June has three birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. ✨ Tradition gives each one a lovely wish. Pearl stands for purity and calm wisdom, moonstone for intuition and new beginnings, and alexandrite for luck through change. Our own June crystal necklace uses gentle rose quartz, the stone of love. You do not have to find the "correct" one. All three are true June stones, so choose the one that suits the person and the way they will wear it.
On this page: why three stones · pearl, pāua, moonstone, alexandrite and rose quartz · which to choose · gifts by budget · real or imitation · a birthday ritual · FAQ
Why does June have three birthstones? 🌙
Ask three shops and you may hear three answers. A big New Zealand jeweller leads with pearl, and an American guide lists all three. American jewellers set the first official birthstone list in 1912. In 1952 they updated it, and alexandrite joined June. Today the gem experts at GIA name pearl, moonstone and alexandrite as June's birthstones.
Want the whole year at a glance? Our birthstones by month guide covers every month. This page goes deep on June.
The June birthstones and what they mean 💎
Pearl: the moon's teardrop
Pearl is the only June stone made by a living creature. It grows inside an oyster or a mussel, in the sea or in fresh water. Almost every pearl sold today is cultured, which means it was grown on a pearl farm. Cultured pearls come in white, pink, peach, brown and even black.
The old stories about pearls are some of the prettiest in the gem world. In ancient Greece, pearls were said to be the tears of the gods. Hindu folklore called them dewdrops from the Moon. In the ancient Middle East they were teardrops fallen from heaven, and in China they came from the brain of a dragon. Pearls have long stood for purity, calm and wisdom, which is why so many brides wear them.
Care in one line: pearl is the softest June stone, only 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, so put it on last and take it off first.
New Zealand's own pearl: pāua 🌊
Aotearoa has a pearl of its own. Our pāua, the shellfish with the shimmering blue, green and mauve shell, can grow pearls too. New Zealand's first commercial harvest of cultured pāua pearls came in 1997, in vivid blues, greens, purples and pinks. Most are blister pearls, grown against the inside of the shell. Natural pāua pearls are rare and wonderfully odd in shape.
For a June baby born in Aotearoa, a pāua pearl is a beautiful local twist on the classic. Look for one from a specialist New Zealand jeweller.
Moonstone: moonlight you can wear
Moonstone has a soft blue glow that seems to float across the stone as you move it. That glow is real light play. Moonstone is a feldspar built from very thin layers, and light scatters between them. The finest stones show a blue sheen on a clear background.
No wonder the lore is all about the Moon. Hindu mythology says moonstone is made of solidified moonbeams. The Greeks and Romans linked it with their moon goddesses. In crystal practice, moonstone is the stone of intuition, feminine energy and new beginnings. People wear it when life is changing, or keep it by the bed to stay close to their dreams.
Care in one line: moonstone is 6 to 6.5 on the hardness scale and can split if it takes a hard knock, so take a moonstone ring off for gardening, the gym and the dishes. Our moonstone meaning guide has much more on this dreamy stone.
Alexandrite: the stone that changes colour
Alexandrite is the magician of June. In daylight it looks green or blue-green. Under warm lamplight it turns red or purple-red. It was found in Russia's Ural Mountains in 1830 and named after the young Alexander II. Its red and green matched the colours of the Russian imperial army.
With a stone that changes so much, tradition links alexandrite with change, balance and good luck. Fine natural alexandrite is one of the most expensive coloured gems, so it is a jeweller's purchase.
Care in one line: at 8.5 on the hardness scale, alexandrite is the toughest June stone. Warm soapy water and a soft brush keep it bright.
Rose quartz: the stone in our June crystal necklace
Rose quartz is the soft pink stone that everyone seems to love at first touch. It is known as the "love stone", and rose quartz beads about 9,000 years old (from around 7000 BC) have been found in ancient Mesopotamia. In crystal practice it is the stone of self-kindness, friendship and a warm, open heart.
The card that comes with our June necklace calls it a personal amulet of protection. It says rose quartz helps you feel unconditional love, calms and reassures, and supports self-trust and self-worth. The pendant is a Tree of Life cage around a rose quartz disc, a symbol of a fresh start and a bright future.
Care in one line: rose quartz is 7 on the hardness scale and happy with everyday wear, but its pink can fade in long, strong sun. Our rose quartz meaning guide has rituals and more lore.
Pearl, moonstone or alexandrite: which suits the way you live? 🎁
Every June stone carries a good wish, so choose by how it will be worn.
- For everyday wear: a moonstone bracelet or pendant glows all day without worry. Rose quartz is a sweet, sturdy everyday choice too.
- For a moonstone ring lover: go for it, and make a habit of slipping it off for rough jobs.
- For a dreamer, or someone starting a new chapter: moonstone.
- For a first birthstone, a teenager or a friend: rose quartz.
- For a classic or a bride: pearl, or a pāua pearl for a New Zealand touch.
- For a once-in-a-lifetime gift: natural alexandrite, from a jeweller you trust.
We do not stock pearls or alexandrite. Our June shelf is moonstone and rose quartz, the glowing, affordable side of June. In Aotearoa a June birthday falls in midwinter, and moonstone's glow and rose quartz's warm pink feel especially welcome on a dark evening.
June birthstone gifts in New Zealand, by budget
- Under NZ$30: a moonstone chip bracelet (about NZ$10), a rose quartz bead bracelet (from NZ$15), our June birthstone pendant with rose quartz in a Tree of Life cage (NZ$22) or the rose quartz moon pendant (NZ$27).
- NZ$35 to NZ$85: a moonstone bead bracelet (NZ$35 to NZ$60 by size), teardrop moonstone earrings (NZ$60), a moonstone teardrop ring with scroll detail (NZ$75) or the oval split-band ring (NZ$85).
- NZ$100 and up: a sterling silver moonstone pendant, such as the long oval (NZ$100) or the rectangular pendant (NZ$110). See them all in our moonstone collection.
Buying a ring? Not sure of their size? Borrow a ring they already wear and follow our ring size guide. Moonstone is best judged by eye, so come and tilt a few under the lights at our Westfield Manukau shop. We also post June gifts anywhere in Aotearoa.
Real or imitation? Three quick checks 🔍
- Pearls: rub a pearl gently along the edge of your front teeth. A real pearl feels slightly gritty, and a fake feels glassy smooth. Real pearls also feel cool at first, and on fakes the coating often peels near the drill hole.
- "Rainbow moonstone": this pretty stone with blue and rainbow flashes is actually a kind of labradorite. It is lovely in its own right. Just know what you are buying.
- Alexandrite: lab-grown alexandrite has been made since the 1960s, and a big, cheap colour-change stone is almost always lab-grown or an imitation. Ask the seller to name it.
Store each piece on its own, in a soft pouch or a lined box. Harder stones can scratch a pearl or a moonstone in a shared tin.
A little June birthday ritual 🕯️
June brings the longest night of the year in Aotearoa, around 21 June, so let the moon help. On the night before the birthday, set the stone on a windowsill where the moonlight falls. Our moonlight charging guide shows how. At breakfast, warm the stone in your hand while you name one hope for the new year of your life, such as a calmer mind or a braver heart. Wear it out the door. Giving it away? Tuck that hope inside the gift box on a small slip of paper.
June birthstone questions
Which is the official June birthstone?
All three are official. American jewellers set the first birthstone list in 1912, and alexandrite joined June when the list was updated in 1952. Our June crystal necklace uses rose quartz. Choose the one whose story and glow feel like the person, and the wish comes with it.
What colour is the June birthstone?
June's colours are soft and moonlit. Pearls can be white, pink, peach, brown or black. Moonstone is milky white to clear, often with a floating blue glow. Alexandrite is green by day and red by lamplight, and pāua pearls shimmer blue and green. It is a gentle, glowing palette for a midwinter birthday.
What does the June birthstone mean?
June's stones share a theme of calm, intuition and fresh starts. Pearl stands for purity and wisdom, the tears of the gods in Greek lore. Moonstone is solidified moonbeams in Hindu lore, linked with intuition and new beginnings. Alexandrite brings luck through change, and rose quartz is the stone of love.
Is rainbow moonstone real moonstone?
Not quite. "Rainbow moonstone" is a kind of labradorite with a blue and rainbow shimmer. Crystal lovers adore it, and many wear it for the same dreamy, intuitive energy as moonstone. It is a beautiful choice, as long as you know what it is.
Can you wear pearls every day?
Yes, as a necklace or earrings, with a little care. Save a pearl ring for special days, because hands knock it about. Put them on after perfume, hairspray and make-up, and wipe them with a soft damp cloth after wearing. Pearls are made to be worn, and that gentle habit lets you enjoy their glow every day.
Before you go
June's stones glow like moonlight on water, and every one carries a wish: wisdom, intuition, luck or love. 🔮 Choose by the life it will live, on a busy hand, a quiet neck or a bedside table, and let its old story travel with it. Born at the other end of the year? Meet the December birthstones.
Sources
- GIA — June birthstones: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone, moonstone, moonstone and rainbow moonstone, alexandrite and rose quartz history and lore.
- International Gem Society — pearl, moonstone and alexandrite.
- Pāua pearls — Te Papa on pāua, GIA on New Zealand cultured pāua blister pearls and Gem-A on pāua shells and pearls.
- Birthstone list history — National Jeweler; rose quartz — Geology.com; pearl tells — Blue Nile.