Moonstones have become some of the most popular gems in these past few years. They’re not just trendy, they’re hauntingly beautiful with that bluish glow just beneath the surface of the stone. There’s a reason some trends become strong, and moonstone is no different.
So if your heart is set on a moonstone engagement ring, or you just really want to know more about it to sate your curiosity, read on. An engagement ring is a big thing, and choosing the right gem can mean a lot to the bride. Or the groom !
Moonstone engagement ring meaning
A moonstone engagement ring symbolizes love, serenity, reflection, and a couple that is in touch with their spiritual and feminine side. Moonstones have always been viewed as spiritual and bringers of luck, especially in Eastern countries where the blue glow was considered the mark of a benevolent spirit living within the stone.
If you or your loved one are especially into crystals and spirituality then a moonstone engagement ring will be especially meaningful. Moonstones are famous for their mood-stabilizing properties while also allowing one to glimpse into the unknown, through the power of the moon. These stones are powerful.
Can you wear moonstone every day ?
Unfortunately moonstone cannot be worn everyday in the form of a ring, as it’s a soft gemstone. It ranks 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. This means each time you band your hand against the table or a wall, or simply aren’t careful, you risk splitting the stone. Soft gems fracture and chip and scratch very easily.
Everyday gemstones are those that score at least a 7 on the Mohs scale, though we personally recommend you go for an 8, as those are hardier. For context, a diamond is a perfect 10, sapphires and rubies are 9, and emeralds are 7.5-9 as they are prone to fracturing as well. A pearl is 2.5-3, as it’s primarily made of calcium and will easily shatter.
So does that mean you can’t wear your engagement ring ? No, you can wear it, but be sure to avoid any physical activity. And maybe not wear it every single day. If you’d like an engagement ring you can wear every day, with a stronger stone, we recommend going for a gem that ranks at least 8 on the Mohs scale.
Read also: Emerald Engagement Ring Meaning
What metal works best with moonstone ?
Moonstone has a beautiful bluish hue and is semi-transparent, so it has an otherworldly look and feel to it. Because of this, we recommend metals that appear in softer colors, such as white gold and rose gold. These two options always make the white-blue of a moonstone stand out.
You can try silver as well, but it’s a softer metal and may wear with in time, becoming porous and requiring more care. Then again, moonstone is also soft so it fits, no ?
Yellow gold has too strong a contrast with the blue glow of a moonstone. Of course the color of the moonstone ring is entirely up to you, we’re not the ones wearing it.
How much is a 2 carat moonstone ?
Moonstones are very affordable, which is great if you’re planning on having several on your ring. For example a 1.97 carat moonstone, pretty transparent with a blue sheen goes for $80 on GemPundit. It’s cut into a cabochon, as this is the simplest and safest way to cut a moonstone.
What to know when buying moonstone
When you’re buying moonstone you’re likely going to think of it as another gemstone. And you’d be right, except there is another, extra factor to consider. Moonstones come in mostly white, but they may also be grey, peach, or brown. The key point is that you’re likely looking for one with a bluish, glow, so know that the moonstones that are going to have the best blue glow are the ones with a lot of inclusions in them, or fault lines. They’re rarely perfectly transparent.
Really, moonstones are not that easy to buy so you should take a look at the list below.
Don’t go over 2 carats for maximum stone safety
When you’re looking for gemstones for an engagement ring you’re looking for two things: emotion, and wow factor. Emotion because you want the stone and the ring to mean something to you and your loved one, and wow because you want it to be impressive, at least for the two of you.
And the most common way of trying to make a ring impressive is to get a bigger stone. With moonstone this isn’t as good an idea as it seems. You’d definitely afford more than two carats for a moonstone center stone, but it’s not really a good idea for an everyday ring.
The bigger the stone, the higher the chance of it getting chipped or cracked. A big stone is hard to protect in whatever setting you like. So even if you can afford it, go for a stone no larger than 2 carats.
Make sure the moonstone is set in a protective bezel
The setting of your moonstone matter a lot too. This gemstone is fragile and soft, so you should put it in a bezel setting, even if it’s not he most impressive setting out there. You can make the ring pop more with a bit of metal work around the bezel, or adding a halo with another gemstone type all around.
A really impressive and cute ring we saw one was a lotus flower ring, with a small imitation moonstone center. The petals were turned up, and there were 3-4 rows of petals, all made of metal. It was both beautiful and protective. It’s this one.
Do not plan to wear it every day
Whatever style of engagement ring you’re planning on having, a moonstone is fragile. Wearing moonstone every day is risky, unless you have a very laid-back and sedentary life style. Be prepared to have to look for another gemstone as a replacement at some point.
It’s best to reserve a moonstone ring for special occasions.
The best cut for a moonstone is cabochon
Moonstones come in varying cuts and styles, but the most protective one is the cabochon. It’s not as impressive as any other cut, like a round brilliant or a marquise or a pear, but it’s definitely safer. And if the gemstone is of good quality with a nice sheen, it’s going to show in a cabochon.
If you’re not sure what a cabochon is, it resembles a drop of dew on a leaf, with a domed to and a flat back. It’s one of the oldest styles of gemstone cutting, and it’s mostly used for very soft stones nowadays. The complete lack of sharp corners gives the shape a lot of stability.
You may also consider an emerald cut for your moonstone, as long as it’s a fairly shallow cut stone. Even with a cabochon, a high dome is not desirable because it exposes more of the stone to the elements. A lower dome is better in this case.
I’m the main author for jewelrymaterialguide.com. I started this site after we did tons of research before our wedding and noticed that there is information about rings, jewelry, and so on that is really hard to find on the internet.
