June birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite

How to read it

Pearl was the June birthstone on the 1912 list, with moonstone as its alternate; alexandrite was added in 1952. Pearls form inside living molluscs, moonstone is a feldspar known for the soft light that seems to move across it, and alexandrite changes colour between daylight and lamplight.

Also searched as: alexandrite birthstone, birthstone for June, moonstone birthstone, pearl birthstone.

What colour is the June birthstone?

Pearls are usually thought of as white, but the International Gem Society lists black, green, gold, silver and pastel pearls too. Moonstone is known for a blue sheen on a colourless stone, and GIA describes alexandrite as green in daylight and red to purplish red under incandescent light.

When alexandrite was added

According to Jewelers of America, as National Jeweler reported, the list was updated in 1952 to add alexandrite, along with citrine, tourmaline and zircon for other months.