Moonstone is an amazing feldspar! It forms in layers, and the shimmer is caused by the light striking at a certain angle on the layers. It comes in many different natural colors, as well as exciting color enhanced gemstones. White, or rainbow moonstone is the best known and most popular of the naturals. Basically a white stone, as the light strikes the layers, it shows the brilliant colors of blue, green, orange, pink, yellow and even the occasional purple, earning it the name of "rainbow moonstone".
Other naturals include peach and silvery gray moonstone, which are both well-loved gems. Gray, while usually a silver tone, can, at times, come in stormy sky dark shades, or in a silver shade with a touch of chocolate.
Peach moonstone has an amazing, soft color that shimmers, sometimes on the surface, and other times from within, but always showing shades that go from intense peach to delicate peachy pink to soft, ivory peach.
Don't overlook the fancy, color-enhanced moonstones, though! Fuchsia and pink moonstones are color-enhanced, but as they move, and the rainbow flash comes through, they are incredible!
Moonstone comes in many cuts, including the most popular shapes- rondelles, pear and heart briolettes, both faceted and smooth, but can be effectively designed into almost any shape.
Moonstone has been popular in jewelry from ancient times, and in fact, many people once believed that the shimmer was caused by moonbeams that had solidified inside the rock. No doubt anyone looking at this beautiful gem can see how easily this can have been believed! Although, thanks to Wilkie Collins, moonstone suffered a downswing in popularity for a short time, it is, once again, deservedly, extremely popular. It just goes to show, you can't keep a good rock down!
The other name of this fantastic stone is hecatolite, believed to be on account of the association of the moon and the goddess Hecate.
