June birthstone ~ Pearl & Moonstone

Posted on May 25, 2010 at 2:09 pm by CelebrateYourFaith / Cultures, History, Holidays / 0

June’s birthstone, the pearl, is the only birthstone that is of organic origin. The nacre that forms a pearl is made of aragonite (a form of calcium).

Pearls have been cherished for millennia. They were particularly popular throughout the Roman and Byzantine empires, and were used to embellish the robes and cloaks of the nobility. Sets of matched pearls were so rare and expensive they were usually only available to royalty. The Kingdom of Heaven itself is likened to a fine pearl in Matthew 13:44-46.

At some point the moonstone also became associated with June birthdays, probably because it shares with the pearl a certain luminance, luster, and milky-white color. The moonstone is an opalescent stone which is part of the feldspar family of gemstones.

Both pearls and moonstones are beautiful in settings of either gold or silver, and they have a flattering effect on the skin tones of all who wear them.

See our beautiful selection of birthstone gift suggestions for June, or read more about the origins of symbolic gifts for birthdays and anniversaries.