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Moonstone
Moonstone is the best known gem variety of feldspar. It is usually polished as a cabochon to show it to its best effect. Its importance as a gemstone arises because of its schiller, which is an iridescent colour-display effect also found in labradorite. A classic moonstone is usually almost transparent with warm blue, purple and greenish schiller. Its body colour can, however, also be found in pink, green, brown and blue. Click here to view moonstone jewellery at Astley Clarke.
Typically, moonstone tends to contain a number of inclusions which look like stress cracks. These often occur in interesting patterns and can often add to the attractiveness of the stone.
Moonstone was particularly popular about a century ago at the time of the Art Nouveau wave. It is particularly noticeable in designer jewellery by the French master goldsmith Rene Lalique and his contemporaries, which can be found in museums around the world today.
In India, moonstones are thought to bring the wearer beautiful dreams, and are consequently known as ‘dream stones’. In many places in the Middle East, the moonstone is considered a symbol of fertility and women wear them sewn out of sight in their garments.
The most famous moonstone of all was not a moonstone but a diamond. In Wilkie Collins’ well-known classic book "The Moonstone", a large diamond is stolen from an Indian shrine. Although "The Moonstone" was written in 1868, it remains to this day a masterpiece of English literature. The book is clearly based on a number of stories about famous diamonds which have disappeared and reappeared over the centuries.
Traditionally, classical moonstones come from Sri Lanka. However, they are also found in the USA, Brazil, Australia, Myanmar and Madagascar. Since bluish moonstones of good quality have been becoming more and more of a rarity in recent years, their prices have risen sharply.
There are also several unusual varieties of moonstone, some with a smokey colour, some the colour of champagne, and some black and some reddish ones, mainly originating from India. Some also have a cat's eye effect or a four-spoked star, but this is very rare.
Click here to view Contemporary Designer Jewellery at Astley Clarke
Typically, moonstone tends to contain a number of inclusions which look like stress cracks. These often occur in interesting patterns and can often add to the attractiveness of the stone.
Moonstone was particularly popular about a century ago at the time of the Art Nouveau wave. It is particularly noticeable in designer jewellery by the French master goldsmith Rene Lalique and his contemporaries, which can be found in museums around the world today.
In India, moonstones are thought to bring the wearer beautiful dreams, and are consequently known as ‘dream stones’. In many places in the Middle East, the moonstone is considered a symbol of fertility and women wear them sewn out of sight in their garments.
The most famous moonstone of all was not a moonstone but a diamond. In Wilkie Collins’ well-known classic book "The Moonstone", a large diamond is stolen from an Indian shrine. Although "The Moonstone" was written in 1868, it remains to this day a masterpiece of English literature. The book is clearly based on a number of stories about famous diamonds which have disappeared and reappeared over the centuries.
Traditionally, classical moonstones come from Sri Lanka. However, they are also found in the USA, Brazil, Australia, Myanmar and Madagascar. Since bluish moonstones of good quality have been becoming more and more of a rarity in recent years, their prices have risen sharply.
There are also several unusual varieties of moonstone, some with a smokey colour, some the colour of champagne, and some black and some reddish ones, mainly originating from India. Some also have a cat's eye effect or a four-spoked star, but this is very rare.
Click here to view Contemporary Designer Jewellery at Astley Clarke
