Celebrating a June birthday with gemstones
People born in June have a choice of two birthstones: Pearl or Alexandrite. A third option adds Moonstone into the realms of possibility—all beautiful choices.
Pearls hold profound significance in various cultures and traditions, symbolising purity, wisdom, and tranquillity. Their luminous quality often connects pearls to the moon, believed to bring clarity and calmness to the mind.
Pearls also symbolise integrity and loyalty, making them popular choices for bridal jewellery and gifts marking important life milestones.
In many cultures, pearls are believed to possess protective qualities, safeguarding the wearer from negative energies and promoting inner peace and harmony. Their timeless elegance and deep symbolic meanings make pearls treasured gemstones with enduring spiritual and emotional resonance.
Pearlescent Birthstones – History and Origin
The history and origin of pearls go back thousands of years, with ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians, Chinese, and Romans. Pearls stand amongst the earliest gemstones discovered by humans, often found in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea.
In ancient China, they were believed to symbolise wisdom and were often worn by royalty. The Roman Empire considered pearls a status symbol, adorning their garments and accessories with them.
During the Age of Exploration, pearls from the New World, particularly from the waters around Venezuela and Panama, gained prominence in Europe. Throughout history, pearls have maintained their allure and status as symbols of wealth, purity, and sophistication.
Pearls are a cultured gift for every occasion.
Pearls provide a wonderful gift for many occasions, not just for a June birthstone gift. Set in Sterling Silver, many of our Pearl gifts offer an affordable and elegant gift, with neutral colours. Cultured pearls keep budgets at a sensible level, whilst Silver makes an inexpensive choice.
Bridal Set
Also available from our showroom or by order over the phone is this matching pearl bridal jewellery set. Available to order separately, the necklace and earrings, both crafted in 9ct White Gold, feature a diamond accent.
How are pearls formed?
There are a few different varieties of Pearls, from freshwater cultured pearls to the Mother of Pearl. They grow inside the issue of a freshwater or saltwater mollusc – Either an oyster or a mussel. Typically found away from any built-up areas. Pearl-bearing molluscs fail to thrive in polluted waters, so farms are usually located far from civilisation – and often in breathtaking settings.
Although pearls don’t have a strict grading system like the 4Cs of diamonds, they are still evaluated by the GIA. ( Gemological Institute of America)
Grading
GIA employs a grading system of seven qualities to determine value, which is more complex than the diamond grading system. Instead of colour, clarity, cut, and carat, like diamonds, they are graded by Lustre and Surface quality. Depending on the quality, they can range from £35.00 to 5 million.
Size
To begin, the size factors into where it has come from. Generally, they are 6mm – 7mm. Any larger and the size becomes more desirable, similar to when a diamond is 1.00ct, the price goes up dramatically. Only a small percentage of the biggest, healthiest molluscs can produce the larger pearls, making them rare.
Lustre
About lustre, this is measured by the degree of shininess. When great lustre is observed, light travels through the layers of nacre and is refracted and reflected from within, giving the pearl its shine.
Shape
Shape has a big impact on value, with a perfectly round shape meaning it is subsequently more expensive.
Three round grades exist, ranging from Near Round, meaning perfectly round when worn, to Round. Interestingly, this is an illusion and is not normally perfectly round when viewed close up.
Baroque – Meaning irregular in shape. However, the irregular shape is commonly known to allow more light, improving lustre.
And finally, Keshi & Keshi shaped – Meaning very small and Baroque. Keshi is the Japanese word for ‘poppy seed’, and it’s an apt name because when you look closely at poppy seeds, they’re small but very irregular in shape.
Colour
As a rule, colour doesn’t significantly impact the value. A range of colours exists for different types of pearl, which also affects the Lustre on what colours to look out for. Commonly, white, peach and purple Freshwater pearls of the same lustre, size, shape and surface quality are of the same value.
Surface Quality
The most important factor for grading and value, only a small percentage of pearls have a smooth, even surface. The majority are marked with pits, bands, bumps or even cracks.
Nacre Quality
Relating to thickness – additionally only relevant for nucleated bead pearls, i.e. saltwater and certain Freshwater pearls, because most Freshwater pearls are 100% nacre and have no bead in the middle.
Matching
Matching reflects the whole piece rather than the individual pearls. It’s an assessment of how well-matched the pearls are for the other value factors.
Black Tahitian Pearls
Black Tahitian pearls, renowned for their exotic allure and striking dark hues, are sourced from the black-lipped oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, found in the warm waters of French Polynesia. Unlike traditional white pearls, these gems exhibit a remarkable range of colours, including peacock green, aubergine, and silver. Their unique shades and natural lustre make them highly sought after in the jewellery market. Cultivated primarily around the islands of Tahiti, these pearls have become symbols of sophistication and luxury, prized for their rarity and the captivating, iridescent beauty that sets them apart from other types of pearls.
Care and cleaning
“Pearls are 2.5 to 3.0 on the Mohs Scale of hardness, so they are a comparatively soft gem and require special care.
Store them separately from other gemstones and metal jewellery to prevent scratching. Never store your birthstones in a plastic bag — plastic can emit chemicals that damage their surface.
Always apply perfume, hair products and cosmetics before putting on your jewellery. The best way to clean your June birthstone: Use a soft, damp cloth, ideally after each time the pearls are worn.”
Alexandrite – a unique and beautiful alternative for June
Firstly Alexandrite is the rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes colour in different lighting. Above all, the most prized are those alexandrite birthstones that show a vivid green to bluish-green in daylight or fluorescent light and an intense red to purplish-red in incandescent light. Most alexandrites come from Brazil, Sri Lanka and East Africa.
Secondly, the most important value factor of this rare gemstone is its colour and colour-changing properties. The more saturated the alexandrite’s colour, the more valuable it is. The same goes for colour change; the more dramatic the difference between incandescent and daylight, the higher the value.
Do Alexandrites have inclusions?
Similarly to diamonds, alexandrites exhibit natural characteristics, including needles, crystals, and twinning. However, fluorite, apatite, mica platelets, rutile, and multi-phase inclusions are common in alexandrite because of the elements present during the growth process. Fingerprints, liquid inclusions, and hollow tubes are also common.
Bespoke Design with Alexandrite
We created this incredible Alexandrite engagement ring working with our existing Unity ring design. Crafted in 950 Platinum, the Unity design provides a simple and minimalist setting to display the rich purple Alexandrite. Moreover, our client chose a 6.5mm Alexandrite, weighing 1.28 carats, with a round brilliant cut. In conclusion, the rich purple colouration of the gemstone stands out against the mirror-polished platinum, providing a unique alternative to this simple ring design.
About Mark Johnson
My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. I have 30 years or experience in polished diamonds and jewellery. Today, I work with an expert team in our Isle of Wight jewellery showroom located in Ryde. Most of my work involves helping clients in our showroom, working on our two websites and photographing jewellery commissions.
