June Birthstone
Pearl
Alternates: Alexandrite, Moonstone
- Color
- Pearl: white, cream, pink, silver, gold and black. Alexandrite: color-change, often greenish in daylight and reddish under incandescent light. Moonstone: colorless to milky with a soft blue or white sheen (adularescence).
- Hardness (Mohs scale)
- Pearl 2.5 – 4.5; moonstone 6 – 6.5; alexandrite 8.5
Meaning & history
Pearls are among the few gems made by living creatures and have long symbolized purity. Alexandrite, a rare variety of chrysoberyl, was discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains in the 1830s and is prized for its dramatic color change. Moonstone has traditionally been associated with the moon because of its glow.
Folklore and symbolism are shared here as tradition, not as fact or as health claims.
Care tips
Pearls are soft: put them on last, wipe with a soft cloth after wear, and avoid perfume, chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners. Moonstone should be cleaned with warm, soapy water and protected from knocks. Alexandrite is durable and can be cleaned with warm, soapy water.
Design ideas
- A classic pearl strand or pearl drop earrings
- An alexandrite ring that changes color from day to evening
- A moonstone pendant
- June stones in a mother's ring or push present
Imagining something with pearl or alexandrite or moonstone? Let's design it together.
Design with pearl