June Birthstones

June babies get to have two birthstones; pearl and Alexandrite. The classic Pearl has been popular in jewellery for centuries because of its stunning, simple and natural beauty. Alexandrite gemstones are extremely rare and hugely desirable since they change colour based on the light.

Pearls

Pearls are no longer just for your grandmother. A plethora of designers sent these stones down the spring runways this year. Pearls are eternally stylish, and can be worn in any season, making them the perfect investment piece. From earrings to layered necklaces and bracelets, there's a style for everyone.

Pearls aren’t always white. They can be pink, brown, purple, or blue among others, and the colour depends on the type of oyster that produced the pearl. Unlike most gemstones, the value of a pearl is based on lustre rather than carat, with the most expensive pearls reflecting as clearly as mirrors.

Even as far back as Ancient Greece, pearls were being used as accessories. Many mythologies have formed around them all over the world, from linking them to the moon because of the similar appearance, to describing them as tears of the gods. The ancient Chinese thought that pearls could confer eternal youth, which is why until now, low-grade pearls are incorporated into some beauty formulas.

Alexandrite

nature’s magic trick! Described as an “emerald by day, ruby by night,” the alexandrite is extremely difficult to imitate, unique as its effect is. Under daylight, it appears to be green with a slight brown or blue tint, and then turns purplish red against incandescent light from fire or a lamp.

This property isn’t unique to alexandrite, but no other gemstone does it with as much colour change. The more an alexandrite can change colour, the higher its value.

Compared to other gemstones, which have been used by humans for thousands of years, alexandrite was only discovered around 200 years ago in the emerald mines of Russia.

As the legend goes, this was the same day as Prince Alexander II’s coming-of-age birthday, and so it became his namesake. The red and green of the stone also match Russia’s national colours. These two elements make alexandrite very popular in Russia, and it soon became Imperial Russia’s official gemstone. In the present, alexandrite can also be found in Sri Lanka as well as in Brazil and East Africa, although they aren’t as vivid in colour compared to the original ones from Russia.

With only a brief history, there isn’t a lot of symbolism ascribed to alexandrite, but

according to Russian folktales, it brings good luck, abundance, and love to whoever owns it.