Rainbow Moonstone Jewelry
A milky white feldspar with a floating blue sheen. Technically a variety of labradorite
Unearthed Gemstones Rainbow Moonstone Jewelry
Click the photos for a closer look of the jewelry pieces
Hardness
6 - 6.5 (Medium): Wear with care; This gemstone can dull over time.
Toughness
Poor (Fragile — Can chip or break easily; Treat gently and store separately)
Mineral Family
Feldspar
Transparency
Transparent to Translucent
Crystal System
Triclinic
Lustre
Vitreous
What Is Rainbow Moonstone?
Rainbow moonstone glows with a floating blue and multicoloured sheen over a milky white body, and here is the twist: it is technically not moonstone at all. It is a transparent to milky form of labradorite, a different feldspar, showing the same layered light-play. The trade name stuck because the glow, called adularescence, behaves just like classic moonstone's. Tilt a good stone and blue fire drifts across it like light on water. Most rainbow moonstone comes from India and Madagascar.
Is Rainbow Moonstone Durable Enough for Everyday Jewelry?
As a feldspar with cleavage, it needs the same care as its namesake: a hardness of 6 to 6.5 but a real dislike of sharp knocks. It shines in pendants and earrings, and rings do best with protective bezels. It is cut as high-domed cabochons to set the glow rolling, with the odd transparent stone faceted.
How to Care for Rainbow Moonstone Jewelry
Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and clean it with warm, soapy water.
How to Tell If Rainbow Moonstone Is Real
Milky glass imitations exist, but they show a flat, static shimmer rather than a glow that moves with the light.
Gemstones Similar to Rainbow Moonstone
Technically a white labradorite: it sits right between classic moonstone and labradorite in the feldspar family.
