My fused glass moonstone birthstone for June. The Moonstone is also the traditional gift for the 13th wedding anniversary. as always my photography isn’t that great so the picture doesn’t do this fused glass moonstone pendant justice. It has a lot of shimmer and glow.
According to my research including the Gem Society Organization, it was named by the Roman natural historian Pliny, who wrote that moonstone’s appearance altered with the phases of the moon — a belief that held until well after the sixteenth century. Moonstone has another synonym, which is Selenite, according to the Greek Goddess of the moon, Selene.
Moonstone is as captivating as a full moon gleaming in the night sky, is considered sacred in India, where it has appeared in jewelry for centuries. Moonstone is a type of feldspar, the most abundant mineral group in the crust of the earth. Feldspars comprise up to 60% of the earth’s crust. Moonstone occurs in many igneous and metamorphic rocks. The most prized moonstones are from Sri Lanka but also from India, Australia, the United States, Mayanmar, and Madagascar.
Moonstone Adularescence
When light falls between this thin, flat layers, it scatters in many directions producing the phenomenon called adularescence. A mesmerizing interplay of light known as adularescence causes a silvery-white sheen to glide like veils of mist across the milky surface of the moonstone. Gemologists, however, attribute the shimmering phenomenon to the presence of albite crystals embedded in feldspar. Moonstone is composed of two feldspar species; orthoclase and albite. Those two are intermingled, then as the newly formed mineral cools, the intergrowth of albite and orthoclase separate into stacked, alternating layers. Generally moonstone is cabbed with a high dome which accentuates the adularescence.
Colors of Moonstone
Moonstones come in a variety of colors, ranging from colorless to white, yellow, gray, brown, pink, orange and green. Clarity ranges from transparent to translucent. The most sought-after moonstones have a blue sheen from Sri Lanka. Blue-sheen moonstones are increasingly scarce and expensive, especially since the main Sri Lankan deposit of the gems dried up in 1988.
Of all the gemstones, only the moonstone is known to have centipede-like inclusions and with the presence of these beautiful inclusions, the price of the stone will go up. Moonstone’s beauty and long heritage make it the most familiar gem quality member of the feldspar group.
Moonstone is believed to have special properties:
- To arouse the passion of lovers.
- If placed beneath the tongue when the moon is full, a moonstone is said to reveal what is in store, good or bad, for a romance.
- Used to protect women and babies.
- Used by females to attract men.
- Astrologically, moonstone is associated with the zodiac sign of Gemini.
Hardness and toughness
Moonstone falls between 6 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It also has poor toughness moonstones are usually set into pendants, earrings, and pins rather than rings. High heat or sudden temperature change can cause breaks in moonstone.
Cleaning
Warm soapy water is the only recommended substance for cleaning moonstones. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are never recommended.
Some advantages of Fused Glass faux stones over typical gemstones. Fused Glass is less expensive, more durable (than some birthstones), and can be larger and various shapes than typical gemstones. Moreover, Fused Glass gemstones can be made into anything not just earrings, pendants, and rings but also key chains, bookmarks, pillboxes etc. Decals can also be added to Fused Glass faux gemstones. As for cleaning a Fused Glass faux Moonstone, clean with a jewelry cloth, alcohol, or water. Additionally if Fused Glass is scratched, it can normally be repaired without much additional cost, as for actual gemstones they are not as easy to fix.
Please let me know if you would like a Fused Glass faux Moonstone. If you would like something other than a pendant i.e., a wine stopper, night light, etc., just email (elegantfusedglass@yahoo.com) and I can create a custom fused glass piece.
Karen
