Moonstone, which is known to carry the lunar energies of the moon, is becoming quite popular these days. This stone is highly famed for its opalescent shimmer, and throughout history, you will find many legends associated with this stone. For instance, Hindus associated moonstones with the moon god Chandra, while the Romans believed that moonstones were nothing but moonlight which has become solidified. If you are thinking of purchasing a moonstone ring, we believe that it is an investment worth considering. If you are considering purchasing moonstone rings, don’t you think that going to the jeweler and ordering a moonstone ring is one thing, and arming yourself with knowledge regarding moonstone rings and then visiting the jeweler is another thing?
In the second option, where you know everything about the ring, you will be able to make an informed decision when it comes to the moonstone ring, and your buying will be conscious buying. We have created this comprehensive buying guide on moonstone rings, where we have discussed several things regarding moonstone rings. Before moving on to the topic of moonstone rings, let us first discuss what a moonstone actually is.
What is Moonstone?
Moonstone, the beautiful gemstone that showcases blue sheen is a member of the feldspar mineral group, and to be specific, it is classified as an aluminum silicate of sodium and potassium. The beautiful striking effect that you see on the moonstone is known as adularescence, in which the surface of the stone creates a shimmering effect resembling the glow of the moon. This milky bluish sheen, which is defined as adularescence, occurs due to the diffraction of light as it passes through the alternating layers of albite and orthoclase which make up the stone. In order to see this milky bluish sheen, you need to illuminate the moonstone at certain angles so that it diffracts light properly.
Some Facts about Moonstone Gemstone
- Chemical Formula: (Na,K)AlSi3O8
- Color: Typically found in blue, gray, white, pink, peach, green, and brown colors. Colorless variety also exists​.
- Hardness: Between 6 and 6.5 on the Moh’s Scale of Mineral Hardness
- Luster: Opalescent Luster
Formation & Sources of Moonstone Gemstone
Moonstone is formed as magma (or molten rock) cools and solidifies and it is primarily sourced from regions like India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Myanmar. Historically, the highest grade of moonstone was found in Myanmar, and this variety had the strongest blue sheen. However, nowadays, most top-quality moonstones are sourced from Sri Lanka.
Benefits of Wearing Moonstone Rings
Physical Healing Benefits
Moonstone rings have been worn for centuries to aid women with fertility and childbirth. This stone is also said to alleviate the pain of menstrual cramps and regulate the ovulation cycle. Other than women, moonstones can also be worn by people who have the trouble of sleepwalking, because this semi-precious gemstone aids in restful sleep. Also, wearing a moonstone ring and other moonstone jewelry is said to clear out the skin, and it is believed that this stone reduces pimples, acne, and dark circles around the eyes. Some crystal healers claim that moonstone is helpful in reducing hair loss and balding, and this stone also stimulates the growth of new hair and strengthens the roots, thus resulting in the growth of thicker hair.
Emotional Healing Benefits
Wearing moonstone jewelry is said to increase the intuition and it also strengthens the gut instincts. Enhancing your psychic abilities, moonstone is great for those who wish to make their careers in channeling, mediumship, and tarot card reading. Also, the feminine energies of the moonstone ring enable the wearer to come into acceptance of who they are and accept their strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and qualities fully. Last but not least, the moonstone is the stone of harmony – if you are facing inner conflict and if you are battling your inner demons, then you can wear moonstone jewelry in order to reduce the stress and anxiety caused by disharmony within you.
The 4 C’s: What Should I Look for As I Buy a Moonstone Ring?
As you go to your nearest jeweler to purchase moonstone rings, you need to choose the stone that will be used in the ring. In order to determine the perfect moonstone gemstone for your ring, we have mentioned the 4 C’s (clarity, cut, carat weight, and color) of the stone.
Clarity
- Natural Inclusions: Generally, genuine moonstones possess tiny fractures, which are known as inclusions. These inclusions are not bad – in fact, they enhance a moonstone’s character. Make sure that the moonstone you select for your ring has these imperfections, as it can signal the authenticity of the stone. A moonstone specimen that is completely flawless is most probably either synthetic or of lower grade.
- Grade: If you wish to purchase a high-quality moonstone, you should aim for at least AAA clarity grade – this particular grade of moonstone looks beautiful and it also does not possess excessive visible flaws.
Cut
- Shape: Moonstones can be cut in both cabochons and faceted cuts. The cabochon cut having an oval shape within moonstone is quite trendy right now, but you need to choose the style that suits you the most. Please make sure that your lapidary is great at cutting the moonstone – it’s the lapidary’s job to cut the moonstone in a way that maximizes the adularescence of the moonstone.
- Brilliance: A properly cut moonstone will display a beautiful blue sheen (due to adularescence), which makes the moonstone shimmer. Ensure that the stone is properly polished which makes the blue sheen look eye-catching.
Color
- Moonstones come in a wide variety of colors like white, blue, gray, peach, pink, green, and brown.
- The most sought-after variety of moonstone is the blue moonstone, which is known all over the world for its captivating blue sheen.
Carat Weight
- Size Considerations: In case you are planning to purchase a moonstone engagement ring, you can ease a bit – moonstones are generally less expensive than diamonds, which is why even a larger stone can fit into your budget.
- Bigger is not always better: Ensure that you balance the size factor with other things, like the cut of the moonstone, its clarity, and its color – you need to make sure that your moonstone showcases the unique qualities, like adularescence, that moonstone is desired for.
Popular Settings and Styles for Moonstone Rings
When you are selecting a moonstone ring for yourself, you need to be aware of the stone-setting that is in trend and you also need to understand the style which is gaining popularity. Here is a breakdown of the settings and styles that you can consider as you purchase a moonstone ring:
Stone Settings for a Moonstone Ring that are in Trend
- Bezel Setting: In this setting, a thin sheet of metal surrounds the moonstone from all directions, offering good protection to the stone against cracking and chipping. Since moonstone is considerably softer than diamond, the bezel setting is a good choice for moonstone rings.
- Four-Prong Setting: The four-prong setting is a secure option within a stone setting where 4 metal prongs hold the moonstone firmly in its place, while also allowing light to enter the stone from multiple angles. The benefit of the four prong setting is, that it enhances the blue sheen of the stone set in the ring.
- Halo Setting: In the halo setting, a central moonstone is surrounded by smaller accent stones, and these stones are generally faceted stones like diamond, amethyst, Citrine, sapphire, etc. The accent stones add extra sparkle to the ring and they draw the audience’s attention to the center stone.
Popular Styles for Moonstone Rings
- Cabochon Cut: The most common cut among moonstones is the cabochon cut – it features a smooth rounded surface that highlights the adularescence of the moonstone. This cut is famous because it looks very organic, and it brings out the raw natural beauty of moonstones.
- Faceted Cut: Faceted cuts among moonstones are becoming increasingly popular – faceted cuts add depth to the stone set in the moonstone ring. These faceted cuts can come in multiple shapes, the most desired ones being emerald or pear, and they offer a more traditional gemstone appearance.
- Mixed Gemstone Design: If you look at modern moonstone rings, they incorporate other gemstones (like diamonds, amethyst, emerald, and sapphires) along with moonstone, and this combination not only provides contrast, but it also enhances the overall aesthetics of the stone.
How to Check if Your Moonstone Ring is Real or Fake
In order to determine whether the moonstone set in your moonstone ring is real or fake, below are a couple of tests that you can perform:
Test #1: Light Test
Shine white light on the moonstone. If your ring possesses a real moonstone, the play of light (or adularescence) it showcases will change as you move the stone and change the angle at which light hits the stone. If your ring is uniformly lit, it means that the stone set in your ring is not a genuine moonstone.
Test #2: Heat Test
Try touching the moonstone set in your ring. If your moonstone ring has a natural moonstone, initially, it will feel cool, and it will gradually warm up. If the stone is made of glass or a synthetic stone, it will heat up very quickly as you touch it.
Test #3: Water Test
Moonstones are porous in nature, and this is why when you soak your moonstone ring in water for a few minutes, the stone will absorb a little bit of water. Synthetic stones, on the other hand, never absorb water.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have discussed every little detail about moonstone rings. We hope that all this information will allow you to make an informed buying decision on whether you should buy a moonstone ring or not. You can visit your nearby chain store or jeweler to order a moonstone ring, or you can browse E-commerce stores that deal in moonstone jewelry in order to buy the perfect moonstone ring for yourself.
And if you are a retailer, and you wish to purchase moonstone rings and other moonstone jewelry at reasonable wholesale rates, you can browse the website of Rananjay Exports. We, Rananjay Exports, are India’s biggest wholesale gemstone jewelry supplier, and we deal in all types of moonstone jewelry, such as moonstone pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Apart from moonstone rings, you can purchase gemstone rings in more than 250+ natural stones at Rananjay – rest assured, all these stones are ethically sourced. It does not matter whether you wish to purchase wholesale gemstone jewelry or 925 sterling silver jewelry – Rananjay Exports is your haven where you can meet all your jewelry needs.
