Moonstone and Sunstone Beads Bracelet

Moon Stone

Moonstone shows an almost magical play of light as its characteristic feature. It owes its name to this mysterious gleaming which appears different whenever the stone changes its position in movement. Experts call this the “adularescence”, and in earlier times the phases of waxing and waning moon were though to be discerned in this phenomenon.


Moonstone from Sri Lanka, the classical country of origin for Moonstone, shimmers pale blue on almost transparent ground. Specimen from India shoe cloudlike plays of light and shade on beige brown, green, orange or simple brown background. These subdued colours in combination with the fine shine make Moonstone an ideal gemstone for jewellery with a sensuous and feminine character. This gemstone was once before extremely popular, about a hundred years ago in the times of Art Nouveau. It used to decorate a striking amount of pieces of jewellery created by the famous French Master Goldsmith René Lalique and by his contemporaries. These pieces are usually only found in a museum or in collections nowadays.

Many mystical and magical connotations surround this stone. In several cultures, like for example in India, it is considered a sacred and magical gemstone. In India Moonstone is also appreciated as a “dream stone”, as it is supposed to bring about sweet and beautiful dreams. In Arab countries women often were Moonstone sewn into their garment, because there this gemstone is appreciated as a symbol of fertility.

Moonstone symbolises a holistic view of man and woman. Its soft shine will support the emotional and dreamy tendencies of a person. The associations thus involved make Moonstone of course the ideal stone for lovers, reputed to bring forth feelings of tenderness and to protect true love. It is also reported that wearing a Moonstone will further intuition and your sensitivity for others.

What are Moonstones and where do they come from?

The mystical stone belongs to the large mineral family of feldspars, which provide almost two thirds of all stones on our Earth. In the case of Moonstone, we are looking at the feldspar variety called “adularia” a silicate of potassium aluminium in gemstone quality, which is also found in the European Alps near the Adula-group – thus the name “adularia”. Another synonym for Moonstone is “Selenite”, according to the Greek goddess of the moon, Selene.

When uncut, Moonstones look quite boring and make it difficult to discern their attractiveness: the mysterious play of light. It will only be brought out by the cutter’s expertise and skills. Classical Moonstones are always cut as cabochons. Here the appropriate height of the stone is essential. The cutter must also bear in mind to locate the crystal axis exactly in the zenith of the stone, because only then the desired effect of light play will be achieved.

The classical, bluish and almost transparent Moonstones traditionally came from Sri Lanka. But they are also found in the USA, in Brasil, Australia, Myanmar, and Madagascar. Since blue Moonstones in fine qualities have become more and more scarce in recent time, the prices have increased accordingly.

For some years now also green, blue and peach or smoke and champagne coloured, black and reddish specimen have been offered, which come mainly from India. Some of these show not only the typical the typical floating play of light, but also a cat’s eye or a multi-rayed star. These stones, then, are not only cut as cabochons, but also cut as intricate cameos, sometimes engraved as children’s -, moon - or gargoyle face. They also show the play of light which is so typical for Moonstone, just like the spheres and beads made from suitable raw material to be crafted into fine necklaces.

Where does the striking play of light come from?

The light of a Moonstone is something special indeed in the fascinating world of gemstones. Experts call this phenomenon “adularescence”. The origin of this phenomenon is the interior structure of the gemstone in scales or lamellas. Incoming rays of light are refracted inside the stone and scattered. In this way, then, there is created a unique play of light, which makes Moonstone so special and coveted.

This beautiful gemstone, however, has a considerable drawback: it only achieves a hardness of merely six on the Mohs’ scale. Moonstones should thus be handled carefully, as they are very fragile. On the other hand, small damages which will arise after longer periods of being worn, can be corrected relatively easily. A jeweller can have a dulled Moonstone polished in such a way, that it will regain its mystical light like on the first day.

Three-dimensional colour and seductive charm

When purchasing Moonstone you will be astonished at the striking differences in price. The more intense the colour, the larger and more transparent the stone, the more valuable is the gem. Really top quality fine blue Moonstone show an incredible “three-dimensional” depth of colour, which you will see clearly only when playfully tilting the stone and moving it. Such specimen are very rare and thus highly coveted, and of course accordingly valuable. The brighter coloured Indian Moonstones are not only a fashion trend. They are usually a little less expensive than the classical blue variant, so that everybody today may pick his or her favourite Moonstone to meet exactly all requirements of taste and budget.

Moonstones are Nature’s treasures with a sensuous and seductive charm. The do not only ask to be looked at and admired, the require to be worn and moved a lot. Because only then the soft veil of light which makes this gemstone so attractive will be able to display its beauty to the best effect.

Sun Stone

Sunstone is also called feldspar (a variety of oligoclase). This gemstone varies from golden to orange to red-brown, and can be transparent or translucent. Sunstone is metallic-looking due to sparkling red, orange or green crystalline inclusions (these are hematite or goethite).

Sunstone has a beautiful glittering sunlight effect as a result of its tiny metallic inclusions. The copper or pyrite inclusions cause sparkling flashes of light as millions of particles playfully interact with light. This feature is known as "Schiller" or “Aventurescence? Sunstones are nearly always cut as cabochons to reflect this phenomenon, but the deeper colors may also be to exhibit their superior luster.

Sunstone is formed and crystallized in lava flows. Sunstones range in color from water clear through pale yellow, soft pink, and blood red to deep blue and green. Some of the deeper colored gems have bands of varying color while others exhibit Pleochroism, showing two different colors when viewed from different directions.

The feldspar group’s wide variety of unusual gems includes moonstone, non-phenomenal orthoclase, phenomenal and non-phenomenal labradorite, sunstone, and amazonite. Of these feldspars, moonstone is a constant favorite, while sunstone from Oregon is gaining attention as a natural and untreated product of the United States. 

Sunstone is a stone of personal power, freedom, and expanded consciousness. Of all the stones on Earth, this one truly reflects the qualities of Solar Light-openness, benevolence, warmth, strength, mental clarity and the willingness and ability to bestow blessings upon others. These are also the desired qualities of leadership, and Sunstone can kindle the fire of leadership within those who wear or carry it. Those who feel called to lead may find that Sunstone helps them find the inner conviction and self-discipline to move forward. Those who are held back by fears and self-doubt may discover that Sunstone melts away the sense of unworthiness that can keep one from fully being who one is. Sunstone emanates a rich and positive spectrum of energies, and when one attunes to it one sometimes feels that a cornucopia of enrichments has entered one's life. It engenders a sense of abundance in regard to all one's needs and desires, and indeed it can assist one in the manifestation of prosperity, as well as the acquisition o knowledge and the attainment of wisdom.

Sunstone is a Fire element ally that carries the frequency of the Solar Ray, representing enlightened leadership and the ability to utilize knowledge and wisdom for the highest good of all. The Solar Ray carries the energy of Ra, the sun God, whose energy brings forth the potential life within the Earth. This reminds us of the initiation of Light we are all currently undergoing, in which our turn nature is being brought forth by continual exposure to higher frequencies of Light.

Sunstone teaches of leadership as the act of placing oneself in service to others, instead of insisting that others be of service to oneself. Sunstone energizes the second and third chakras, stimulating not only leadership and will, but also creativity and sexuality. The blend of these energies can bring exceptional adventurousness, fun and innovative experimentation into one's romantic and/or artistic expressions. This is a combination of great exuberance which one should find very enjoyable. Sunstone activates and aligns the second and third chakras, enabling one to more easily manifest Divine Will through one's actions and creations. It stimulates one's creative and sexual energy and can increase one's physical stamina. 

Sunstone has the wonderful ability to reveal ego-based desires and motivations. It is an excellent stone to use in business dealings, due to its ability to reveal the true motivations held by others and expose dishonesty.

SPIRITUAL  Sunstone teaches one to utilize one's skills and abilities in service to others. It is a stone of abundance, helping one take action to manifest one's desires in physically. Sunstone emanates the Solar Ray, attuning one to Light and the energy of the Great Central Sun.

EMOTIONAL  Sunstone warms and stimulates the emotional body. It can help one transform anger into energy, judgment into joy. Its raises the vibration of one's emotional patterns.

PHYSICAL  Sunstone warms the body, increasing metabolism, digestion, and vitality. It helps balance the endocrine system and aids reproductive problems due to imbalanced hormones.

AFFIRMATION  I claim my true place of leadership, giving and receiving abundant blessings.