June has three birthstones: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Pearl is the classic one, an organic gem grown inside a mollusk. Moonstone is a feldspar with a soft blue glow, and alexandrite is a rare stone that turns from green in daylight to red under a lamp. They differ widely in hardness and price, so June birthdays have unusual freedom of choice.
What is the birthstone for June?
All three stones are on the American list used by Jewelers of America and the American Gem Society. Pearl and moonstone were June's stones when the list was first standardized in 1912; alexandrite joined them in the revision of 1952.
In Britain the National Association of Jewellers lists pearl as the traditional June gemstone and moonstone as the alternative. Alexandrite is not on the British list.
Enter a June birthday, or any other date, to see its stones side by side with the flower and zodiac sign for that day.
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June's three birthstones at a glance
| Pearl | Alexandrite | Moonstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Organic gem made of nacre by a mollusk | Color-change variety of chrysoberyl | Gem of the feldspar group |
| Color | White and cream; also black, gray, silver, golden | Green in daylight, red in lamplight | Colorless with a blue sheen |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5 to 3 | 8.5 | 6 to 6.5 |
| Everyday ring | No | Yes | With care |
| Price level | From modest to very high | High; fine stones are rare | Modest |
Pearl: the classic June birthstone
A pearl forms when a mollusk coats an irritant with layers of nacre. Natural pearls, formed with no human help, are now very rare, because pearl beds were fished out over thousands of years. Almost every pearl sold today is cultured: grown on a pearl farm after a technician places a bead or a piece of tissue inside the mollusk. A cultured pearl is a real pearl, and a seller should say plainly which kind is on offer.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, there are four main types:
- Akoya pearls from Japan and China: the classic white or cream strand.
- South Sea pearls from Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines: large, white to silver or golden.
- Tahitian pearls from French Polynesia: gray, black or brown, with colored overtones.
- Freshwater pearls, mostly from China: the most widely produced, in many shapes and colors.
By tradition pearls stand for purity, humility and innocence, which is why they are a customary wedding gift.
Alexandrite: the color-change stone
Alexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes color with the light: green to bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light, red to purplish red in the warm light of a lamp or candle.
Major deposits were discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains in 1830, and the gem was named after the young heir to the throne, the future Alexander II. Its red and green happened to match the military colors of imperial Russia. Those mines are now worked out; today alexandrite comes from Brazil, Sri Lanka and East Africa.
Fine alexandrite is scarce, especially in larger sizes, and is one of the more expensive colored gems. With a price to match its rarity, it is worth buying only with a report from an independent gem laboratory.
Moonstone: the soft glow
Moonstone is the best-known gem of the feldspar group. Inside it, thin layers of two feldspar minerals scatter the light, producing a glow that seems to float across the surface as the stone moves. The effect is called adularescence, and the most prized stones show a blue sheen on a colorless body.
The stone has long been linked with the moon. Hindu mythology describes it as solidified moonbeams, and the Romans and Greeks associated it with their lunar gods. Art Nouveau jewelers such as René Lalique and Louis Comfort Tiffany loved it. The main sources are India and Sri Lanka.
What do the June birthstones mean?
Each stone carries its own tradition: pearl for purity, humility and innocence, moonstone for love and good luck. Alexandrite, known only since 1830, has little old folklore; its story is its color change.
Older beliefs went further. Pearls were once powdered and taken as a medicine, and moonstone was tied to fertility. These are pieces of history, not advice: no gem treats an illness or changes anyone's luck. Choose the stone for its look and its story.
How to care for June's birthstones
- Pearl is soft and sensitive to chemicals. Put on perfume, hair products and makeup first and pearls last. Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth after each wearing. Store them apart from other jewelry, and never in a plastic bag.
- Moonstone can crack under high heat. Clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft brush; never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.
- Alexandrite is hard and tough. Warm, soapy water is best, and ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe.
Gift ideas for a June birthday
- A strand of cultured pearls or pearl studs is the classic June gift, available at almost every price level.
- Freshwater pearls in unusual shapes and colors suit someone with a less formal style.
- A moonstone pendant or cabochon ring gives a lot of character for a modest price.
- An alexandrite ring is the choice for daily wear and for a major birthday, at a far higher price.
- Mix them. Pearl and moonstone look well together in one piece.
June birth flowers: rose and honeysuckle
June's birth flowers are the rose and honeysuckle. The rose is the best-known flower in the traditional language of flowers: it stands for love and beauty, and each color adds its own shade of meaning. Honeysuckle, the scented climber of early summer, stands for happiness and devoted affection. White or pale pink roses sit naturally beside a strand of pearls. Flower meanings were never fixed, so treat them as a starting point. Every month's pair is in our guide to birth flowers by month.
On either side of June are emerald for May and ruby for July. Our birthstones by month chart covers the full year. For wedding anniversaries, see our guide to gifts for every anniversary year.