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June babies are lucky—they have not one, but three stunning birthstones to choose from!

Yes, June is shielded by 3 different gemstones -- Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone. But do they perfectly fit every June-born lucky? If not, which birthstone do I fit the most? This guide will give you some hints.

Why So Many Choices? The Story Behind June's Trio of Gems

Ever wondered why June babies get to choose from not one, not two, but three stunning birthstones? It's a great question! Unlike most months that have a single designated gem, June boasts Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone. This isn't just a random quirk; there's a rich history and a touch of modern practicality behind it.

Originally, birthstone lists were less standardized than they are today. Ancient cultures associated various gemstones with the zodiac signs or months, often based on their perceived powers or colors that resonated with the time of year.

For a long time, Pearl was the sole, classic birthstone for June. Its timeless elegance and organic origin from the sea made it a cherished gem for centuries.

So, how did Alexandrite and Moonstone join the party?

The Rise of Alexandrite

As gemology evolved, new stones were discovered and appreciated. Alexandrite, a relatively modern discovery (found in Russia in the 1830s), captivated the world with its remarkable color-changing properties – appearing greenish in daylight and reddish-purple under incandescent light.

Its rarity and unique chameleon-like nature made it highly desirable. Jewelers, particularly in the early 20th century when birthstone lists were being more formally standardized by organizations like the American National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America), saw Alexandrite as a fascinating and valuable addition.

It was added to the list in 1912 as an alternative to Pearl, perhaps also because natural pearls were becoming increasingly rare and expensive.

Moonstone's Mystique and Accessibility

While Alexandrite is stunning, its rarity also means it can be quite costly and harder to find. This is where Moonstone comes in.

Moonstone, with its ethereal adularescence (that beautiful, billowy, moonlight-like sheen), has its own ancient mystique and has been revered in many cultures for centuries, often associated with love, fertility, and good fortune.

It was officially added as a June birthstone more recently by the Jewelers of America and the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) in 1952 and then reaffirmed in later updates. This addition provided a more widely available and affordable, yet still captivating, option for those born in June.

Deeper Dive: Choose the Best Fit

Now that we know why June has three birthstones, let's get up close and personal with each of these magnificent gems. Each one has a unique story, a captivating array of colors, special meanings, and particular needs when it comes to care.

Pearl: The Classic Gem of the Sea

The pearl, with its understated elegance and organic allure, has been treasured for millennia. It's a timeless choice for June birthdays.

Origin & Formation:

Unlike stones mined from the earth, pearls are the only gemstones created by living creatures. They form inside the soft tissue of mollusks like oysters (for saltwater pearls) and mussels (for freshwater pearls).

When an irritant, like a grain of sand or a tiny parasite, gets inside the mollusk's shell, the creature protects itself by secreting layers of nacre around it. This nacre, composed of aragonite (a calcium carbonate mineral) and conchiolin (a protein), builds up over time to form a pearl.

• Natural Pearls: Formed without any human intervention, these are incredibly rare and valuable.

• Cultured Pearls: Formed when a technician carefully implants an irritant (often a small bead or piece of mantle tissue) into the mollusk. The vast majority of pearls on the market today are cultured.

Key sources include Japan (Akoya pearls), Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines (South Sea pearls), Tahiti (Tahitian black pearls), and China (freshwater pearls).

What Color is Pearl

While the classic image of a pearl is a luminous white or cream, they come in a surprisingly diverse palette!

• Bodycolor: The main color can range from white, cream, yellow, pink, lavender, and silver, to deeper shades like gold, green, blue, and even black (Tahitian pearls are famous for this).

• Overtone: A subtle secondary color that seems to float over the main bodycolor. For example, a white pearl might have a rosé or ivory overtone.

• Orient: An iridescent shimmer of rainbow colors on or just below the pearl's surface, often seen in baroque (irregularly shaped) pearls.

 

The specific color is influenced by the type of mollusk, its diet, and the water conditions.

What Does Pearl Symbolize?

Pearls have long been associated with purity, innocence, and humility. They are also seen to symbolize:

• Wisdom: Gained through experience.
• Integrity and Loyalty: Making them popular for bridal jewelry.
• Femininity and Calmness: Believed to soothe and center the wearer.
• Protection: Historically worn by knights and soldiers.
• Prosperity and Good Luck.

Alexandrite: The Color-Changing Chameleon

Alexandrite is one of the rarest and most fascinating gemstones in the world, renowned for its dramatic color change.

Origin & Formation:

Alexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. It was first discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia in the 1830s and named after the young Tsar Alexander II. Its formation requires specific geological conditions, typically in pegmatites (igneous rocks with large crystals) and some metamorphic rocks. The unique color-changing property is due to the presence of chromium in its crystal structure.

Original Russian sources are now largely depleted. Today, alexandrite is found in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mozambique, though fine-quality material remains exceptionally rare.

What Colors are Alexandrite?

This is where alexandrite truly shines – or rather, changes! It exhibits a phenomenon called pleochroism, appearing in different colors when viewed from different angles, but its most prized quality is its color change in different lighting conditions:

• Daylight/Fluorescent Light: Typically appears emerald green, bluish-green, or teal.

• Incandescent Light/Candlelight: Transforms to ruby red, purplish-red, raspberry, or brownish-red.

This magical transformation is often poetically described as "emerald by day, ruby by night." The more dramatic and distinct the color change, the more valuable the alexandrite.

What Does Alexandrite Symbolize?

Given its dual nature, alexandrite is often associated with:

• Balance: Harmonizing different aspects of life.

• Luck and Good Fortune: Especially in Russian tradition.

• Love and Romance.

• Joy, Creativity, and Discipline.

• Transformation and Adaptability.

It's seen as a stone that can bring positive change and help one navigate different situations.

Moonstone: The Gem of Mystery and Intuition

Moonstone possesses an ethereal, milky glow that seems to dance across its surface, reminiscent of moonlight.

Origin & Formation

Moonstone is a member of the feldspar group of minerals, specifically a variety of orthoclase with layers of albite. Its signature phenomenon, called adularescence, is caused by light scattering between these microscopic, alternating layers. It forms in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins.

Key sources include Sri Lanka (famous for its classic blue sheen moonstones), India, Madagascar, Myanmar, Australia, and the USA.

What Color Moonstone?

Moonstone's beauty lies in its adularescent sheen, which can appear over a range of bodycolors:

• Bodycolor: Can be colorless, white, gray, peach, pink, yellow, green, or brown.

• Adularescence (Sheen): Most famously a billowy blue, but can also be white, silver, or even display a rainbow of colors (often marketed as "Rainbow Moonstone," which is technically a variety of labradorite, another feldspar, but widely accepted as a type of moonstone in the trade).

Some moonstones can also exhibit chatoyancy (a cat's eye effect) or asterism (a star effect).

What Does Moonstone Symbolize?

Deeply connected to the moon, moonstone is rich in symbolism:

• New Beginnings and Cycles: Like the waxing and waning moon.

• Inner Growth and Strength.

• Intuition, Psychic Abilities, and Dreams: Believed to enhance these qualities.

• Love, Passion, and Fertility: Often considered a lover's stone.

• Good Fortune and Success in Love and Business.

• Protection: Especially for travelers, particularly at night or by sea.

• Feminine Energy and Emotional Balance: Said to soothe stress and stabilize emotions.

Any Advice on Personality Gem Fit?

Let’s find your group from the table.

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