Maine Tourmaline - Maine Amethyst

PEARLS

Pearl is the birthstone for the month of June. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 3rd and 30th years of marriage.

A pearl is the product of an oyster's defense mechanism. When a foreign irritant is introduced either by man (cultured) or naturally, the oyster immediately surrounds it with layers of a substance called nacre. This forms the exquisite gemstone know as pearl.

Pearls come in a wide range of colors. They should be relatively free from skin blemishes. The more perfectly round the shape the better. The higher the luster, or "orient", the more valuable the specimen. The larger the pearl, the greater the value.

Besides the popular round shape, there are stylish mabe (large hemispherical cultured pearls), fresh water (elongated in interesting shapes and colors), and South Sea (large cultured pearls 10mm and up from Australia's and Indonesia's waters), to name a few.

Pearls have been recognized as the emblem of modesty, chastity and purity. They have come to symbolize a happy marriage.

Avoid household chemicals, cosmetics, hair sprays, and perfumes. Don't use ultrasonic cleaners. Wash with mild soap and water and store in a protective chamois pouch or tissue paper.

There are two alternate birthstones for June. One is alexandrite, the other moonstone.

ALEXANDRITE

Alexandrite has the remarkable property of displaying two colors: green by day and red at night. Poets have spoken of this variety of the mineral chrysoberyl as "an emerald by day and a ruby by night."

This gem derives its name from the fact that it was discovered on the birthday of Alexander II, czar of Russia, in 1839 -- the year the then heir-apparent reached his majority. The story goes that a group of miners in the Ural Mountains found some stones that looked like emeralds, but when they took them back to the camp that night, the campfire light made them shine red. In the morning, however, the stones shone green again. The men soon realized that they had found a new gem. Red and green were the imperial Russian colors, making the alexandrite of special meaning in that country.

The alexandrite is regarded as a harbinger of good luck.

The moonstone is named for the bluish-white internal reflections that seem to have a silvery play of color like the moon. The more of this silvery light a stone has and the more translucent it is, the greater its value. Not all moonstones have this pearl-blue hue; some have a green, blue or yellow tint. When the gem is turned back and forth, its shows silver rays that have been compared to moonbeams dancing over the water.

The moonstone has no sharp edges and is sometimes liked to a raindrop or tear. The Asians, steep in gem lore, point out that when there is a moon there is no rain and so the name, moonstone, means "no tears." The moonstone is believed to arouse tender passions in lovers. According to legend, a moonstone placed in the mouth while the moon is full gives lovers the power to read their futures together.

Moonstones have been found in Switzerland, Sri Lanka and more recently in India. Small stones are found relatively often; larger stones of unflawed quality are more rare.

The moonstone has always been regarded as bringing luck and is held in high esteem in the Orient where it is believed that it has a live spirit that moves as the stone is turned. Superstition says it has the power to hypnotize the person who gazes at it as it moves back and forth. In India it is regarded as sacred and can only be displayed on a yellow cloth since yellow is a sacred color in that country. The Moonstone Temple, built about 1100 BC. at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, had altar steps paved with moonstones. Its ruins are still visible.

As a June birthstone, the moonstone is a lucky gem that stands for friendship.

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