June Birthstones - Moonstone, Pearl & Alexandrite

June Birthstones - Moonstone, Pearl & Alexandrite

The traditional birthstone for June is Alexandrite. Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl and displays a color change (alexandrite effect) dependent upon the nature of ambient lighting. Alexandrite results from small scale replacement of aluminium by chromium ions in the crystal structure, which causes intense absorption of light over a narrow range of wavelengths in the yellow region of the spectrum. Alexandrite from the Ural Mountains in Russia is green by daylight and red by incandescent light. Other varieties of alexandrite may be yellowish or pink in daylight and a columbine or raspberry red by incandescent light. The optimum or "ideal" color change would be fine emerald green to fine purplish red, but this is exceedingly rare. Because of their rarity and the color change capability, "ideal" alexandrite gems are some of the most expensive in the world.

The modern birthstones for June are the Moonstone and Pearl. Moonstone has a 6.0 hardness on the Mohs scale. Its name is derived from a visual effect, or sheen, caused by light reflecting internally in the moonstone from layer inclusion of different feldspars. Moonstone is feldspar with a pearly and opalescent luster.

Pearls have been highly valued since antiquity. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. The value of the pearls in jewelry is determined by a combination of the luster, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry that are appropriate for the type of pearl under consideration. Among those attributes, luster is the most important determination of pearl quality according to jewelers. All factors being equal, however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large, perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued. Teardrop-shaped pearls are often used in pendants.

See more Moonstone, Pearl & Alexandrite here.

June - The Pearl & Moonstone

June's Birthstones: Pearl & Moonstone

The traditional June birthstone is the pearl. Pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac. These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

An alternative birthstone for June is the moonstone. Moonstone, a type of feldspar named because of its uncanny resemblance to the iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white or peach, it was considered by ancient civilizations to be a sacred stone, bestowing the wearer with great spiritual understanding. Some believed that the Moonstone could even make a person invisible! Mined in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India, Madagascar, and the United States, a gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.

See more Pearls and Moonstones here.

Happy World Oceans Day!

Happy World Oceans Day!

"World Ocean Day is an opportunity every year to honor the world's ocean, celebrate the products the ocean provides, such as seafood, as well as marine life itself for aquariums, pets, and also a time to appreciate its own intrinsic value. The ocean also provides sea-lanes for international trade. Global pollution and over-consumption of fish have resulted in drastically dwindling population of the majority of species." -Wikipedia

Like Pearls, our Shell beads are grown on farms. The shells are taken care of in a manner to assure that it lives a normal healthy life span for the larger it grows. Larger shells mean more beads and cabochons for jewelry thus bringing in more revenue. The cleaner the water; the healthier the shells and with this comes more beautiful, iridescent luster and smooth blemish free nacre. In this manner shell farming encourages keeping the waterways clean and free of pollutants. For more information on Pearls and their benefits for the environment see here.

For thousands of years Netsukes have charmed their viewers. A huge detraction to this exquisite form of legend/myth telling was that fact that they were carved out of Elephant Tusk. As the planet has become more aware of what happens to the magnificent elephants, it has made this extraordinary art form repugnant as well as illegal to own for many. The switch to boxwood has made these enchanting objects a green product as boxwood is an easily farmed wood. Boxwood is carved green when it is soft and as it dries it hardens. It is used in it's dwarf form for topiary in the west and the larger variety for ornamental and even furniture carving in China and other eastern countries. It is an ecology friendly solution to preserving an ancient art when boxwood is used to carve Netsukes and other object d'art.

To celebrate World Oceans Day at www.SilverRoseBeads.com we are offering 35% off all shell and carved boxwood beads.

*No promo code needed

*Website purchases only, eBay items excluded.

*Limited to stock on hand

*Sale begins June 8 and ends June 10th at 11:59PM EDT