The Fourth of June’s Birthstones - Alexandrite

The fourth of June’s birthstones is the magic stone, Alexandrite. 

The magic of alexandrite lies in its ability to change color and transform from emerald by day and ruby by night. It is light red or purplish red in incandescent artificial light and emerald green or blue-green in daylight or under a fluorescent light. Some varieties of alexandrite are yellowish to pink or orange in daylight and a raspberry red by incandescent light.

As far as gemstones go Alexandrite is a relatively modern gem, first discovered in Russia in 1831 during the reign of Czar Alexander II after whom it was named. This is probably because it is only rarely found in nature.Alexandrite was a treasured gemstone with Russian royalty and aristocrats bringing them good luck and good fortune. Because Imperial Russia’s primary colors were red and green it naturally became the national stone of tsarist Russia.

Alexandrite is an extremely rare variety of chrysoberyl with a complex chemical makeup which is responsible for its color change abilities. Alexandrite can only form when aluminium and beryllium combine with trace elements like iron, titanium and, most importantly, chromium in its crystalline structure and the likelihood of this occurring naturally is fairly doubtful.  Due to its rarity, jewellers tend to use synthetic, man-made versions of this enchanting gemstone.  

 

Other than Alexandrite, there are two other varieties of chrysoberyl are - ordinary chrysoberyl is yellow-to-green; and cat's eye otherwise know as cymophane.

 

Alexandrite helps to balance one’s emotional state, provide confidence, increase self-esteem and bring about change. Alexandrite brings spiritual growth, happiness, success, and intensifies feelings of love and sensuality. It has been used as a stone of manifestation and good fortune, joy, and creativity.  It is used to cure diseases of the central nervous system, spleen and pancreas.

Alexandrite is such a special stone because it bestows both an uplifting and ennobling energy. In its highest aspect, alexandrite one of June’s birthstones, symbolizes freedom, joy, and regeneration. June's birthstone, alexandrite makes the perfect gift.

The Third of June's Birthstones, Agate

The third of June’s birthstones is agate which has a great many powers.

 In fact agate is believed to be the most powerful of all stones. Some of the many powers it is known to bestow are good luck, love, truthfulness, courage, bravery, strength, longevity, acceptance, protection, balance, harmony, generosity, security, persuasiveness, agreeability, congeniality, compatibility, creativity and honesty. It is also associated with abundance, wealth, and in particular the acquisition of wealth.  

 

Agate a birthstone for June is one of the most ancient stones used by man for hard-stone carvings. It has been recovered from a number of ancient sites such as from an archaeological dig at the Knossos site on the island of Crete. This finding linked it to the Bronze Age Minoan culture. Agate was given its name by the Greek philosopher, Thepphrastus who first discovered agate on the shores of the Achates River,  between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

 Agate is a silica or chalcedony found in volcanic rocks. It is characterised by its fine grain and bright and variable colors.

Agate is a potent emotional healer helping the wearer to distinguish truth and understand circumstances beyond their control. Agate is known to improve memory and concentration, improve stamina and insure lovely dreams. Agate stimulates analytical capabilities, precision in analytical work and other hidden natural talents and appreciation of nature. It enhances personal courage, improves self esteem and protects against danger.

Agate is associated with outstanding protective and healing energy especially moss agate which is an earth stone believed by ancient peoples to be one of the  most potent of medicines. Health wise agates can help to cure problems in the stomach area, the colon, the circulatory system, the pancreas and blood sugar imbalances.

 The third of June's birthstones, agate makes beautiful jewellery and an amazing gift.

  

Who comes with summer to this earth,
And owes to June her hour of birth,
With ring of  agate on her hand
Can health, wealth, and long life command.

The First of June’s Birthstones – Pearls

June’s Birthstones  – Pearl, Moonstone and Agate

Those lucky enough to be born in June have a choice of four different varieties of June’s birthstones 

Pearls, Moonstone, Agate & Alexandrite

1.  Pearls

The first of  June’s birthstones, pearls symbolise a woman’s purity, chastity, integrity and all round perfect beauty.  It is also linked with charity, loyalty, truth, faithfulness, friendship and love and is therefore the perfect gem for wedding accessories.

Pearls are produced by oysters and an ancient Arab legend tells the tale that pearls are formed when dew drops filled with moonlight fall into the sea and are ingested by oysters. The ancient Greeks thought that pearls were the hardened tears of happiness from Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

Since ancient times, pearls have been worn as a form of adornment by royalty and celebrities alike. They were one of the most admired gemstones of the Roman Empire and then in Tudor England. The 1500s were known as the pearl age because when  Spanish explorers discovered the New World, they also discovered prosperous pearl fisheries run by Native Americans in the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi River Basins, as well as in the Atlantic Ocean.  This New World became known as the "Land of Pearls” when large numbers of pearls were sent back to Europe.

Akoya Pearls

 
Pearls have a shiny, creamy texture with a delicate iridescent reflection. Unlike other gemstones, they do not require faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. But because they are so delicate pearls need special care to keep them beautiful and lustrous. For instructions on the Care of Pearls Read My Blog 17/8/2014

Tahitian Pearls

The traditional metaphysical properties associated with pearls are modesty, chastity and purity. They enhance personal integrity and help calm the mind. Associated with courage, pearls are thought to warn people of imminent disaster. A pearl’s  healing properties relate to diseases of the heart, spleen, stomach, intestine, ulcers and emotional imbalances.

South Sea Peals

 Since the early 1900s commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls has almost completely replaced natural pearls in the marketplace. The most popular saltwater pearls are Akoya Pearls, South Sea Pearls, Tahitian Pearls. Saltwater pearls are very beautiful and quite valuable. The market is however flooded with Freshwater Cultured Pearls which are produced en masse in China and are very affordable.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls

 Who comes with summer to this earth
And owes to June her hour of birth
A pearl should wear against her skin
Who's innocence many a heart shall win