Pearls, Moonstone or Alexandrite? June Birthstone the Choice is Yours!

Leaf Earrings with Pearl by Danielle Miller Jewelry

The first and most popular birthstone for the month of June is the pearl. This organic gem is so versatile! From pearl earrings to a pendant, necklace, bracelet or a gorgeous ring featuring one or more stones, pearls were once harvested mainly from saltwater oysters. Now most of the pearls used in jewelry today are categorized as “cultured” and are mass produced in thriving oyster farms, both fresh and saltwater.

White or cream are the most popular shadings for pearls, but these days it’s not unusual to see them also available in wide color palette including pinks, black, blue, lavender and green.

While pearls have been used for medicinal purposes since as early as 2000 BC, in many parts of Asia, even to this day, lower grade pearls are ground and used in different potions and salves.

If you think pearls are too traditional then why not check out a moonstone? From the family of feldspar minerals, moonstones got their name from the opalescent and luminous quality caused by light diffraction within the stone. The highest quality moonstones are mined in Sri Lanka but can also be found in India, Madagascar and the Alps. Folklore has it that moonstones bring good fortune to the wearer because of spirits that are believed to inhabit the stones.

Chiseled Rainbow Moonstone Ring by Danielle Miller Jewelry

Perhaps you want a stone that reflects your changing personality, then alexandrite is the one for you. A brilliant green, many times with either a blue or brown tint when viewed in natural light, alexandrite change and appears violet with reddish highlights under artificial light.

Alexandrites are very sturdy stones, only diamonds, sapphires and rubies are harder. They are difficult to mine and considered a fairly rare and uncommon stone. Like its partner moonstone, Sri Lanka is home to the best and largest alexandrites. Synthetic alexandrite has been produced but only with limited success because the color change was unable to be reproduced.

Alexandrite Gemstones

People with June birthdays are so lucky! From traditional to rare, people born during the month of June can choose a birthstone as unique as their personality!

5 Jewelry Trends for 2013

Wow, can you believe 2013 is already 1/12th of the way over? It seems like we were just celebrating the New Year and now we are already heading into February!

So what big trends in jewelry you can expect to see this year? I’ve listed five of the most popular ones below.

• Opals are making a huge comeback! While always fashionable, in the past opals were mainly seen in birthstone pieces. For 2013 opals are being free formed and are now showing up in an assortment of different and distinctive shapes, sizes and colors.


• Pearls have been building a steady following over the past couple of years and 2013 continues the trend. No longer are pearls locked into stuffy dated settings. They have now come into the 21st century in a wide range of classy, chic and fashionable designs and styles.



Square Abacus Earring #5



• Haven’t you always wanted to be a princess? The past two years has seen a resurgence in tiaras and while that might be a bit over the top for some of us, 2013 is introducing bejeweled headbands! Jazzy and fun, they sparkle but don’t flaunt. 

first look, originally uploaded by novadesigns by tess.

Check out the lovely crown that my friend Tess made for her wedding!

• With gold reaching sky high prices, a growing trend is to mesh fine and faux together to create a stylish and distinctive piece at a reasonable cost. Brass and bronze, wood and Bakelite are all popular economical choices.

• A relatively modestly priced gem that has gained a lot of attention already this year is Drusy. Very organic, this stone is a popular choice because of its sparkle, color and the fact that it can be cut into a wide variety of interesting and unusual shapes.



Drusy Necklaces

Why not incorporate some of these great trends into a wonderful piece for Valentine’s Day for yourself or that special someone? Browse my items on my website ---or on Etsy ---or contact me to make a custom piece just for you!