Moonstone: A Complete Guide
TL;DR: Moonstone displays a floating, glowing light effect called adularescence, caused by light scattering between microscopic layers within the stone. At 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale it's on the softer side, suiting pendants and earrings, or a protectively set ring, better than daily-wear demands.
What Causes the Glow
Moonstone's signature effect — a soft, floating sheen of light that seems to move beneath the surface as the stone is turned — is called adularescence, caused by light scattering between ultra-thin alternating layers of two different feldspar minerals within the stone. The effect is genuinely unique to feldspar gemstones and cannot be replicated by cutting or treatment in other stones.
Colour and Quality
The finest moonstone shows a vivid blue sheen against a colourless or near-colourless body, known as blue moonstone or adularia, and commands the highest prices. More common varieties show a white, grey, or peach body colour with a softer, less vivid sheen. The strength and colour of the adularescence, rather than the body colour, is the primary quality factor.
Durability
At 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, moonstone is on the softer side for jewellery use, and its layered internal structure that produces the adularescence effect also makes it somewhat more prone to fracturing under impact than harder, more uniform stones. It suits pendants and earrings particularly well, where it experiences far less daily contact than a ring — much like opal, another stone whose optical effect comes from an internal structure that also makes it more delicate.
Moonstone's Long History
Moonstone has been used in jewellery since antiquity, associated in various cultures with the moon and considered a symbol of new beginnings — a history that continues to inform its popularity in contemporary, meaning-led jewellery today.
Moonstone at À Vie Diamonds
We can source moonstone for pendants, earrings, and rings with appropriate protective settings. Get in touch to discuss a commission.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What causes moonstone's glowing effect? Adularescence — light scattering between microscopic layers of feldspar within the stone, a genuinely unique optical effect.
Is moonstone durable enough for a ring? At 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, it's on the softer side, better suited to pendants and earrings, or a ring with a protective setting and realistic care expectations.
What is the most valuable moonstone colour? Blue moonstone (adularia), showing a vivid blue sheen against a colourless body, commands the highest prices.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · À Vie Diamonds