June Birthstones: Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone
June has three birthstones: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Pearl is the traditional June birthstone, an organic gem grown inside a mollusk; alexandrite is the rare color-changing stone added in 1952; and moonstone is the feldspar with a floating glow.
Find the birthstones for your exact date in June, which of the three suits you, the four pearl types, and how TrueSanity makes pearl jewelry with every cost disclosed.
By Amit Jhalani, third-generation jeweler · Updated October 2026
| June birthstones | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone |
|---|---|
| Pearl is the birthstone for | June |
| Colors | Pearl: white to black · Alexandrite: green to red · Moonstone: blue sheen |
| Meaning | Purity, transformation, intuition |
| Hardness | Pearl 2.5–3 · Moonstone 6–6.5 · Alexandrite 8.5 Mohs |
| Zodiac | Gemini, Cancer |
| Anniversary | Pearl: 3rd and 30th · Alexandrite: 55th |
Find your date
What Is the Birthstone for Your June Birthday?
Every day in June has three birthstones: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Your zodiac sign changes: Gemini covers June 1–20, and Cancer begins on June 21.
Tap a day for its birthstones, zodiac sign and a famous June birthday.
June 1st Birthstones
Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone
Your Birthstones
If you were born on June 1st, your birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Pearl is the traditional choice. As a Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20), pearl is especially aligned with your sign.
Gemini + Pearl
Pearl grounds Gemini’s restless duality with calm and emotional clarity. The twin shells that form a pearl mirror the Twins’ nature: two halves creating something whole and luminous.
What Are the June Birthstones?
The June birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. They could hardly be more different: one grown by a living animal, one that changes color with the light, and one that seems to glow from inside.
Pearl
Traditional · Since 1912An organic gem formed of nacre inside an oyster or mussel. Soft luster, white to black. 2.5 to 3 Mohs. Symbol of purity and wisdom.
Alexandrite
Modern · Added 1952A rare chrysoberyl that looks green in daylight and red under warm light. 8.5 Mohs. Symbol of transformation. Read the alexandrite guide.
Moonstone
Since 1912A feldspar with a floating sheen called adularescence, best in blue. 6 to 6.5 Mohs. Symbol of intuition and new beginnings.
Why Does June Have Three Birthstones?
Because the list grew over time. When the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) set the modern birthstone list in 1912, it gave June pearl and moonstone. In 1952 the Jewelry Industry Council of America added alexandrite, a hard, color-changing gem, alongside them. Older lists from the 15th to 20th centuries named still other stones for June, including cat’s eye, turquoise and agate.
June is one of three months with three birthstones, with August and December. All three are real June birthstones; pearl is the most traditional and the one most people choose.
Which June Birthstone Is Right for You?
Choose pearl for softness and tradition, alexandrite for daily wear and drama, and moonstone for glow on a budget.
| Pearl | Alexandrite | Moonstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Soft luster, white to black | Green by day, red by night | Floating blue or white sheen |
| Hardness | 2.5–3 Mohs | 8.5 Mohs | 6–6.5 Mohs |
| Everyday rings | With care | Excellent | Bezel settings |
| Cleaning | Damp cloth only | Soapy water; ultrasonic usually safe | Soapy water; no ultrasonic or steam |
| Price | Accessible to high | Natural: very high · Lab-grown: accessible | Accessible |
Pearl: The Traditional June Birthstone
Pearl is the only birthstone made by a living creature. When an irritant such as a grain of sand, a fragment of shell or a parasite slips inside an oyster or mussel, the animal coats it in layer after layer of nacre, the same iridescent substance that lines its shell. Months or years later, a pearl emerges, ready to wear with no cutting at all.
Natural pearls form on their own and are now extremely rare. Cultured pearls start the same way, with a technician placing a piece of tissue, or tissue and a bead, inside the mollusk, and they make up almost all pearls sold today. Every TrueSanity pearl is cultured. We name the pearl type on every piece and disclose any treatment on the product page and in the Transparency Manifest.
Pearls come in white, cream, silver, pink, peach, gold, green, blue, lavender, grey and black. Overtones, the rose, green or silver sheen floating over the body color, and orient, a rainbow shimmer in the finest pearls, add depth. Luster, the mirror-like glow that comes from thick, even nacre, is the most important factor in a pearl’s value. Pearl is soft, about 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, so it needs gentle care.
The Four Types of Cultured Pearls
Same organic gem. Four waters, four personalities.
Akoya
Japan & China · The classicFamous for near-perfect roundness and sharp, mirror-like luster. Usually white or cream with rose overtones. The benchmark pearl strand.
Tahitian
French Polynesia · The darkGrown in the black-lipped oyster. Naturally dark grey, green, blue or brown, often with peacock overtones.
South Sea
Australia, Indonesia, Philippines · The luxeThe largest cultured pearls, from the Pinctada maxima oyster. White, silver or deep gold with a satiny luster. The most valuable cultured type.
Freshwater
China · The accessibleGrown in mussels in lakes and rivers. The widest range of shapes, sizes and colors, usually solid nacre with no bead. The most affordable entry point.
June Birthstone Meaning & Symbolism
The June birthstones stand for purity, transformation and intuition.
Pearl: Purity and the Tears of Heaven
Persian legend called pearls teardrops fallen from heaven; Chinese stories placed them in the heads of dragons; Greek myth tied them to Aphrodite, born from sea foam. Nearly every culture arrived at the same meaning: purity, innocence and quiet wisdom.
Status, Power, and One Very Expensive Dinner
Before cultured pearls, natural pearls were so rare that Julius Caesar restricted them to the upper classes. Pliny the Elder recorded that Cleopatra won a bet with Mark Antony by dissolving a pearl earring worth 10 million sesterces in vinegar and drinking it.
Alexandrite and Moonstone
Alexandrite, which changes color with the light, stands for transformation and balance. Moonstone, long linked to the moon and lunar goddesses, stands for intuition and new beginnings. Pearl marks the 3rd and 30th wedding anniversaries, and alexandrite the 55th.
“The first place, therefore, and the very highest rank among all things of value is held by pearls.”Pliny the Elder, Natural History
The History of the June Birthstone
- Ancient world
- Pearl may be the oldest gem people wore: it needed no mining or cutting, only an opened shell. A pearl necklace found in a royal tomb at Susa, in modern Iran, is now in the Louvre.
- Rome
- Julius Caesar limited pearls to the aristocracy and reportedly gave his mistress Servilia a pearl worth a fortune. Pliny the Elder recorded Cleopatra’s dissolved pearl.
- 1830s
- Alexandrite was found in Russia’s Ural Mountains and named for the young future Czar Alexander II. Its green and red matched the colors of imperial Russia.
- 1893–1916
- Japanese pearl farmers produced the first cultured pearls in 1893, and perfectly round cultured pearls followed by 1916. Pearls went from a royal luxury to something almost anyone could wear.
- 1912 and 1952
- The 1912 list named pearl and moonstone for June; the Jewelry Industry Council of America added alexandrite in 1952.
- 1969
- La Peregrina, a drop pearl of about 50 carats found in the Gulf of Panama in the 1500s and worn by Spanish royalty, was given by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor.
Moonstone: June’s Glowing Birthstone
Moonstone is the best-known gem of the feldspar group, prized for adularescence, a soft light that seems to float across the stone. The effect comes from microscopic alternating layers of orthoclase and albite feldspar that scatter light. The finest moonstones show a blue sheen on a colorless body; others glow white, peach, grey or with rainbow flashes.
Hindu lore said moonstone was made of moonbeams, and the Romans believed it formed from moonlight. It was a favorite of Art Nouveau jewelers. The most important sources are India and Sri Lanka, with others in Brazil, Madagascar, Myanmar, Tanzania and the United States.
At 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale with poor toughness, moonstone is best in earrings, pendants or bezel-set rings. Clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft brush, and never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. TrueSanity does not currently make moonstone jewelry.
Alexandrite: June’s Color-Changing Birthstone
Alexandrite is a rare variety of chrysoberyl that looks green to bluish green in daylight and red to purplish red under incandescent light. It was added to the June list in 1952, rates 8.5 on the Mohs scale, and fine natural stones with a strong color change are among the rarest gems in the world. TrueSanity makes alexandrite jewelry in lab-grown alexandrite, disclosed as lab-grown on every piece.
Four Ways to Wear Pearl
Each piece ships with a Transparency Manifest. No hidden markups. Just the pearl, the craft, and the truth.
How to Care for Your June Birthstone
Pearl needs the most care of any birthstone. Its nacre is organic and can dry out, dull or crack if mistreated. Put pearls on last, after perfume, hairspray and cosmetics, and take them off first. Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth after wearing, and never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners or chemical cleaners. Store pearls apart from other jewelry, and have a strand you wear often restrung about once a year.
Alexandrite is easy: warm, soapy water and a soft brush, and ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe. Moonstone needs warm, soapy water only, with no ultrasonic or steam cleaning.
Last On, First Off
Perfume, hairspray and cosmetics first, pearls last. Remove them before swimming, cleaning or exercise.
Wipe After Wearing
A soft, damp cloth removes body oils. No ultrasonic, steam or chemical cleaners, ever.
Restring Yearly
Silk thread stretches. Knotting between each pearl keeps them from scattering if a strand breaks.
Nocturnal Luxury, Radical Transparency
What a June birthstone piece really costs
Cleopatra dissolved a pearl to prove her wealth. We would rather show you exactly what yours costs. This is the live Transparency Manifest of a real pearl piece: metal, pearl and stones, craft, shipping, and what we make.
How the Transparency Manifest works →White Akoya Pearl & Diamond Curve Stud Earrings - Tiana
Birthstone for Every Day in June
Whether you’re born on June 1st, June 15th, or June 30th, your June birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Birthstones are assigned by month, not by individual day. What does change is your zodiac sign: June 1–20 is Gemini, June 21–30 is Cancer.
Jun 1–20 · Gemini
Air sign · Ruled by Mercury
Pearl grounds Gemini’s restless duality with calm and emotional clarity, and alexandrite’s two colors suit the sign of the Twins.
Jun 21–30 · Cancer
Water sign · Ruled by the Moon
Pearl and moonstone are Cancer’s natural stones: born of the sea and the moon, both quietly protective.
June Birthstone by Date: Quick Reference
| Dates | Birthstones | Zodiac sign | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1st–5th | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Gemini ♊︎ | White, green-red, blue sheen |
| June 6th–10th | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Gemini ♊︎ | White, green-red, blue sheen |
| June 11th–15th | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Gemini ♊︎ | White, green-red, blue sheen |
| June 16th–20th | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Gemini ♊︎ | White, green-red, blue sheen |
| June 21st–25th | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Cancer ♋︎ | White, green-red, blue sheen |
| June 26th–30th | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Cancer ♋︎ | White, green-red, blue sheen |
The June 1st birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 2nd birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 3rd birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 4th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 5th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 6th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 7th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 8th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 9th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 10th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 11th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 12th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 13th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 14th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 15th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 16th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 17th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 18th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 19th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 20th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone (last Gemini date).The June 21st birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone (Cancer begins).The June 22nd birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 23rd birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 24th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 25th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 26th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 27th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 28th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 29th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.The June 30th birthstone is pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone.
June Birthstone FAQs
What is the June birthstone?
June has three birthstones: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Pearl is the traditional June birthstone, an organic gem formed inside a living mollusk and known for its soft luster. Alexandrite is the rare color-changing stone, and moonstone is the feldspar with a floating glow.
What is the real birthstone for June?
All three are real June birthstones. Pearl and moonstone have been on the modern list since 1912, when the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) set it, and alexandrite was added in 1952. Pearl is the most traditional and the one most people choose.
Why does June have three birthstones?
The 1912 list gave June pearl and moonstone. In 1952 the Jewelry Industry Council of America added alexandrite, giving June a hard, color-changing option alongside the soft, organic pearl. June, August and December are the three months with three birthstones.
What does the June birthstone pearl symbolize?
Pearl symbolizes purity, wisdom, and quiet strength. The June birthstone pearl is associated with elegance, lasting beauty, and meaningful connections. These qualities have made pearl jewelry a popular choice for birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions.
What's the difference between natural and cultured pearls?
Natural pearls form without human intervention inside a mollusk, while cultured pearls are created by introducing an irritant into the mollusk to begin the pearl-forming process. Both natural pearls and cultured pearls are genuine pearl gemstones, with the main difference being how they are formed. Both types are valued for their beauty and are commonly used in pearl jewelry.
Are TrueSanity pearls cultured?
Yes. Every TrueSanity pearl is a cultured pearl. We name the pearl type, such as Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea or freshwater, on every piece, and we disclose any treatment on the product page and in the Transparency Manifest.
What are the four types of cultured pearls?
The four types of cultured pearls are Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea, and Freshwater pearls. Each pearl type has unique characteristics, including differences in size, color, origin, and luster. These pearl types offer different options for June Birthstone pearl jewelry.
Are pearls durable enough for everyday wear?
Pearls are one of the softer gemstones, at about 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs hardness scale. Because the June birthstone pearl has a delicate nacre surface, proper pearl care is important for maintaining its natural luster. With gentle handling and regular care, pearl jewelry can be enjoyed for many years.
What month is pearl the birthstone for?
Pearl is the birthstone for June. It shares the month with alexandrite and moonstone, and it is also the traditional gift for the 3rd and 30th wedding anniversaries.
Is moonstone a June birthstone?
Yes. Moonstone has been a June birthstone since the 1912 list. It is a feldspar that shows adularescence, a soft, floating sheen of light, and at 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than alexandrite but harder than pearl.
Is June the rarest birthstone?
June holds one of the rarest birthstones: fine natural alexandrite with a strong color change is among the scarcest gems in the world. Pearl and moonstone are far more widely available, so June offers both one of the rarest and some of the most accessible birthstones.
What is June's birth flower?
June's birth flowers are the rose and the honeysuckle. Its birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone, and its zodiac signs are Gemini (June 1 to 20) and Cancer (June 21 to 30).
How does TrueSanity's Transparency Manifest work?
Every TrueSanity pearl piece ships with a Transparency Manifest that itemizes your pearl cost, artisan labor, logistics, and our honest protocol fee. This gives customers more insight into the value behind their pearl jewelry purchase. It supports a transparent approach to buying pearl gemstone jewelry.
Does the June birthstone change depending on the date?
No. Every day in June has the same three birthstones: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. The zodiac sign changes, Gemini through June 20 and Cancer from June 21, but the birthstones do not.
What colors do June birthstone pearls come in?
Pearls naturally occur in colors such as white, cream, silver, pink, peach, gold, green, blue, lavender, grey, and black. These natural pearl colors make each pearl gemstone unique. The final appearance depends on the pearl’s formation and nacre characteristics.
How should you care for June birthstone pearl jewelry?
Pearl jewelry should be handled carefully because pearls have a softer nacre surface than many other gemstones. Proper pearl care includes avoiding harsh chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners, and excessive exposure to damage. Gentle cleaning and proper storage help protect the beauty of your June Birthstone pearl jewelry.
Which pearl type is best for jewelry?
The best pearl type depends on personal preference, style, and desired appearance. Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea, and Freshwater pearls each offer different qualities for pearl jewelry. Understanding pearl types can help you choose a pearl gemstone that matches your preferred look and style.
Find Your June Birthstone
Birthstones by month
Sources: GIA, June birthstones · Jewelers of America, which set the modern birthstone list in 1912 as the National Association of Jewelers · American Gem Society, for pearl, alexandrite and moonstone.
Clarity is a Form of Luxury.