The June Birthstone: Pearl

The Modern June Birthstone is Pearl or Moonstone

The Traditional birthstone is Alexandrite

The Mystical birthstone is Moonstone

In the Ayurvedic tradition the June Birthstone is also Pearl

The modern June birthstone is the Pearl and it is also given on the 1st, 3rd, 12th, and 30th wedding anniversaries.

Pearls, of course, are formed when a tiny grain of sand or mineral lodges in the body of certan mollusks, oysters, for example, and the animal responds to that irritating grain by secreting nacre. Over time that grain is coated with the nacre and a pearl is created. Since the pearl itself isn't part of the oyster the animal continues to add to the growing pearl so it increases in size.

Orginally pearls were found by luck. Divers would open many oysters for every decent pearl found. These days most pearls are of the cultured variety. Cultured simply means that people insert the grain into the oyster. The grain is of a size and type more likely to produce the desired pearl. The oysters are then harvested after a couple of years and the pearls extracted.

Indian legend has it that pearls were heavenly dew drops than fell to the sea. In India, ancient warriors attached the pearls to their weapons to symbolize the tears and sorrow of those slain by the weapons.

• Like all fine gems pearls range in price from very affordable to very expensive. A pearl necklace, with nicely matched perfect exotic pearls, might set you back several thousand dollars.

The traditional June birthstone is Alexandrite, named after one of the Czars of Russia, Alexander II. The stone was first discovered in Russia, in 1834, on the day Alexander II came of age.

Gem quality Alexandrite is very rare and it is quite unusual to find it in modern jewelry. Russian jewelers loved it, though, so you just might be able to find some in antigue Russian jewelry.

One of the distinguishing features of this stone, and one that make is a very interesting birthstone for any month, is that is can change colors! Depending on the light its color will range from a green or blue-green to red or purple-red. In fact, it's this color changing that defines the stone as an Alexandrite and not just a chrysoberyl.

Moonstone in an alternative June birthstone and is also one of the mystical birthstones. Like pearls, moonstones can come in a variety of colors and have a particular shimmer called adularescence. Moonstones are only a 6 on the hardness scale, which means they can be easily scratched.

In India it is said to bring good fortune and is regarded as a sacred stone. Legend also has it that the moonstone arouses tender passion and so is perfect for lovers. In asian philosophy the Moonstone balances the yin and the yang forces.

© 2006 gems4friends.com. Permission is granted to copy this article as long as a live link back to gems4friends.com is part of the article. For more about which birthstone goes with which month visit gems4friends' birthstone pages or the big birthstone chart.