June Birthstone: Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone

What is the June birthstone?

June has three modern birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. Most people think of the pearl first, and it is the historic choice, but the American Gem Society lists all three, which gives anyone born in June an unusually wide range to pick from. That variety is genuinely useful, because the three stones look nothing alike and suit very different budgets and tastes. You can see how June compares to the rest of the year on our birthstones guide.

The pearl: June's main stone and how it wears

The pearl is the classic June stone and the one most families reach for. It is also unlike any other gem, because a pearl is grown inside a living mollusc rather than mined, forming when the animal coats an irritant with layer upon layer of nacre. That organic origin is also why pearls are soft. They sit at just 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, softer than a fingernail is hard in places, which the International Gem Society flags as one of the least scratch-resistant materials in the jewellery box. In practice that means pearls scratch easily and dislike acids, perfumes, hairspray and even sweat, all of which can dull their surface over time. Most pearls today are cultured, meaning a pearl farmer deliberately starts the process, and they come in white, cream, pink, grey and black, in shapes from perfectly round to charmingly irregular.

The meaning and history of pearls

Pearls are one of the oldest gems people have valued, worn long before anyone learned to cut hard stones, simply because a pearl comes out of the shell already lustrous. They have long been associated with purity, calm and wisdom, and for most of history they were so hard to find that only royalty and the very wealthy owned them. That changed in the early twentieth century when cultured pearls made them widely available, but the association with elegance and quiet good taste never faded. A strand of pearls remains one of the most recognisable pieces of jewellery in the world.

June's other two stones: moonstone and alexandrite

Moonstone is the affordable, dreamy option. It is a feldspar mineral, fairly soft at around 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and its charm is a soft blue-white light that seems to float just under the surface as you tilt it, an effect gemmologists call adularescence. It suits pendants and earrings well, though as a softer stone it wants a protective setting in a ring.

Alexandrite is the rare showpiece. It is a colour-change variety of the mineral chrysoberyl, hard at about 8.5 on the Mohs scale, and its party trick is real: it looks green or bluish-green in daylight and shifts to a reddish or purplish tone under warm indoor lighting. Fine natural alexandrite is genuinely scarce and priced accordingly, so much of what you'll see in shops is lab-grown, which is a legitimate and far more affordable way to enjoy the colour change. If someone offers you a large, cheap 'natural' alexandrite, be sceptical.

Choosing and gifting a June piece

My advice depends on the person and the budget. For a traditional gift that lasts, pearls are hard to beat, and because they are soft I'd point you towards earrings, a pendant or a well-made strand rather than a ring that takes daily knocks; if you do want a pearl ring, keep it for occasions rather than everyday wear. For someone who wants something a little different without spending a fortune, moonstone's glow makes a lovely pendant or pair of earrings. And for a real milestone, alexandrite, natural or lab-grown, is the one that will make people ask questions when the colour shifts across a room. We string, set and design all three at our Coquitlam studio, and our goldsmith can match the stone to how it will actually be worn. Pearl is also the traditional 30th anniversary stone, so a June commission can honour both a birthday and thirty years together; our bespoke anniversary pieces page is a good place to start.

Caring for soft June stones

Pearls and moonstone both need a gentle touch. The old rule for pearls holds up: put them on last, after your perfume, hairspray and makeup, and take them off first. Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth after wearing to lift off skin oils and sweat, never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, and store them flat and separate so harder jewellery can't scratch them. A strung strand should be restrung every few years, ideally with knots between the pearls so a broken thread doesn't scatter them and the pearls don't rub together. Moonstone asks for similar care: hand-clean with mild soapy water, keep it away from hard stones, and avoid machines. Alexandrite, being much harder, is far more forgiving and can be worn and cleaned like any durable gem.

Frequently asked questions