Back in 1912, when the National Association of Jewelers of America met to standardize birthstones, June was assigned “just” two birthstones: pearl and moonstone. Forty years later, in 1952, the Jewelry Industry Council of America added another June birthstone: alexandrite. As a result, today June is one of three months that has three birthstones. The other two months are August and December.
All of these intriguing June birthstones present beautiful options for birthstone jewelry and help satisfy the growing toward more unique and personalized fashions. Continue reading to learn about these beautiful June birthstones.
The Opalescent Pearl
Presented as gifts to early Chinese royalty, worn by Persian princesses from long ago, considered the ultimate status symbol in ancient Rome, and referenced in the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey” by famous Greek poet, Homer, the pearl has been a classic jewelry choice for countless centuries. And while the popularity of pearls has waxed and waned over the centuries, they have always maintained some kind of presence in jewelry and are still highly valued and admired, even experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
Pearls are unique in several ways: they are the oldest gemstone known to man; they are the only gemstone that comes from a living creature; and they are the only gemstone that doesn’t need to be polished or altered to reveal its natural beauty. The highest-quality pearls have a reflective luster that gives them a creamy white appearance and an iridescent shimmer that creates colorful hues.
There are four types of pearls and each one has distinct characteristics. The four types are freshwater (the most common and least expensive), Akoya (considered the classic pearl), Handama (the highest grade of saltwater Akoya pearls), Tahitian (much larger and more expensive than Akoya pearls and available in a range of colors), and South Sea (golden or white coloring and the most valuable of all pearls). Natural pearls, made in the wild without human interference, are the rarest and most expensive pearls and were once the only type of pearl available. However, since the 1920s, cultured pearls (grown by pearl farmers) have almost entirely replaced natural pearls in the market. Our FAQ on natural and cultured pearls provides a more thorough explanation of their differences.
Although white is the most common color associated with pearls, they actually come in a variety of colors. Cultured freshwater pearls can also be dyed in different colors such as blue, black, brown, green, pink, purple, and yellow.
Black pearls, most of which are cultured simply because they are so rare in nature, aren’t truly black; rather they are green, purple, blue or silver. Pearls also have more than one shape, although round is still the most popular. Pearl shapes include baroque (irregular and non-symmetrical shapes), semi-baroque (slightly irregular shapes), oval (symmetrical and oval shaped), button (somewhat flattened, disc shape), and drop-shaped (teardrop shapes).
In addition to color and shape, pearls also have luster and it is perhaps its most defining characteristic. The pearl’s luster is why it reflects light in a way that makes it look as if it’s radiating light from the inside. Because pearls are soft and easily damaged, it is important to care for them properly to maintain their luster and shape.
Classic Pearl Huggie Earrings With Cascade of Diamonds Securing the Pearl
Pavé Pearl Cocktail Ring
Magnificent Moonstone
Moonstone, the second June birthstone, is an exquisitely luminous gemstone that appears smoky in the light. Its most striking feature is its adularescence (aka schiller). Similar to the visual effect we see when clouds are moonlit, when light strikes a moonstone, the light seems to scatter within the stone.
To accentuate the moonstone’s adularescence, they are often shaped and polished as cabochons with high domes. The cabochon shape displays the moonstone’s phonomenal color at its best and often reveals cat’s eyes or chatoyancy. On rare occasions, moonstone’s also display asterism, which produces an optical illusion where star-shaped rays of light appear in the stone.
The more transparent and colorless the moonstone’s body and the more blue adularescence it has, the greater its value. Moonstones are categorized as semi-precious stones. Many also believe that moonstones have a special energy that promotes peace and balance and healing. They’re also increasingly popular as an alternative gemstone for engagement rings.
Oval Cabochon Moonstone Pendant
Alexandrite Extraordinaire
Discovered in 1830 by Finnish mineralogist Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld in Russia’s Ural Mountains, Alexandrite was originally named diaphanite but was soon renamed to Alexandrite after the Russian Tsar, Alexander 11. At the time Alexandrite was discovered, Russia was its only source. It was until 30 years later that other sources were discovered in Brazil, India, Madagascar, Myanmar, and Tanzania. Nevertheless, Alexandrite is still quite rare, making it one of the world’s most expensive gemstones. Another quality that makes Alexandrite so expensive is its color-changing effect where it appears bright green or strong red depending on the light under which it is observed. It is such an unusual quality, in fact, that it is sometimes referred to as the ‘Alexandrite effect’. The saying “emerald by day, ruby by night” refers to this quality.
Alexandrite also exhibits pleochroism. Pleochroism is another type of optical effect, but it is distinct from the ‘Alexandrite effect’. With pleochroism, the gem appears to be different colors from different directions. The pleochroic colors of Alexandrite are green, orange, and purple red.
With a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale, Alexandrite is suitable for any jewelry setting and would make breathtaking birthstone jewelry. Alexandrite became the third June birthstone in the 1950s.
