June Birthstone: Moonstone Meaning, Colour and Gift Ideas

What is the June Birthstone?

June babies, you were born under the most magical stone of all. Our June birthstone is moonstone, a gem that glows like moonlight on water. For the month of midsummer, long light evenings and the shortest, most enchanted night of the year, nothing else would do.

June has three official birthstones: moonstone, pearl and alexandrite. Here at The Healing Pear we are a vegan, cruelty-free brand, so we do not work with pearl. We make all of our June birthstone jewellery in moonstone, and we think it is the loveliest of the three anyway. This guide is our love letter to it: what it means, where it comes from, and how to choose a piece for yourself or for the June soul you are shopping for. You can browse our handmade June birthstone jewellery any time the mood takes you.

June Birthstone at a Glance

Birthstone	Moonstone
Colour	Milky white with a blue or rainbow glow; also grey, peach and black
Meaning	Intuition, new beginnings and balance
Chakras	Third eye and crown
Mineral	Feldspar
Found in	Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar
Mohs hardness	6 to 6.5
Zodiac	Gemini (21 May to 20 June) and Cancer (21 June to 22 July)

What Colour is the June Birthstone?

The June birthstone colour is a soft, glowing white. Moonstone shimmers like moonlight, sea foam or elderflower in the hedgerows, with a flash of blue or rainbow light that seems to float just beneath the surface. Gem lovers call that glow adularescence, and no two stones show it in quite the same way.

It also comes in dreamy grey, warm peach and deep black, so there is a moonstone for every June baby, whatever their style.

June Birthstone Meaning: The Stone of New Beginnings

The June birthstone meaning is intuition, new beginnings and emotional balance. Tied to the moon and her cycles, moonstone is a reminder that life moves in tides, and that every ending makes room for a fresh start. It is linked with the third eye and crown chakras, and with a gentle, creative energy that is open to everyone.

It has long been a lovers' stone too. In India it is a traditional wedding gift, and an old legend says that two people who wear moonstone under a full moon will fall deeply in love.

For the full story, wander over to our guide to moonstone meaning, properties and benefits.

The History of Moonstone

Moonstone has been treasured for thousands of years.

• The Romans believed it was made from solidified moonbeams.
• In India it has long been held sacred, a stone of good fortune.
• Travellers carried it as a talisman for safe journeys by night.
• It was the darling of Art Nouveau jewellers, who adored its soft, otherworldly glow.

It became an official June birthstone in 1912, and it has been enchanting June babies ever since.

Moonstone: The Vegan Alternative to Pearl

Pearl is the traditional June birthstone, but it is made by a living creature, grown inside oysters and mussels. That is why you will not find it here. Everything we make is vegan and cruelty free, and moonstone gives June babies all the moonlit beauty with none of the compromise.

• The same soft glow: moonstone shares pearl's gentle white shimmer, with an extra flash of blue.
• A gemstone from the earth: a mineral, not an animal product.
• More colours to choose from: rainbow, grey, peach and black, each with its own character.
• Tougher than pearl: still a gentle stone, but better suited to everyday wear.

The third June birthstone, alexandrite, is a rare colour-changing gem that shifts from green to red. It is beautiful, but so scarce that it is seldom seen outside fine jewellery.

Types of Moonstone

• Rainbow moonstone: milky white with flashes of blue and rainbow light, for joy and a bright outlook. See our rainbow moonstone vegan silk necklace.
• Grey moonstone: the colour of a misty new moon, for seeing clearly through uncertain times. See our grey moonstone vegan silk necklace.
• Black moonstone: deep and grounding, a stone for protection and fresh starts. See our black moonstone hand carved leaf necklace.
• Peach moonstone: warm and gentle, for self-love and a soft heart.

June Birthstones and the Zodiac

June is shared by two signs. Quick, curious Gemini (21 May to 20 June) loves moonstone's gift of calm in a busy mind. Tender, home-loving Cancer (21 June to 22 July) is ruled by the Moon herself, so moonstone could hardly be more perfect. For more star-sign pairings, have a read of our guide to gemstone jewellery for your zodiac sign.

How to Wear and Care for Your June Birthstone

Moonstone is a gentle stone, so a little kindness keeps it glowing.

• Take it off for the washing up, the gym and the garden.
• Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth, and keep it away from harsh cleaners.
• Store it in its own pouch so that harder gems cannot scratch it.

Necklaces and earrings are the kindest way to wear moonstone every day. To recharge it, there is only one proper method: leave it on a windowsill under the full moon. You will find more ideas in our guide to crystals and the full moon and our guide to cleansing your crystals.

June Birthstone Necklaces and Gift Ideas

A June birthday falls in the lightest, loveliest part of the year, and a birthstone is a gift that holds a little of that midsummer glow. Here are a few of our favourites.

• For a classic June birthstone necklace, our rainbow moonstone vegan silk necklace, milky white with a flash of blue.
• For something soft and smoky, the grey moonstone vegan silk necklace.
• For the nature lover, the black moonstone hand carved leaf necklace, a tiny leaf with a silvery sheen.
• For moon lovers, browse our hand carved moon necklaces and moonstone bracelets.
• Looking for a June birthstone ring, or simply want to see everything? Explore the full June birthstone jewellery collection and all of our moonstone jewellery.
• Not sure which they would choose? Browse our gift ideas or let them pick with a gift voucher.

Every piece is cleansed, energy infused, vegan and cruelty free, and 5% of all proceeds go to Pacific Wild to help protect the Great Bear Rainforest.

June Birthstone FAQs

What is the birthstone for June?

June has three official birthstones: moonstone, pearl and alexandrite. We make ours in moonstone.

What colour is the June birthstone?

Soft white. Moonstone glows in shades of white and cream with a flash of blue, and also comes in grey, peach and black.

What does the June birthstone mean?

Moonstone stands for intuition, new beginnings and emotional balance.

Is moonstone a June birthstone?

Yes. Moonstone has been an official June birthstone since 1912.

Is there a vegan alternative to pearl for June?

Yes. Moonstone is a mineral, so it is the natural choice for anyone who would like a June birthstone that does not come from an animal. All of our jewellery is vegan and cruelty free.

What is the birthstone for Gemini and Cancer?

Moonstone suits both June signs. It is especially loved by Cancer, the sign ruled by the Moon.

Can I wear moonstone every day?

Yes, with care. Moonstone is a softer stone, so necklaces and earrings are the gentlest way to wear it.

Explore More Birthstones

Shopping for another month? See every stone in our guide to birthstone jewellery by month, read up on May's emerald or April's diamond and clear quartz, or lose yourself in our A-Z crystal guide. And if moonstone has stolen your heart, meet its shimmering cousin in our labradorite guide.