Moonstone has captivated humanity for centuries with its ethereal glow and enchanting allure. This exquisite gemstone is a symbol of beauty, holds deep cultural significance, and has been used in jewelry throughout history. Moonstone jewelry opens the heart to deep emotions, ushering in an understanding of unconditional acceptance. Join us as we explore moonstone’s history, symbolic meanings, and timeless elegance.
The stunning Winter Awakenings Moonstone Pendant – a timeless jewel crafted in 14k white gold- aptly serves as a featured creation to introduce moonstone into Michelle Valadon's collections of vintage-inspired jewelry. This pendant is adorned with a delicate petal of diamonds, reminiscent of the Renaissance period. The antique detailing elegantly frames a cool, glacial blue-white moonstone center, setting the stage for the enchanting journey into the world of moonstone jewelry.
What Is a Moonstone?
Moonstones get their name from their enchanting moon-like bluish, milky interior glow or adularescence. These stones belong to the oligoclase feldspar family. Enchanting in their display, other captivating varieties include adularia and sanidine.
Moonstone Jewelry: A Harmony of Substance and Style
Moonstone jewelry, gracing settings of sterling silver, gold, titanium, and mixed metals, has found favor among both men and women. This celestial gem, composed of sodium potassium aluminum silicate, is a feldspar filled with alternating layers of orthoclase or oligoclase and albite. Constituting 41 percent of the Earth's continental crust, feldspar forms the sturdy foundation of moonstone's exquisite allure.
The Lady Lace Chandelier Earrings are a captivating symphony of substance and style. Crafted from 14K white gold lace, these scalloped chandelier earrings boast a mesmerizing combination of diamonds and stunning moonstones.
Drawing inspiration from the romantic ambiance of winter, these earrings weave enchantment with their intricate beadwork and celestial diamonds. Resembling heavenly lace that gracefully drapes the wearer, these earrings accentuate feminine allure. The moonstones, pristine as snow, cast a radiant glow against exquisite metalwork, skillfully recreating the ethereal beauty of a winter's night.
Moonstone Specifications and Characteristics: A Symphony of Attributes
When gauging moonstone's toughness on the Mohs Hardness Scale, it confidently holds its ground between 6-6.5, just beneath quartz and topaz. Diverse in color, moonstones can be colorless, yellow, gray, green, pink, orange, brown, or red. With a monoclinic crystal structure, vitreous luster, and transparency ranging from transparent to opaque, moonstones possess a refractive index of 1.518-1.525, a density of 2.61, and cleavage that is perfect and easy in two directions. Adularescence, an optical phenomenon akin to moonlight dancing on still water, adds an enchanting glow to these gemstones.
Moonstone Gemstone Properties: Unveiling the Secrets of Rarity
The allure of moonstone jewelry lies in the art of gemstone grading. Assessing properties like color, clarity, cut, and carat weight, gemstone grading discerns the value of these luminous treasures.
The Winter Daisy Moonstone Pendant Necklace features a floral motif daisy pendant in an antiqued milgrain setting adorned with diamonds and faceted moonstone; this piece unravels the enigmatic allure of moonstone's scarcity.
Resonating with the frigid beauty of a glacier, the rich blue moonstone takes center stage, its facets sparkling like diamonds amidst the icy petals. The unusual glow of the moonstone, reminiscent of the ethereal winter landscape, is showcased amidst the crystalline embrace of diamond petals, creating a truly rare and mesmerizing piece. (Displayed here with the Lil Daisy Diamond Pendant Necklace for reference.)
Color:
Pure moonstones dazzle in their colorless beauty which can also be seen in the Frozen Tears of Winter Necklace, while the entrance of traces of iron transforms them into a spectrum of hues – warm peach, light green, bold orange, serene blue, and more. Red moonstones owe their color to iron oxide inclusions known as goethite. Although rainbow moonstones boast stunning green and orange tones, it's worth noting that they technically fall under the category of labradorite.
Adularescence:
When light embraces moonstone, the captivating phenomenon of adularescence unfolds. As light interacts with the feldspar layers, a pearly bluish-white glow emerges, reminiscent of moonlight kissing a tranquil pond. Moonstones with pure blue adularescence are considered the most valuable.
Clarity:
Inclusions, tiny pockets of gas, dust, liquid, minerals, and particles formed during the moonstone's creation contribute to its unique charm. Notably, centipede inclusions, resembling tiny creatures with legs, authenticate the moonstone's genuine nature. A moonstone devoid of inclusions commands a higher price due to its rarity.
Cut:
Moonstone cuts span four categories: cabochons, faceted, intricate jewelry carvings, and beads. Cabochons, particularly oval ones, are the most popular, emphasizing the gemstone's colors. Faceted cuts add brilliance and can cleverly conceal inclusions, while intricate carvings and beads showcase moonstone's shimmering elegance.
Carat Weight:
Moonstones exhibit diverse sizes and weights, with larger, high-quality gemstones being rare. Blue adularescence rarely exceeds 15-20 carats, while those with silvery or white adularescence can weigh hundreds of carats, offering a spectrum of choices for connoisseurs of lunar beauty.
The History of Moonstone in Jewelry
The Ancient Origins:
Moonstone has been revered since ancient times, with its name itself evoking the mesmerizing sheen of the moon. In ancient civilizations like India and Rome, moonstone was believed to be formed from solidified moonbeams, lending it an otherworldly mystique.
In the annals of antiquity, moonstone is more than a mere gem; it is a conduit to the divine. For the ancient Romans, this iridescent treasure was a sacred gift from Diana, their lunar goddess. Carrying moonstones became a ritual to invoke blessings of love, wisdom, fortune, mental clarity, and foresight, aligning the wearer with the celestial realms.
Ancient Indians, too, held moonstone in reverence, entwining it with the myths surrounding their lunar deity, Chandra. According to ancient lore, Chandra bore a stone on his forehead that radiated or dimmed harmoniously with the waxing and waning moon. Moonstones, in the eyes of the ancient Indians, were not mere gems but potent symbols of love. They bestowed moonstones upon newlyweds as traditional wedding presents, believing that wearing these ethereal gems during a full moon could pave the way to everlasting love.
Journeying further into history, moonstone took on the role of a protective talisman for travelers. Whether navigating the night's shadows or braving the tempestuous seas, travelers sought solace in the moonstone's mystical embrace. This popularity bestowed upon moonstone the revered moniker of the "traveler's stone," an amulet believed to safeguard voyagers and ensure the success of their journeys.
Victorian Romance:
During the Victorian era, moonstone experienced a resurgence in popularity. Queen Victoria herself was known to favor jewelry adorned with this luminous gem. The romantic and sentimental nature of the Victorian era found a perfect match in the moonstone, and it became a symbol of love and passion. Moonstone jewelry, set in delicate designs, adorned necklaces, brooches, and earrings, adds a touch of elegance to the era's fashion.
Art Nouveau Aesthetics:
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Art Nouveau movement embraced the organic and flowing forms inspired by nature. Moonstone, with its subtle play of colors resembling the moon's glow, perfectly fit the artistic sensibilities of the time. Jewelry designers like René Lalique and Louis Comfort Tiffany incorporated moonstone into their masterpieces, creating pieces that were not just accessories but wearable works of art. This increased their popularity into the Art Deco era and were favorably used during the 20s era combining stones together or separately within designs.
Michelle Valadon’s 1920s Metropolis is an art deco design-inspired piece with a milky-white moonstone bar subtly capturing the shining moon while taking form inspired by the Empire State building, an iconic architectural art deco wonder. This particular moonstone’s appearance is what makes it so unique. Moreover, the mine’s origin of this particular moonstone has been, for the most part, depleted.
Symbolism and Spiritual Significance:
Moonstone is often deeply associated with intuition, femininity, softness, and emotional balance. It is considered a feminine stone and believed to enhance connection to the divine feminine. Its connection to the moon ties it to cycles and renewal. In various cultures, moonstone is believed to enhance one's spiritual connections, intuition and clarity. Wearing moonstone jewelry brings a sense of calmness and emotional stability. It's the symbol of light and hope encouraging us to embrace new beginnings.
Modern Elegance:
In contemporary fashion, moonstone continues to be a popular choice for jewelry enthusiasts seeking a touch of timeless elegance. Its versatility allows it to be incorporated into various styles, from Victorian and eclectic to classic and modern. Moonstone necklaces, rings, and earrings are crafted in an antiqued to vintage inspired design with ornate details to make a statement, appealing to a diverse audience that appreciates the bygone days.
The Daisy Drops Moonstone earrings boast a floral daisy motif, meticulously set in exquisite milgrain, adorned with diamonds and faceted moonstone, elegantly dangling from a budding petite daisy as budding into the transition awakening of spiritual and feminine essence..
The ice diamond daisies exude a radiant sparkle, complemented by the cool, faceted moonstone centers. Each full-bloom daisy gracefully hangs from a petite budding bloom, imparting a subtle yet captivating sparkle that encapsulates the essence of beauty and refinement reminiscent of another time in the modern era.
What Do Moonstones Symbolize?
Moonstones transcend aesthetics, weaving a tale of profound significance and mystical energies. As the birthstone of June, often hailed as the bridal month, moonstones carry a symbolism that resonates with love and passion. In modern society, moonstones are revered as more than just gems; they are conduits to channel desires to the universe, particularly those seeking to forge deep emotional connections with a special someone.
However, the allure of moonstones extends beyond matters of the heart. These radiant gemstones are not exclusive to romance; they usher in a sense of peace and compassion. Moonstones bring a powerful presence, the gentle feminine energy it brings, allowing one to open one's heart to receive and give love that nurtures. It promotes spiritual growth and a sense of oneness with the universe.
The spectrum of moonstone benefits is as vast as the night sky. From instilling hope and harmony to sparking inspiration and personal fulfillment, moonstones become talismans that resonate with the varied aspirations of those who wear them. Moonstone is often associated with intuition, femininity, and emotional balance. Its connection to the moon ties it to cycles and renewal.
While capturing the dreaminess of winter, the moonstone in the Chantilly Lace Pendant Necklace radiates a glow akin to snow under the mesmerizing light of the stars. Embraced by an ultra-feminine lace motif, reminiscent of the delicate touch of winter's frost, this pendant evokes the romance felt on a chilly winter's night. The delicate intricacy of the lace, coupled with the radiant sparkle of its moonstone center stone, beckons a profound feminine essence, allowing the wearer to feel her most beautiful and connected to her inner goddess of sensuality.
Moonstone's Healing Touch: A Symphony of Spiritual and Physical Wellness
Delving into the spiritual and healing properties of moonstone unveils a world of profound significance. At its core, the spiritual meaning of moonstone lies in its ability to release negativity, particularly for those who navigate the realms of grief and emotional labor in their professions. Therapists and rescue workers find solace in the gentle radiance of moonstones, allowing them to release burdens and embrace healing energies.
In various cultures, moonstone is believed to enhance one's spiritual connections and intuition. Wearing moonstone jewelry brings a sense of calmness and emotional stability. For spiritual healing, moonstones become conduits to power up the chakras, those sacred energy centers intricately tied to overall health and well-being. Moonstones, in their ethereal grace, open the sacral and third-eye chakras. The sacral chakra balances sexual energy and promotes reproductive health. In contrast, the third eye chakra restores connectivity to one's higher self.
Beyond the spiritual realm, moonstones exhibit physical healing powers. From aiding digestion and nutrient absorption to offering relief from menstrual cramps, supporting pregnancy, and easing childbirth, moonstones are allies in the journey to physical well-being. As a unique touch, wearing a moonstone during the full moon is believed to enhance fertility, adding an extra layer of symbolism to these captivating gemstones. Essentially, moonstones are much more than mere adornment. They become gateways to a world where love, harmony, and healing energies converge in a luminous dance of symbolism and significance.
Caring for Moonstone Jewelry:
Given its delicate nature, proper care is essential for maintaining the beauty of moonstone jewelry. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, and direct sunlight. Gently clean your moonstone jewelry with a soft cloth and mild soap to preserve its natural radiance.
Moonstone's Timeless Allure in Michelle Valadon's Winter Dreams Collection
Moonstone jewelry is not merely an accessory; it's a testament to the enduring fascination with the celestial beauty of the moon. From ancient civilizations to modern fashion runways, moonstone has woven its luminous thread through the tapestry of time, leaving an indelible mark on jewelry. Embrace the allure, appreciate the symbolism, and indulge in the timeless elegance of moonstone jewelry that transcends trends and resonates across generations. The stunning moonstone jewelry within Michelle Valadon's Winter Dreams collection, with its delicate lace motifs, gorgeous moonstones and diamonds, and ethereal glow, beautifully encapsulates the essence of winter's dreaminess. Each piece invites the wearer to embrace the enchantment of moonstone, transcending mere adornment to become a symbol of empowerment, femininity, and the timeless allure that resides within. Michelle Valadon's Winter Dreams collection stands as a testament to the enduring beauty and symbolism of moonstone, creating a harmonious fusion of elegance and meaning for those who seek to adorn themselves in the poetry of jewelry.