All about Moonstones

Moonstone: the magical gemstone

As the name suggests, these gemstones, with their beautiful pearly shine, known as schiller could easily be imagined to be crystallised moonlight, captured in solid form. These magical gemstones have long been prized for their supposed mystical and magical properties as well as their stunning appearance.

What is Moonstone?Back to top

Moonstone is the most valuable and most famous form of Feldspar. It is a pearly white translucent gemstone that, when polished and cut correctly shows a magical iridescent shimmer, usually faintly blue in colour. As it is moved about the play of light off the gemstone appears to shift and shimmer with a 3-dimensional effect. This schiller is caused by the layering of two different types of feldspar (orthoclase and albite) within the gemstone. This lamellar structure causes the magical interplay of reflection, refraction and diffraction responsible for the beautiful lightshow.

Moonstones are usually cut and polished into cabochons (smooth, unfaceted gemstones) to make the most of their schiller, although sometimes they are given a cushion cut, if they are of very high clarity, or cut into cameos.

What makes a good Moonstone?Back to top

The best moonstones are very highly prized and becoming increasingly rare (and valuable). Size, transparency and colour are all important factors that determine a stone's value. Ideally the stone itself should be colourless, with a blue schiller that is centred on the top of the gem. The traditional blue moonstones, with a brilliant 3-dimensional schiller are still the most expensive, although "rainbow moonstones" from India, which reflect multiple colours are also increasingly popular.

Because of their rarity and cost, moonstones are often imitated using treated glass or bleached amethysts. Fortunately this imitation is rarely successful and if you have ever seen a moonstone in real life, fairly easy to pick up from the way the schiller changes as you move the stone about.

How to care for MoonstonesBack to top

Moonstones are fairly soft gemstones, so can get scratched quite easily. Care should therefore be taken when they are worn. Because they are not usually faceted, and because of the schiller, small scratches may not be easily visible, but gradually you may notice the shine and schiller of the stone begin to dull. Fortunately, as long as there are no large cracks in the stone they are relatively easy to repolish, if you can find a reliable jeweller to do so.

Famous MoonstonesBack to top

During the Art Noveau movement moonstone was very popular for use in jewellery and the French goldsmith René Lalique created many moonstone pieces that now grace museums and private collections around the world.

Myths and legendsBack to top

There are a lot of myths surrounding moonstones and in India it is considered a sacred stone and was believed to bring mystical dreams and visions when worn to sleep. In many other parts of the world it was also associated with the moon (naturally), romantic love and fertility. Indeed in some Middle Eastern countries women still sew moonstones into their clothing if they are hoping for a child.

Place of originBack to top

The main deposits of moonstones are found in Sri Lanka, which also produces the highest quality stones. Moonstones are also produced in Brazil, Burma, India and Australia.

Technical informationBack to top