Moonstone

Moonstone has been associated with the moon since antiquity. The Romans believed it was solidified moonbeams; Hindu mythology says it formed from the moon's frozen rays. Sri Lanka has produced the finest blue-sheen moonstone for over 2,000 years, supplying the gem to ancient Roman, Greek, and Indian markets. The Mughal Emperors of India treasured moonstone for ceremonial jewelry. In Art Nouveau Europe (1890-1910), moonstone became the signature gem of the era — René Lalique, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Georges Fouquet incorporated it into masterpiece jewelry now housed in the Met and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. The 1960s and 1970s saw a counter-cultural revival; moonstone became associated with feminine intuition, healing, and lunar magic. Today's finest moonstones come from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India, with newer deposits in Madagascar.

Moonstone is the gem of feminine intuition, emotional balance, and the cyclical wisdom of the lunar phases. The play-of-light called adularescence (after Mount Adular in Switzerland, where fine moonstone was once mined) creates a billowing blue glow that seems to float beneath the surface — like moonlight trapped in stone. In Hindu tradition, moonstone was a sacred dream stone, placed under the pillow to grant prophetic visions. In Vedic astrology, moonstone corresponds to the Moon, governing emotions, intuition, and feminine energy. Modern crystal healing recommends moonstone for the third eye and crown chakras, for menstrual cycles, fertility, and emotional release. The gem is sacred to the goddesses Diana, Artemis, and Selene.

The Adolph Hitler moonstone scandal: a German naturalist named a 28-carat blue moonstone after Hitler in 1938; it was renamed simply the Star of Sri Lanka after WWII. The Smithsonian holds a 32.4-carat Sri Lankan moonstone with intense blue adularescence. René Lalique's moonstone Art Nouveau brooches sell at auction for $50,000-200,000 each. The Indian Maharani's moonstone necklace, displayed at the V&A Museum in London, contains 47 graduated cabochons cut from a single Sri Lankan crystal. The 1980s film Moonstruck (Cher, Nicolas Cage) revived public interest in the gem.

Moonstone is moderately hard (Mohs 6-6.5) but has perfect cleavage in two directions — it can split if struck sharply. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Clean with warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth. Store separately from harder gems to prevent scratching. Moonstone can lose its adularescence if exposed to harsh chemicals or extreme heat. Best worn in earrings, pendants, and protective ring settings (bezel rather than prong).