement adds a glimmering sheen and soft color and makes its even bland appearance spectacular. It's a stone belonging to the feldspar group and has a pearly opalescent Schiller. Here we are going to put forward some well-known and some lesser-known interesting facts about moonstone that will help you to discover its history and significance.
1. Moonstone Comes in Multiple Hues
Though widely accepted and valued, the stone's color is colorless, semitransparent with a mobile, vivid blue shimmer, or we can say blue sheen. but it has a variety of body colors like green, blue, yellow, gray, and peach. Parrot Green moonstone was discovered in 1997 in south India.
2. Moonstone is Mistaken for Opalite
The two stones are frequently mistaken for one another due to their similar color, appearance, cut, and markings. Not only does the appearance of opalite vary, but the names given to it, such as opalite moonstone or opalite quartz, are sometimes intended to confuse the buyer. To understand the difference between the two, you need to have in-depth knowledge of both, otherwise there are chances of getting deceived or bluffed by a seller. There are a few characteristics that set them apart, like their weight, their composition, shine, and softness.
3. Moonstone is Prone to Breakage
On the Mohs scale, the moonstone ranks between 6 and 6.5, but in spite of this, it is a very soft stone. Due to cleavage within the stone, it is prone to breakage. But proper care of the stone can ensure its longevity.
Rings are easy to experience bumps and blows in everyday life. Thus, moonstone jewelry comes in the form of earrings and necklaces mostly. With the increasing popularity of moonstone and the rising trend of gemstones other than diamonds, designers are coming up with moonstone engagement rings as well.
It is a smarter option to get a bezel setting, halo setting, or any other setting that ensures the protection of the stone.
4. Moonstone Carry Rich Symbolism
Historically, ancient Romans believed moonstone came from the solidified rays of the moon. Diana, the goddess of the moon, was visible in the stone to them. Thus, they believed owning this stone meant getting blessed with gifts like love and wisdom. And for ancient Indians also, it was a sacred stone of love. They chose to gift it in marriage, as the stone would keep their love alive. Not only that, two individuals wearing moonstone at the same time can passionately fall in love. In addition to that, it has been a traveler's stone too. Ancient mariners wore it as an amulet. It would protect them, especially at night.
Moonstone’s association with the moon, makes it a symbol of divine femininity. With the stone, we feel filled with feminine qualities like empathy, love, intuition, and compassion. Also, it is believed that just as the moon recycles itself every month, the moonstone helps you feel new and rejuvenated.
5. Moonstone is Used for its Spiritual Aspect
As moonstone is known to carry mystical powers, mystics use it for meditation and healing. The stone is used in Ayurveda, Indian medicine. It is said that moonstone helps cure diseases like premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, period cramps, bloating and soothes the pregnancy and childbirth process.
The moon is directly associated with the mind, and the stones representing the moon also automatically get connected to the mind. Wearing the moonstone promotes intuition, success, good fortune, and mental fortitude. It releases the stress and uplifts your current state. The wearer becomes more acceptable to change and fearless.
6. Moonstone can be Carved into Different Shapes
Due to its softness, moonstone can be carved into unique shapes without much difficulty. But yes, it needs some expertise so that the stone doesn’t chip from anywhere. The gem cutters have to be careful in certain areas, like the girdle of moonstone, which has to be thicker than diamond shape, otherwise, it can lead to chipping.
7. Moonstone’s Phenomenal Glow Comes from Adularescence
The moon gets its extraordinary glow from an optical phenomenon known as adularescence. The light’s movement on the stone has always been compared to moonlight reflecting on a still and calm body of water. The glowing light is an after result of light’s reflection from the thin feldspar layers, a mineral present within the gemstone. The layers soften the light and make it bounce around the stone. This process gives the moonstone its mesmerizing glow.
8. Moonstone doesn’t Come From Moon
It is an old belief that moonstone comes from moonbeams. Its resemblance to the moon made people believe so. Like water reflects moon rays, similarly, moonstone reflects moving light. But in reality, moonstone is formed on the Earth during magma cooling. Orthoclase and albite solidify from the magma and create alternating layers that give the moonlight sheen to the gemstone.
9. Moonstone Comes From Different Parts of the world
Moonstone is mined in Australia, the Austrian Aps, Mexico, Madagascar, Myanmar, the USA, Norway, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Tanzania, and India. Some fine quality moonstone can be found only in Sri Lanka, and the colorful versions and rainbow moonstone can be found only in Sri Lanka and Southern India. And the other countries contribute only the white moonstone. The most popular blue moonstone is mined in Bihar, India.
Now, after knowing some interesting facts about moonstone, it's time to make it part of your jewelry collection. This wondrous stone will immediately make a place in your heart and fill it with more compassion and love. Wait no further to own one.
