The moonstone is characterized by an enchanting play of light where it owes its name to the mysterious shimmer which looks different when the stone is moved around. This is known as "adularescence".Moonstones are from Sri Lanka (pale blue on an almost transparent background) and India (play of light and shadow on a background of beige, green, orange or brown). These discreet colors, in connection with the fine shimmer, make the moonstone an ideal gemstone for jewelry with a sensual, feminine aura. the other places to find blueish moonstones are the USA, Brazil, Australia, Myanmar and Madagascar.
In India it is regarded as a holy, magical gemstone and are also regarded as 'dream stones' which bring the wearer beautiful visions at night. In Arabic countries, women often wear moonstones sewn out of sight into their garments because the moonstone is a symbol of fertility.
Moonstone belongs to the mineral group of the feldspars, which is almost 2/3 of all the rocks on Earth consist. The moonstone is the feldspar variety known as 'adularia', a potassium aluminosilicate of gemstone quality, which is also found in the European Alps near the Adula Group.
The uncut moonstones afford little idea of what it is that actually constitutes their charm... that shimmer of light. The shimmer is not really shown until the art of the cut has been completed. Moonstones are almost always cut as cabochons to bring the correct height of the stone. The cutter must also align the axes of the crystal precisely into the zenith of the stone, because that is the only way to get the desired light effect. But moonstones also show the shimmer of light in round beads which are cut from suitable raw material.
Gemologists refer to the phenomenon inside a moonstone as 'adularisation' and is caused by the lamellar inner construction of the gemstone. The light is refracted and scattered in the stone giving way to a unique light effect. This refraction and scattering makes the moonstone a distinctive and so desirable gemstone.
Moonstone is relatively low on the Mohs hardness scale ringing in only 6. For that reason, moonstones should be handled with care. Because of it's softness you can polish the moonstone easily.
The higher intensity of color and the more transparent, the more highly valued the moonstone. Specimens of that kind and show their shimmering light are highly esteemed on account of their rarity and their prices are correspondingly high.
Indian moonstones are not only very much in fashion and somewhat more reasonably priced than classical blue moonstones.
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