With its milky appearance and flashes of blue and rainbow colour, moonstone is one of those gemstones that can look completely different depending on the light.
It’s also one of June’s birthstones, alongside pearl and alexandrite, making moonstone jewellery a meaningful choice for a June birthday or anyone who simply loves its distinctive glow.
But what does moonstone mean, why does it have that characteristic shimmer and how can you wear it? Here’s everything you need to know about the June birthstone.
What Is Moonstone?
Moonstone belongs to the feldspar mineral family and is best known for the light that appears to move across its surface as the stone catches the light.
This optical effect is known as adularescence and is what gives moonstone its distinctive glow.
Moonstone can vary naturally in appearance, from almost clear and colourless to milky white, peach and grey. Some stones can also display beautiful flashes of blue.
Is Moonstone a June Birthstone?
Yes. Moonstone is one of the birthstones for June, alongside pearl and alexandrite.
Its soft, neutral colouring makes it particularly easy to wear, while its distinctive glow gives it plenty of character.
If you’re looking for a June birthday gift, moonstone jewellery is a lovely alternative to pearl or alexandrite.
What Does Moonstone Symbolise?
Moonstone has been surrounded by symbolism for centuries, with its glowing appearance naturally leading to associations with the moon.
Traditionally, moonstone has been associated with new beginnings, intuition and good fortune, with different cultures attributing their own meanings to the stone over time.
Today, those associations can make moonstone particularly meaningful for birthdays, milestones and new chapters in life.
Of course, you don’t need to believe in gemstone symbolism to wear it. Its distinctive appearance is reason enough to love it.
What Is Rainbow Moonstone?
Rainbow moonstone is the name commonly used in jewellery for a variety of feldspar known as white labradorite. Although it isn’t mineralogically the same as traditional moonstone, the two are closely related members of the feldspar family and share a beautiful light-reflecting appearance.
Rainbow moonstone is particularly loved for the flashes of colour that appear as it catches the light. Depending on the individual stone and lighting, you might see blue and other rainbow-like colours move across its surface.
Because these variations occur naturally, each stone has its own individual appearance.
It’s this play of colour that makes rainbow moonstone jewellery such an easy way to add something a little different to an everyday jewellery collection.
How to Style Moonstone Jewellery
One of the easiest things about rainbow moonstone is how versatile it is.
Its pale base works beautifully with both gold and silver jewellery, while the flashes of colour add a little more interest than a completely colourless stone.
For an everyday look, try a moonstone necklace worn on its own or layered with a simple chain. Moonstone studs or huggies also work well as part of an ear stack, particularly alongside smaller plain-metal earrings.
Not sure whether you prefer moonstone set in gold or silver? Our guide to choosing between gold and silver jewellery can help you decide, although there’s no reason you can’t mix the two.
If you’re layering a moonstone pendant with other necklaces, our necklace length guide can also help you choose lengths that sit well together.
Is Moonstone Jewellery a Good Birthday Gift?
Moonstone jewellery is an especially thoughtful choice for someone born in June because of its connection to their birth month.
It can also be a meaningful choice for someone celebrating a new chapter or milestone because of moonstone’s traditional association with new beginnings.
And if they simply love colourful gemstones, the flashes found in rainbow moonstone make each piece feel a little different.
Can You Wear Moonstone Jewellery Every Day?
Moonstone can be worn regularly, but like most gemstone jewellery, it benefits from a little care.
Avoid wearing your moonstone jewellery while showering, swimming, exercising or sleeping, and try to keep it away from perfume, lotions and household cleaning products.
When you’re not wearing it, store your jewellery somewhere clean and dry and avoid allowing pieces to rub against one another.
For more advice on looking after your pieces, read our jewellery care guide.
Discover Rainbow Moonstone Jewellery
Whether you love moonstone because it’s your birthstone or simply because of the way it catches the light, it’s an easy gemstone to make part of your everyday jewellery.
At Rose & Wolf, you’ll find rainbow moonstone jewellery in sterling silver and 14ct gold vermeil, designed to be worn well beyond June.
Explore our Rainbow Moonstone Jewellery collection to discover earrings and necklaces featuring this distinctive gemstone.