The June Birthstone – The Complete Guide
The month of June boasts three birthstones, providing individuals born during this time with a delightful array of gemstone choices. Among these options are Moonstone, Pearl, and Alexandrite.
From the luminous and opalescent Pearl and Moonstone to the captivating color-changing Alexandrite, June birthstones present a diverse and captivating selection. Alexandrite, known for its remarkable color-changing properties, holds a special place among the most significant gemstones on Earth.
With this wide spectrum of color choices and varied value points, individuals born in June can select a beautiful gemstone that suits their budget and complements their mood.
What is The birthstone For June?
Pearls stand as the sole gemstones in the world crafted by living organisms. Mollusks, through the deposition of Calcium Carbonate layers around microscopic irritants within their shells, create these treasures.
While any shelled mollusk has the potential to form a Pearl, the distinguished nacreous pearls, prized in the jewelry world for their iridescence, are produced by only two groups of bivalve mollusks using Mother-of-Pearl.
The name “Pearl” traces its origins to the Old French word ‘perle’ and the Latin word ‘perna,’ signifying leg, denoting the leg-of-mutton shape of an open mollusk shell.
Perfectly smooth and round natural Pearls are rare, and consequently, the term “Pearl” is often attributed to anything of great value and rarity.
The most prized Pearls are those created naturally in the wild. Many Pearls available in the market today are farmed or cultured by implanting a grafted shell piece into freshwater Pearl mussels or Pearl oysters.
Pearls are delicate, registering between 2.5 and 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, and they are sensitive to acidity and extreme heat. Exposure to vinegar can lead to the dissolution of Pearls due to the sensitivity of Calcium Carbonate to acid.
The finest Pearls exhibit a reflective luster, appearing creamy white with a rainbow-like sheen casting various hues. Cultured freshwater Pearls can be dyed in colors such as black, purple, pink, brown, blue, green, or yellow. Black Pearls, often cultured, are not black but display shades of blue, purple, silver, or green.
Pearls were historically found worldwide, but natural pearling is now confined to the waters near Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. Australia still harvests natural pearls in the Indian Ocean, maintaining one of the last Pearl diving fleets. Currently, most freshwater cultured Pearls originate from China, while South Sea Pearls are cultured in the Philippines, Indonesia, and northwestern Australia.
In various cultures, Pearls symbolize innocence and purity, making them a traditional choice for brides. Beyond being one of June’s birthstones, Pearls are associated with the zodiac signs Cancer and Gemini, and they are popular gifts for the first, third, twelfth, and thirtieth wedding anniversaries.
Pearls have adorned individuals for centuries, with ancient Greeks believing them to be tears of the gods. The oldest known Pearl jewelry, discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess dating back to 520 B.C., attests to their historical significance.
The Tudor era in 16th-century England earned the moniker “Pearl Age” due to the gemstone’s popularity among the upper class. Today, cultured Pearls have replaced natural Pearls since the 1920s, making these exquisite gemstones more accessible.
Pearls are associated with chastity and modesty, often used to address marital issues and foster stable marriages. They are given as gifts on the 30th wedding anniversary.
Alexandrite, a relatively modern gemstone, was discovered in the Russian Ural Mountains’ Emerald mines. Legend has it that it was found on the day Russian Czar Alexander II came of age in 1834, coinciding with Russia’s national colors.
Alexandrite, a rare Chrysoberyl, undergoes color changes from blue-green to purple-red, earning it the nickname “Emerald by day, Ruby by night.” Traces of chromium, the same coloring agent as Emeralds, contribute to its chameleon-like behavior.
High-quality Alexandrite is scarce and costly, with Russian gems setting the standard for quality. While most Alexandrite stones now come from East Africa, Brazil, and Sri Lanka, they do not match the vivid colors of the original Russian stones.
Associated with learning and concentration, Alexandrite is believed to enhance intuition, boost creativity, and ignite imagination. Its history dates back to Imperial Russia, where it became the official gemstone of Tsardom due to its unique color-changing properties.
Since the 1960s, laboratories have grown synthetic Alexandrite, distinct from simulated varieties, maintaining its value even in lab-grown forms.
Moonstone, the third birthstone for June, earned its name from the Roman natural historian Pliny, who noted its shimmering appearance changing with the moon’s phases.
The prevalent variety of Moonstone is derived from the Adularia mineral, named after the mining site near Mt. Adular in Switzerland. The term “adularescence,” denoting Moonstone’s enchanting milky glow resembling moonlight on water, also originates from this locale.
Comprising microscopic feldspar layers dispersing light, Moonstone exhibits the billowy effect known as adularescence. Thinner layers yield a bluish sheen, while thicker ones appear white. Moonstone manifests in an array of colors, including pink, peach, blue, green, gray, and yellow.
The finest Moonstones, colorless and transparent with a blue sheen, historically sourced from Sri Lanka, have become scarce, driving up prices. Moonstone is also found in various locations like the USA, Madagascar, Myanmar, Australia, and India, where gemstones in shades of orange, green, or brown are more abundant and affordable.
With a Mohs hardness of 6, Moonstone is susceptible to cleaving and stress cracking, necessitating careful maintenance, especially for jewelry items like pendants, brooches, bracelets, and rings.
Named for its association with lunar mystery and magic, Moonstone’s soothing energies synchronize with natural biological rhythms. Recognized as an ultimate fertility crystal, it kindles passion in new lovers and reunites separated ones. Its moniker as the “Traveler’s Stone” stems from its reputed ability to protect nocturnal travelers.
Moonstone is employed to address insomnia, sleepwalking, induce sound sleep, and inspire beneficial dreams. Revered since ancient times, it was admired by the Romans, who believed Moonstones formed from moonbeams. Greek and Roman cultures associated Moonstone with lunar deities, while Hindu mythology held that Moonstone originated from the ethereal light of the moon.
In India, Moonstone is esteemed as a sacred and magical dream stone believed to attract beautiful dreams. Across cultures, the belief persisted that Moonstones align the wearer with the moon’s natural rhythms.
Renowned for its calming aura, Moonstone has been utilized to treat insomnia, sleepwalking, and to dispel nightmares. In 1970, Florida designated Moonstone as its official state gemstone, commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing and subsequent space missions launched from the state.
Valued for centuries, Moonstone continues to be accessible and popular. It holds particular favor as the preferred June birthstone in certain regions, surpassing Pearl and Alexandrite in popularity, notably in Scandinavia and Germany.
What are the key traits of the June Birthstone?
The month of June is linked with the enchanting gems of Pearl, Moonstone, or Alexandrite, known for their calming influence on nervous and anxious thoughts. These birthstones, with their cool and milky appearance, symbolize qualities of modesty and chastity.
Alexandrite, an exceptionally rare stone, undergoes a remarkable transformation, appearing calm green during the day and transforming into a brilliant red in the light of an open flame. This phenomenon is believed to bring good luck and fortune, as well as love to those born in June, serving as a poignant reminder that life holds hidden depths beyond initial appearances.
Individuals born in June are characterized by their intuition, imagination, and romantic inclinations, fostering a hopeful outlook on their futures. Possessing a healthy sense of self-esteem, they navigate the world with joy, embracing life’s ups and downs. Much like their gemstones that change color, June-born individuals exhibit changeable natures, experiencing shifts in mood with ease.
Adaptability is a hallmark of these individuals, enabling them to seamlessly fit into diverse social situations. However, this trait can be a double-edged sword, as the adaptability might lead them to lose touch with their authentic selves. Birthstones like Pearl can serve as a tool for reconnection if they take the time for introspection.
June babies are characterized by their humor, sociability, and articulate communication. They display character and proficiency in making their opinions known. While sensitive and polite, they may take an extended period to recover from emotional wounds. Loving and emotional, they exhibit imagination, intuition, caution, and shrewdness.
Their moods fluctuate, oscillating between emotional warmth and detachment, often displaying clinginess, particularly with loved ones. Breakups are challenging for June individuals due to their heightened emotional intensity. Possessing foresight, vision, and determination, they are easily influenced by kindness and are inspired by acts of goodness, paying it forward whenever possible.
June-born individuals are soft-spoken and polite, enjoying engaging conversations and debates as an outlet for their active minds. They have a penchant for daydreaming, adhere to law-abiding principles, and prefer dressing up without taking themselves too seriously. While they can be fussy about their preferences, they are imaginative and creative in seeking entertainment.
However, they may become temperamental in the face of plan delays or unexpected outcomes, as they prefer stability and dislike sudden changes.
The Color of the June Birthstone and its Secret Meaning
Pearls exhibit a captivating natural luster, endearing them to both collectors and those less inclined to collect gemstones. Their inherent translucence enhances their beauty, making them a highly favored gemstone.
The array of colors displayed by Pearls is influenced by the specific type of oyster or clam that produced them, along with the environmental conditions during their formation. While the classic milky-white hue is iconic, Pearls also present themselves in an enchanting spectrum of shades, including golden, blue, black, lavender, green, white, and cream.
In contrast, natural alexandrites showcase a delightful green hue that transforms into reddish-purple when exposed to incandescent light. Moonstone, occurring naturally, reveals its captivating presence in peach, green, blue, and champagne colors.
June Birthstone Necklaces, Rings, and Jewelry
Pearls serve as an ideal gift for individuals born in June. With their age-old symbolism of innocence and purity, Pearls are traditionally worn by brides on their wedding day, making Pearl jewelry a splendid choice to celebrate a bride-to-be or mark a first, third, 12th, or 30th wedding anniversary.
For those seeking perfectly round natural Pearls, patience and a generous budget are essential. Cultured Pearls, widely available, offer a range of alternatives. Their colors span from velvety white to shades of pink, yellow, purple, brown, silver, green, or a dazzling array resembling a peacock’s luminous rainbow.
Unlike many gems, Pearls aren’t measured by carats; instead, luster plays a pivotal role in their selection. The finest Pearls exhibit a metallic and mirror-like reflectivity. Sizing between 3mm to 13mm, finding Pearls that match in size, color, and radiance can be challenging and expensive due to their unique formation, requiring no cleaning or faceting.
Caution is advised against imitation Pearls or shell Pearls made from conch shells or glass coated with a solution containing fish scales. Rubbing Pearls together helps distinguish between smooth imitations and genuine stones with abrasive nacre. Expert gemologists, like those at the American Gem Society, use gemological X-ray equipment to differentiate natural Pearls, characterized by concentric growth rings, from cultured Pearls with an embedded shell core to stimulate production.
Alexandrite, one of the rarest and most significant gemstones, serves as a luxurious gift for June celebrants and the traditional 55th wedding anniversary. The stone’s value is influenced by its color change, with a more vibrant shift from pale blue-green to purplish red indicating higher quality. Weighed in carats, color takes precedence over clarity, and Alexandrite’s historical value, durability, and rarity make it a wise investment.
Moonstone, another captivating June birthstone, makes for an enchanting gift, whether for a birthday celebration or to harness its mystical lunar forces. Evaluated based on carat weight, cut, clarity, and color, Moonstones with greater transparency and a blue sheen are considered more valuable. The highest-quality material originates from Sri Lanka, although Indian Moonstones with colors ranging from green, orange, to brown are more accessible and affordable. Moonstones exhibit a weakness with their relatively low hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, making them susceptible to stress cracking. As such, care is essential, with preference given to Moonstone pins and pendants over rings or wristbands. Synthetic Moonstones are not available, and their simulation by Chalcedony and artificial Spinels is easily detectable.
My Final Thoughts on the June Birthstone
Individuals born in June have the delightful opportunity to choose from three stones for their birthstone jewelry.
Pearls, known for their calming properties, encourage individuals to center themselves while promoting integrity, truth, and loyalty. Symbolizing chastity, modesty, and stable relationships, Pearls have been revered as symbols of purity for centuries. Ancient Greeks believed Pearls were the joyous tears of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Wearing Pearls is thought to calm the mind, control anger, foster success in creative endeavors, and contribute to a prosperous married life. Those with Pearls as their birthstone may project innocence and modesty, yet possess strong and stable personalities. Nature lovers with a special connection to animals, they may also benefit from Pearls’ therapeutic properties, addressing digestive disorders, soft organ health, skin conditions, bloating, biliousness, fertility, childbirth pains, and issues related to the spleen, heart, and stomach. Pearls promote mental stability and prevent hysteria.
Alexandrite, a rare gemstone with calming properties, balances the wearer’s emotional state and is particularly beneficial for the circulatory system. Known for its color-changing nature, earning it the moniker “Emerald by day, Ruby by night,” Alexandrite is associated with learning, fostering imagination and creativity. Alternatively, for those seeking peace and relaxation amid a stressful life, Moonstone is an excellent choice. Moonstone protects against emotional stress, promoting calm responses and balanced digestive systems, while purging toxins from the body. Beneficial for hormonal functions, especially during pregnancy and childbirth, Moonstone enhances emotional balance.
No matter the choice, each of these stones not only adds beauty to the wearer but also has transformative properties to enhance their lives.
