June's Birthstone

Did you know that the month of June offers three birthstones?  It gives that lucky June birthday gal or guy quite the option for variety of birthstone choices.

The three birthstones associated with June are pearl, moonstone and alexandrite.

The pearl originates from oceans, lakes and rivers around the world. It is timeless and beloved by women of all ages. 

Pearls are organic gems that grow inside the tissue of a living saltwater or freshwater mollusk (either an oyster or a mussel). There are also cultured pearls which are grown in both fresh water and salt water 'pearl farms'

The second possible birthstone for June is the moonstone.  Moonstone is the best-known gem of the feldspar group of minerals. It is renowned light that appears to billow across the gemstone or for its moon beam like milky blue luster.  The finest moonstones show a blue sheen against a colorless background.  Moonstone is often associated with love, passion and fertility; it is believed to bring great luck.

The third birthstone for June - Alexandrite is the rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes color in different lighting. Most sought alexandrite gemstones are those with a vivid green to bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light, and an intense red to purplish red in incandescent light. Alexandrite deposits were first discovered in 1830 in Russia’s Ural Mountains. The gem was named after the young Alexander II (1818–1881), heir apparent to the throne. Alexandrite caught the country’s attention because its red and green colors mirrored the national military colors of imperial Russia. 

Sometimes long thin inclusions are found within the alexandrite and it can create what is referred to as cat's-eye.