In this article
Written by Sameer
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Traditional belief vs gemmology: anything on this page about luck, protection, planets, healing or religious tradition describes traditional and cultural beliefs — not proven effects, religious rulings or medical advice. A stone's identity, hardness, treatment and origin are gemmology, which a lab can test; the references at the end of the page cover that side.
June gets two birthstones. One is pearl, which we know as moti; the other is moonstone, called chandrakant in the subcontinent trade. The pearl grows inside a mollusc and the moonstone is a feldspar mineral, yet both have the same soft glow coming from inside. Both are also softer than most gems, so looking after them is a large part of owning one. For how the monthly list came about, see our birthstone guide.
Moti or moonstone: a side-by-side look
| Pearl (moti) | Moonstone | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Organic gem made of nacre | Feldspar mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5 to 4.5 | 6 to 6.5 |
| What you pay for | Lustre, surface, shape, size | Blue sheen and transparency |
| Best worn as | Pendant, earrings, the odd ring | Pendant or a bezel-set ring |
How to judge a pearl
Pearl is the only birthstone not priced mainly on weight. Size counts, but a small pearl with excellent lustre can be worth more than a large, dull one.
- Lustre comes first. Look at one light reflected in the pearl. A fine pearl gives a sharp, nearly mirror-like reflection; a poor one gives a soft, milky smudge. Nothing sorts pearls faster than this.
- Surface. A few small marks are natural. Heavy pitting, ridges or dull patches should take the price down a long way.
- Shape. Round costs the most. Drops and baroque shapes with strong lustre are often better value, and they look more individual when worn.
Catching an imitation: rub the pearl gently along the edge of a front tooth. A real one feels faintly gritty; glass, plastic and coated beads feel completely smooth. Imitations also tend to feel lighter and warm up quickly in your hand.
How to judge a moonstone
With moonstone, everything comes down to adularescence, the blue-white light that floats across the stone as you tilt it. The best stones are almost colourless and see-through with a strong blue sheen. Milky white stones with a faint glow are common and should cost much less. Turn the stone in your fingers: the sheen should travel, not sit still as a white patch. Glass "opalite" is sometimes passed off as moonstone; it glows bluish from every angle and often has bubbles inside.
On our pearl and moonstone category pages, every listing shows the price of that one stone.
Looking after soft stones
Pearl: last on, first off. Put pearls on after perfume, hairspray and make-up, and take them off before anything else. Perfume, deodorant and even sweat slowly dull the nacre, so wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear. Keep them away from ultrasonic, steam and chemical cleaners. Store them in a soft pouch rather than a sealed box, because years of very dry storage can make them crack.
Moonstone: it splits easily in one direction, so a sharp knock can crack it. A bezel setting protects it far better than claws do. Clean it with mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
Giving a June stone
Pearl is the classic choice for weddings, Eid, or a daughter's first piece of jewellery, and a single pearl pendant never goes out of style. Moonstone suits someone who likes a softer, less expected look, and its glow sits beautifully in silver.
Moti and the navaratna
Pearl carries extra weight here because it is one of the nine Vedic stones: the gem of the Moon (Chandra), traditionally linked with Cancer ascendants and a calm mind. That is a matter of belief and chart reading, quite separate from the Western June list; see gemstones by rashi.
Ordering from Authentic Gems
Each pearl and moonstone is listed and photographed on its own, and the piece in the photos is the piece we send. Browse pearls or moonstones. We dispatch from Karachi, where orders usually arrive in 1 to 2 working days, and deliver across the rest of Pakistan too, with Cash on Delivery, a check of the stone before you pay, and 7-day returns.
References
