Pearls and Moonstones for June Birthdays

By her who in June was born

No gem save pearls shall be worn

They will ensure her constancy

True friendship and fidelity.

-Gregorian Birthstone Poem

Happy birthday June babies!  I hope you have exciting plans for celebrating.  As promised, here is some information about your birthstones: Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite. 

Your traditional birthstone is unique (just like you!) in that it is the only birthstone that is organic, made from a natural, living material.  Pearls are formed when an irritant, like a grain of sand, enters an oyster, mussel, or clam.  In an attempt to stop the irritation, the mollusk creates a protective substance called “nacre”.  Over time layers of nacre coat the irritant and create a pearl.

Scientists explain the existence of pearls with nacre, but ancient civilizations had much more creative, and entertaining, explanations. The ancient Greeks thought pearls were created from the hardened tears of joy shaken from the eyes of the goddess of love when she was born from the sea.  Arab legend says that pearls were formed from oysters that were lured from the very depths of the ocean by the moon.  Supposedly the oysters swallowed moonlit dewdrops and so pearls were formed.  Ancient Chinese beliefs stated that pearls originated from the brains of dragons. 

Said to be a favorite gem of Cleopatra, worn by nobility throughout the ages, and a symbol of femininity and grace, June you are truly lucky to have such a special birthstone!

Moonstone is also a birthstone of June.  It gets its very appropriate name from its amazing resemblance to the sheen of the moon.  Moonstone’s color varies from clear to bluish white to peach.  Ancient civilizations believed the stone was sacred and gave the wearer great spiritual understanding.  Some ancient people even believed that moonstone could make the wearer invisible! As a gift (and what a great gift idea it is!), moonstone symbolizes health and longevity.

Just in case pearls or moonstone aren’t your style, those of you with June birthdays have one more chance to love your birthstone with Alexandrite.  Alexandrite is yellow or brownish green.  It actually changes color when exposed to a glowing light source (like candlelight) to a red color (how cool!).  As a gift, Alexandrite symbolizes joy and good fortune. 

Once again happy birthday to all of you this month! I hope it’s a great one and maybe someone will be thoughtful enough to give you a gift with your birthstone in it!