Moonstone: Sri Lankan Titanium / Metallic

Treasured for centuries, few gemstones match the romance and mystique of moonstone. Rare Sri Lankan titanium moonstone possesses moonstone's distinctive milky shimmer with a silver or metallic coloring.

Moonstone is the most famous member of the orthoclase branch of the feldspar family. A dazzling, blue-white light glides over the surface when the stone is cut en cabochon with a phenomenon that gemologists call adularescence. Light rays are diffracted and dispersed by a natural layering of feldspar within the stone, creating an exceptional play of light and a pearly or opalescent luster. Moonstone is typically colorless with a white to blue-white sheen, but it can also occur in varieties of gray, tan, yellow, orange, green, pink, or blue. Sri Lankan rainbow moonstone, with its pale blue sheen and near-transparent body, is considered most valuable. It features a rainbow-like iridescence and can be cut into a faceted gemstone as well as en cabochon. Its quality appearance and versatility make this a highly collectible exotic gemstone. Titanium moonstones are a rare variety of moonstone that possesses silver or metallic coloring. These gems are only available from Sri Lanka and make up less than two percent of the moonstones found there. Because of their short supply, most of the titanium moonstone jewelry that our offer is available in very limited quantities or are one of a kind.

GemLORE
  • In Arabic countries, women sew moonstone into their garments because it's considered a symbol of fertility. In fact, crystal healers have been known to use this stone to treat fertility problems.
  • Hindu legend says that moonbeams formed this gem. It was thought that you could see your future if you held a moonstone in your mouth during a full moon.
  • The ancient Romans also believed that the moon created this gem. It was associated with Luna, the goddess of the moon, who endowed it with the ability to enhance romance, intuition, dreams and emotions.
  • The ancient Greeks associated moonstone with Hecate, the goddess of the moon and magic. An alternative name for moonstone is hecatolite.
  • The moonstone is a coveted gift among lovers. Legend says that when two people both wear moonstone, they will fall ardently in love when the moon reaches its peak. Also lovers who possessed the stone had insight into their future lives together.
  • Great designers of the Art Nouveau era, like Louis Comfort Tiffany and Rene Lalique, embraced the moonstone’s lunar sheen and featured it in many of their romantic designs. Today these masterpieces are found in museums and in highly-guarded private collections.
  • In 1970, the year after American astronauts took off from Florida and landed on the moon, the Florida state legislature adopted the moonstone as its official state gemstone.
GemGPS

LOCATION: Sri Lanka

Moonstone has been found in Brazil, Burma, Madagascar and Tanzania. However, premium moonstone is sourced from Sri Lanka. Our selection of titanium moonstone comes from the Sri Lankan city of Meetiyagoda. Villagers believe that the acre of land where moonstone is mined is blessed by the moon.

GemFACTS
  • Ranks 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
  • Sourced from Sri Lanka.
  • Member of the orthoclase branch of the feldspar family.
  • Also known as hecatolite, feldspath nacre and chandrakanta.
  • Birthstone for June.
  • Traditional gift for 13th anniversary.
  • State gem of Florida.
  • 100 percent natural stone; no additional treatments.