Birthstone of the Month: June
- Sarah Deacon
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
June is a wonderful month to have a birthday as there is a choice of birthstones; pearls or moonstones. Both of these gems are prized for their beautiful appearance and optical effects caused by the interaction of the gem with the light that surrounds them.
Pearls have long been symbols of wealth and luxury, and have been in use for adornment since antiquity as no cutting technology was required to reveal their beauty. Pearls are an organic gemstone, produced by either saltwater oysters or freshwater mussels, and are formed by layers of nacre produced in the soft tissue part of the mantle of the mollusc.
Pearls are treasured for their unique lustre, which is caused by a combination of the reflection and the diffraction of light from both the surface and the platelets which make up the body of the pearl. This is known as the 'orient' of the pearl and the quality can vary depending on the conditions in which the pearl was formed, such as the temperature of the water.
Traditionally given as wedding presents to bring good fortune to the happy couple, pearls have long been symbolic of modesty, chastity and purity,
Moonstones are a variety of Feldspar, and are famed for the internal reflection effect of adularescence, which gives moonstone its ethereal silver blue glow. This is created by light reflecting from thin layers inside the gemstone, an effect that has been used to advantage in carvings, beads and cabochons. Pliny, the Roman natural historian noted the shimmering appearance of moonstones, believing that the appearance of the stone varied according to the stages of the moon.
Moonstone is believed to have the ability to calm a fever, protect the wearer from harm and bring good fortune in matters of the heart.
Pictured are pearl drop earrings in both 9ct and 18ct gold, as crafted by our in-house Goldsmith. Also shown is an antique 9ct rose gold pendant, featuring a beautiful topaz surrounded by seed pearls. The moonstone is a particularly beautiful example of this gem, as it displays chatoyancy, a 'cats eye' effect caused by light reflecting from parallel inclusions within the stone.
Comments