In India, people once believed that moonstones were solidified moonlight. It is supposed to bring good fortune and help people foretell their future.
A Birthstone for June, in America, it is an alternative for pearl for those who were born in June. However, in Europe, it is the pearl that is rather considered a substitute for Moonstone.
One of the earliest source of Moonstone was St. Gotthard in Switzerland, which was known formerly as Mount Adularia, from which the word adularescence was derived.
Moonstones are known for a floating light effect and sheen called "adularescence" which is usually compared to the moonlight.
This phenomenon is resulting from the interplay of light with layers of 2 kind of feldspar family crystals: orthoclase and albiet which cause this light effect.
STAR MOONSTONES & CAT'S EYE MOONSTONES
Some moonstones are cut with a slight high dome to show off their story Cat’s Eye Phenomenon or 4 raystars across the top of the stone, they are usually called cat’s eye or star moonstone.
AN INTERESTING VARIETY OF BODY COLOR
Moonstone is usually white and colorless, however, it occurs in nature in whitish light bluish, gray, yellowish orange, honey color or blue green colors. It also may occur transparent or opaque, however, the most important value factor in a moonstone is its adularescence.
RAINBOW MOONSTONES
Rainbow moonstone is a colorless moonstone with a multi-color adularescence usually blue, yellow greenish orangy and rarely purple – most of the time with a lavander sheen.
Rainbow moonstones are rare especially if they are in large sizes, usually over 10 ct., or/and with excellent clarity.
Rainbow moonstone or sometimes called Rainbow Labradorite usually occurs in nature included with internal or external fractures most often they look like opal crazing and with internal pin point black inclusions. Finding a large flawless rainbow moonstone usually cost several times more than a regular moonstone.
AN OLD ROMANTIC GEM
Moonstone is a romantic gem that reminds us of the stars, the moon and the rainbow. After all, it may have its effect over our human life as Ancient people believed.
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