Moonstone, the name alone is full of fantasy, right? It's like a piece of the moon falling to earth, sparkling. You may have heard of it, but do you really know why it is so fascinating?

Don't worry! I will take you deep into the world of this gemstone to see how special this stone is!

Moonstone is a member of the feldspar family, mainly a mixture of orthoclase and albite. Technically, it is a semi-precious stone, and its main component is sodium potassium aluminum silicate. Its hardness is between 6 and 6.5, which is hard enough for daily wear.

When it comes to appearance, moonstone is amazing! It ranges from transparent to translucent, exuding a soft milky white luster. Most moonstones are cut into smooth cabochons, which can perfectly show its iconic adularescence.

In fact, the name of moonstone is related to the magical light it emits. The way it shimmers and reflects light is almost exactly the same as the soft, mysterious light of the moon itself. That’s why it’s called moonstone.

According to Wikipedia, moonstone also has another nickname – hecatolite. Yes, it’s related to the ancient Greek goddess Hecate. She is the ruler of the moon, magic, night, crossroads and the dead, mysterious and powerful.

What makes moonstone so attractive? It’s because of its unique adularescence. This stone seems to capture the magic of the moon and you can’t take your eyes off it. Not only that, its light dances with the angle it changes, as if the moonlight is locked into the gemstone.

This fascinating effect is all thanks to the unique structure of moonstone. During its formation, orthoclase and albite separated into alternating layers. When light shines between these thin layers, it scatters in many directions, releasing amazing adularescence.

Due to the different iron content, moonstone comes in a variety of shades. While white is the most common, blue is undoubtedly the most popular. Don’t miss the gray moonstone, which is more common than you think. As for rainbow moonstone? It’s not really a moonstone, but a special kind of labradorite.

If you want something a little more rare, look out for colorless, yellow, orange, peach, or green moonstones. As for pink, brown, and black? They’re the unicorns of the moonstone world! They’re so rare, and if you happen to get one, you’re so lucky!

Since ancient times, moonstone has been considered a symbol of the moon. The ancient Romans believed it was made of frozen moonlight. Some even claim that the moon goddess Diana can be seen in the stone. Those who own a moonstone are believed to receive her love, wisdom, and good luck.

But wait, the romance doesn’t end there. Moonstone is also known as the “lover’s stone.” In India, it’s often given as a traditional wedding gift. Legend has it that if a couple wears a moonstone under a full moon, they will fall deeply in love.

Fast forward to medieval Europe, and moonstone has taken on a whole new level of mystique. It became a magical tool for witches and fortune-tellers to help them connect to the power of the moon and gain intuition and precognition. Pretty cool, right?

With the rise of the Art Nouveau movement, moonstone gradually became a darling of jewelry design. Fun fact: in 1970, it was chosen as the official gemstone of Florida - a tribute to the Apollo moon landing mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center.

So, how did moonstone come into being? This beautiful gem actually originated from volcanic activity! It is formed when a mineral called feldspar cools in volcanic magma.

During this cooling journey, the mineral's crystal structure undergoes wonderful layering and reflections, forming a soft moonlight-like luster. So when you see it shimmering blue or silvery white light, it seems to be whispering ancient stories from deep in the earth!

Today, the best moonstones mainly come from Sri Lanka and southern India. However, if you want to explore more varieties, Australia, Armenia, Mexico, Brazil and the United States are also good choices. As for rainbow-colored moonstones? You can find it in India and Madagascar!

If you don't have a moonstone yet, you should definitely give yourself a chance to embrace this magical gemstone. Whether it is worn on your body or decorated in your space, moonstone can bring you endless surprises and joy.

Are you ready to enter the world of moonstone? Visit our website, where you will find more interesting articles and unique accessories!

I've come across some great articles on this topic, and I thought you'd find them interesting too. Here are the links – feel free to check them out if you're interested!

• Moonstone (gemstone)

• What is Moonstone Gemstone? Value, Price, and Color

• Moonstone Meaning