June's birthstones are Moonstone, Pearl and Alexandrite
Cradled Pearl Bead
Pearls are unique among gems because pearls are created by either freshwater mussels or marine oysters. These living things react to the invasion of a foreign body by surrounding the irritant with secretions of aragonite and conchiolin. The result is beautiful, luminescent pearl.
But before this biological phenomenon was ever understood, the origin of pearls have a multitude of legends spanning multiple continents. Ancient Japanese believed that pearls are tears of mermaids. Ancient Chinese believed that pearls are formed in dragon's head. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that pearls formed from drops water that touched Venus, the goddess of love.
Whichever legend you would like to use, the faux pearls in this set of earrings, cradled in a cold-forged, permanently enamel colored 24-gauge gold wire, will support your theories of mythical origins. Go ahead, take a legend with you.
I Love Space Exploration
This pair of earrings are definitely not made of moonstone. The stone bead above the silver antique heart shape cabochon is natural stone. It is of this planet, and not from the moon.
Moonstones, of course, are not from the moon either. Geologists would describe a moonstone as layers of feldspar, which creates that distinct cat's eye appearance. Come back in a few weeks and I will have a moonstone pair added to this site.
In the meantime, if you adore space exploration, you must have one of these cabochons.
Bejeweled Gear Dreamcatcher
The alexandrite is another birthstone for June. The Russians claimed that the stone was discovered in 1834 when Alexander II, also known as Alexander the Liberator, came of age. And so this unique gem was named after this Russian emperor, who was also, at the time, the King of Poland and a Grand Duke of Finland.
What makes the alexandrite unique is its ability to change its colors. According to the American Gem Society, the alexandrite is known as "emerald by day, ruby by night." This is due to a rare variety of mineral called chrysoberyl. Because the occurrence of alexandrite is rare, it is one of the most expensive gems and more expensive than most diamonds and rubies.
The gear dreamcatcher featured here is not alexandrite, but it does imitate the garnet-like color. Even better, the gear symbolizes economic activity. The late emperor Alexander II ushered in economic liberalization by emancipating Russia's serfs.