June Birthstones - Pearl & Moonstone

I remember once being told that pearls were formed from grief. That a grain of sand slips into the oyster’s shell and the creature, in its quiet suffering, begins to layer it in nacre. Pain becomes beauty. And I suppose that’s why pearls have always struck me not as decorative but as intimate, almost confessional. The pearl birthstone for June doesn’t sparkle like a diamond or catch fire like a ruby. It glows - dimly, deeply, like memory.

But like the pearl, June carries with it many layers and nuances, too many to just have one birthstone. So when someone asks, “What is the birthstone for June?” The answer contains multitudes:  pearl, moonstone, or alexandrite. A trio of ambiguity, all softness and light. But let’s begin where history does: with the pearl.

The Pearl: A Stone Without Stone

The pearl is not a mineral at all, but an organic marvel. It is the only gem born of a living creature. Formed when an irritant finds its way into the soft tissue of a mollusk, a pearl is the result of defense turned into a delicacy. Most pearls are cultured now, raised in the safety of freshwater farms in China or saltwater bays off Japan, Tahiti, and Australia. But the natural ones, the true wild pearls, are the stuff of legend. Cleopatra is said to have crushed one into wine. Knights wore them into battle for protection. For centuries, pearls were so rare that they were more coveted than gold.

In this way, the pearl feels perfectly suited to June itself: a time of transition. Spring is becoming summer. School letting out. A softness in the air that never quite settles. Pearls, too, are liminal. Not quite rock. Not quite alive. Absolutely pulsing with history.

Pearls & Moonstone: A Gemini’s Birthright

Those born in early June are Geminis. Quick-witted, mercurial, curious. Think Marilyn Monroe, think Paul McCartney. The June birthstone, pearl, has long been associated with duality, which is fitting for a sign represented by twins. Pearls symbolize purity and wisdom, but also secrecy. They keep things hidden. They demand care. A Gemini, in all their glittering contradiction, might relate.

Enter Moonstone

Where pearls are soft and white, moonstones shimmer like fog on water. Moonstones, named for their moon-like sheen, an effect called adularescence, have been adored by lovers, mystics, and misfits since the Roman era. The Romans believed moonstone was formed from solidified rays of moonlight. In India, moonstone has been a sacred stone for centuries, given as wedding gifts to bring harmony to relationships. During the Art Nouveau era, jewelers like René Lalique embraced moonstone’s ethereal glow to soften the lines of bold, nature-inspired designs. It became a favorite of spiritualists and free spirits in the 1960s and ’70s, often set into silver and worn as a talisman for intuition and emotional balance. Across cultures and decades, moonstone has been less about wealth and more about wonder, the kind of gem chosen not to impress, but to express deep emotion. Today, Moonstone is believed to calm emotions, protect travelers, and open the heart to synchronicity.

From an astrological standpoint, moonstone is deeply connected to lunar energy, feminine, intuitive, and nurturing. If pearl is the birthstone for June, which speaks to the external world - beauty, grace, etiquette- then moonstone is the June birthstone that celebrates the internal echo: dreams, feelings, tides. Moonstone

At Jack Weir & Sons, we treasure the romance of moonstone. You’ll find it woven through our vintage collection, particularly in pieces from the Art Deco and Mid-Century periods, where designers played with light and shape in bold, expressive ways.

June Birthstone Jewelry:  A Study in Light

In terms of June birthstone jewelry, pearls are endlessly versatile. There’s the classic pearl necklace, strands worn by debutantes and doyennes alike. There are pearl earrings, with studs for minimalists, and chandeliers for maximalists. Pearls encircle wrists in varied forms of bracelets, and they grace fingers in pearl rings that feel both vintage and eternal.

Moonstone, by contrast, lends itself to mood. It changes depending on the setting. Framed in gold, it feels mythic. In silver, it’s lunar and a little otherworldly. You’ll see it used beautifully in engagement rings for those who want something less conventional but still full of meaning.

In our custom jewelry process, pearls and moonstones can come to life specifically for the recipient. On their own or paired with diamonds, moonstones are exquisite in bespoke designs. They speak to people who would rather wear something that quietly radiates beauty - those who don’t want to shout it from the rooftops. 

For those unsure of where to start, our appointment team can guide you. Whether you’re searching for the perfect pearl or moonstone ring or something entirely your own, we’re here to help you find a piece that fits not just your hand, but your story.

The Curious Case of Alexandrite

It would be negligent not to mention Alexandrite. The rarest of the three, Alexandrite, was only discovered in Russia in the 1830s and is famed for its ability to change color, green by day, red by candlelight. It is the shape-shifter of the gemstone world, perfect for June babies who resist easy categorization.

Yet, Alexandrite is often out of reach for many collectors. Natural stones are scarce and expensive, and lab-created versions, while beautiful, lack the narrative thread that runs through pearl and moonstone. At Jack Weir & Sons, our focus remains on sourcing pieces with soul: stones that have lived lives before they come to you.

You may spot Alexandrite woven on occasion throughout our collection of rings or tucked into Art Deco collection where the play of light was part of the aesthetic code. But for those looking for a tangible tie to June’s mythology, moonstone and pearl remain the truest embodiments.

June: A Month of Meaning

June is not a static month. It is school’s out and summer’s on. It is weddings and graduations, and the first real heat of the year. To be born in June is to live in between, a bridge between seasons, between identities, between worlds. How fitting, then, that the June birthstone jewelry options are so layered.

You wear pearls when you want to feel elegant, sure, but also when you want to feel protected. There is something talismanic about them. They carry secrets. They absorb the air around them. They are alive in a way most jewels are not. 

You wear moonstones when you are willing to be seen differently in different lights. When you believe in signs. When you don’t need a spotlight because you have your own glow. And you wear alexandrite, when you can find it, when you want to surprise even yourself.

Pearls & Moonstone: A Study in Collecting the Light

For those starting or expanding their birthstone collection, our collection includes a wide range of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in styles that span decades. Whether you favor the symmetry of Mid-Century design or the ornament of Art Deco, you’ll find a pearl or moonstone to anchor your collection.

And if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for? Please give us a ring!. The beauty of birthstones is not just in their symbolism but in the way they can be passed down, worn, loved, and reimagined. Let us help you create something that celebrates your month, your self, your story.