June has three birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. Pearl is an organic gem formed inside mollusks, moonstone is a feldspar with a floating blue-white glow, and alexandrite is a chrysoberyl that turns from green to red.
June’s three birthstones span nearly the whole hardness scale: pearl measures 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, moonstone 6 to 6.5 and alexandrite 8.5, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). That makes the choice of June birthstone a practical one, not just a matter of color.
Alexandrite was added to the list in 1952 as a durable alternative to pearl, and the UK list still leaves it out, giving only pearl and moonstone. Alexandrite’s color change is so striking that the phenomenon itself is called “the alexandrite effect.”
Table of Contents
What are the June birthstones?
Pearl, moonstone and alexandrite are all official June birthstones on the GIA list; the British list includes only pearl and moonstone. The table compares the three.
| Property | Pearl | Moonstone | Alexandrite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Organic gem (nacre) formed in mollusks | Feldspar | Chrysoberyl (rare color-change variety) |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5–3 | 6–6.5 | 8.5 |
| Toughness | Soft; can become fragile with age | Poor | Excellent |
| Key visual effect | Luster and orient | Adularescence: light that “appears to billow across” the stone | Color change: green in daylight, red in incandescent light |
| Main sources | Japan and China (Akoya); Australia to Indonesia (South Sea); French Polynesia (Tahitian); China (freshwater) | India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Madagascar, Myanmar, Tanzania; U.S. (New Mexico, North Carolina, Virginia) | Brazil, Sri Lanka, East Africa (original Russian deposits depleted) |
| On UK list | Yes | Yes | No |
| Zodiac signs for June birthdays | Gemini (to about June 20) and Cancer (from about June 21) | Same | Same |
Why does June have three birthstones?
Pearl is the traditional June stone; moonstone and alexandrite give buyers harder, differently colored options. Alexandrite joined the U.S. list in the 1952 revision. June and December are the only months with three official birthstones; the full chart is in Birthstones by Month.
June birthstone colors
The June birthstone color depends on the stone: pearls are mostly white and cream but also gold, gray and black; moonstone is colorless to milky with a blue or white sheen; alexandrite changes between green and red. The table sets out each option.
| Stone | Colors | What makes the color |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl | White, cream, pink, gold, silver-gray, black | Nacre color and overtone; varies by pearl type and mollusk |
| Moonstone | Colorless to white, gray, peach; blue or white sheen | Adularescence, light scattered by layered feldspar |
| Alexandrite | Green to bluish green in daylight; red to purplish red in incandescent light | The mineral’s unusual light absorption |
How alexandrite changes color
Alexandrite appears “vivid green to bluish green in daylight” and “intense red to purplish red in incandescent light,” according to GIA; the trade summary is “emerald by day, ruby by night.” The change comes from “the complex way the mineral absorbs light.”
Other gems also change color, but alexandrite’s shift is strong enough that the effect is named after it. To check the effect, view the stone under daylight or a daylight-balanced LED, then under a warm incandescent bulb.
Types of pearl for a June birthstone
Four main types of cultured pearl dominate the June birthstone market. Cultured pearls form after a technician implants a bead or tissue into a mollusk; natural pearls form around an irritant without human help and are rare.
| Pearl type | Water | Main source | Typical look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akoya | Saltwater | Japan, China | Classic round white pearls |
| South Sea | Saltwater | Australia to Indonesia | Large white and golden pearls |
| Tahitian | Saltwater | French Polynesia | Dark pearls: gray, black, green and purple overtones |
| Freshwater | Freshwater | China | Wide range of shapes and colors; most affordable |
June birthstone history
Alexandrite deposits were first discovered in 1830 in Russia’s Ural Mountains, and the gem was named after the young Alexander II, because its red and green matched Imperial Russia’s military colors. Pearls are among the oldest gems in human use because they need no cutting or polishing.
Moonstone takes its name from its moon-like glow, and it has been used in jewelry for centuries. The historical facts follow GIA’s June birthstone guide.
Which June birthstone should you choose?
Choose alexandrite for an everyday ring, moonstone for a soft-glowing piece worn with care, and pearl for earrings, pendants and necklaces. The table ranks the three by durability.
| Use | Best June birthstone | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement or daily-wear ring | Alexandrite (8.5) | Hard and excellently tough; GIA calls it safe for daily-wear rings |
| Occasional ring or pendant | Moonstone (6–6.5) | Moderately hard but poor toughness; protect from knocks |
| Necklace, earrings | Pearl (2.5–3) | Soft; best away from abrasion |
| Lowest cost | Moonstone or freshwater pearl | Widely available |
| Rarest and most expensive | Alexandrite | Scarce, especially in larger sizes |
Caring for June birthstones
GIA gives different care rules for each June stone:
- Pearl: wipe with a soft cloth after each wear; clean occasionally with warm, soapy water; never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners; keep away from “hair spray, perfume, cosmetics, and even perspiration”; store separately, never in a plastic bag.
- Moonstone: clean only with warm, soapy water; do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
- Alexandrite: warm, soapy water, ultrasonic and steam cleaning are all safe.
The pearl guidance follows GIA’s pearl care guide.
What the June birthstone is not
The June birthstones are often misunderstood. The points below separate the facts.
- June does not have a single birthstone. Pearl, moonstone and alexandrite are all official in the U.S.
- Pearl is not a mineral. It is an organic gem made of nacre.
- Alexandrite is not two stones. One crystal shows both green and red, depending on the light.
- Moonstone is not quartz. It belongs to the feldspar group.
Frequently asked questions
What color is the June birthstone?
The June birthstone has three color options: pearl (white, cream, gold, gray or black), moonstone (colorless to milky with a blue sheen) and alexandrite (green in daylight, red in incandescent light).
What is the most durable June birthstone?
Alexandrite is the most durable June birthstone, at 8.5 on the Mohs scale with excellent toughness, which makes it suitable for daily-wear rings.
Why is alexandrite so expensive?
Alexandrite is scarce, especially in larger sizes, according to GIA, and the original Russian deposits are depleted, leaving Brazil, Sri Lanka and East Africa as the main sources.
