How to Choose a Moonstone: A Buyer’s Guide
By Anna McElhenny founder of The Inheritance Collective
Moonstone is a stone of mystery and memory, soft as breath and ancient as tides. For centuries, it has been cherished as a gem of intuition, femininity, and protection. But not all moonstones are created equal. If you’re considering adding one of these luminous treasures to your collection, here’s how to choose one that truly carries the magic.
1. What Is Moonstone?
Moonstone is part of the feldspar family, formed when two minerals, orthoclase and albite, layer together over millennia. These layers scatter light in a phenomenon called adularescence, giving the stone its signature ethereal glow. The shimmer seems to float just beneath the surface, like moonlight on still water.
At The Inheritance Collective, we believe each moonstone carries a quiet power, a whisper from the divine feminine, a guide through emotional tides, a veil between realms.
2. Understanding Adularescence (The Glow)
The hallmark of fine moonstone is its blue sheen, often described as a ghostly light that moves across the stone. This optical effect, adularescence, is best seen when the stone is moved under direct light.
- High-quality moonstones have a vivid, electric blue flash.
- The light should appear to float inside the gem, not just on the surface.
- Stones with a milky base and bright blue glow are the most sought after, though warmer tones can carry their own beauty and symbolism.
✨ TIC Tip: Hold the stone in different lights and angles. A true legacy piece will shimmer like a secret trying to be told.
3. Transparency & Clarity
Top-tier moonstones are usually transparent to semi-transparent, with minimal inclusions. However, some vintage and hand-cut stones may have internal textures or natural “gardens” that add to their unique charm.
- Clean stones with no visible inclusions are rare and highly valued.
- Silky or cloudy stones are more common, especially in vintage pieces, and may carry softer, more diffused light.
- Avoid overly dull or chalky stones unless their setting or story outweighs the imperfection.
✨ TIC Belief: A few inclusions can be beautiful, like the freckles of a goddess. What matters is the feeling the stone evokes.
4. Cut & Shape
Moonstone is a soft gem (6–6.5 on the Mohs scale), so it’s typically cut as a cabochon, which is a smooth, rounded surface that showcases the inner glow.
- Oval and round cabochons are most traditional and flattering.
- Creative vintage cuts, like shields, teardrops, or lozenges, can enhance the mystical quality.
- Bezel settings and protective mounts are preferred to avoid chipping.
✨ TIC Style Note: We favor moonstones that feel like talismans. Look for cuts that invite touch, reflect moonlight, and feel good against the skin.
5. Color Variations
While the most prized moonstones have a blue sheen, they come in a spectrum of shades:
- Rainbow Moonstone: Technically a white labradorite, but often grouped with moonstones for its magical flash of color.
- Peach and Grey Moonstones: Softer in tone, grounding and romantic.
- Green and Yellow Moonstones: Rare and earthy, like twilight in a forest.
✨ TIC Philosophy: Choose the moonstone that meets you where you are—blue for clarity, peach for love, rainbow for spiritual connection.
6. Authenticity: Real vs. Imitation
As moonstone rises in popularity, so do imitations. Watch out for synthetic or glass versions, often too clear, too colorful, or too cheap.
- Genuine moonstone often feels cool to the touch and has natural imperfections or shimmer that moves.
- Glass imitations are usually too flawless and may show rainbow reflections rather than that soft, layered glow.
- If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
✨ TIC Wisdom: A true moonstone doesn’t just shine, it stirs something inside you. Trust your instincts.
7. Sacred History & Cultural Symbolism
Moonstone has been adored across cultures and centuries:
- Romans believed it was made of solidified moonlight.
- Hindus revered it as sacred, believed to hold divine feminine energy, and sold it only on yellow cloth, a symbol of prosperity.
- During the Art Nouveau era, jewelers like René Lalique embraced its glow as a symbol of mystery, magic, and new romanticism.
✨ TIC Legacy: When you wear moonstone, you’re in conversation with centuries of stargazers, mystics, and mothers. Let it be your link to the luminous feminine line.
8. Price & Value: What to Expect
Moonstone pricing varies greatly based on quality, cut, and color.
- Blue-flash, high-transparency moonstones command the highest prices.
- Vintage settings in gold or intricate artisan work add even more value.
- More common pieces (peach, white, cloudier stones) can still be exquisite, especially if they carry history or strong energy.
✨ TIC Guidance: Don’t chase price. Instead, chase the feeling. Legacy pieces don’t always come with a high price tag, but they always leave an imprint.
9. Origin & Energy
Fine moonstones have been sourced historically from Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar, though new deposits are found in Madagascar, Tanzania, and beyond.
At The Inheritance Collective, we source vintage and small-batch artisan pieces with reverence, believing that the energy of a stone is shaped not only by the Earth but by the hands it passes through.
10. Care & Wear
Moonstone is delicate and best worn with mindfulness.
- Avoid abrasive surfaces and harsh chemicals.
- Clean gently with warm water and a soft cloth.
- Store separately to prevent scratching.
✨ TIC Ritual: Cleanse your moonstone under the full moonlight. Let it recharge on a bed of salt or selenite to restore its sacred shimmer.
Final Thoughts
Moonstone is not a gem that shouts. It hums. It waits. It watches.
When you wear moonstone, you carry the rhythm of the cosmos, the cycles of the moon, and the wisdom of women who have come before you. Whether gifted, inherited, or chosen for yourself, let it be a reminder of your intuition, your softness, your luminous strength.