We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Feldspar · KAlSi₃O₈ · 6 to 6.5

Moonstone

Moonstone is feldspar made of thin alternating layers of two minerals. Light scatters between the layers and floats across the stone as a soft glow called adularescence. It is natural only: there is no lab moonstone, and "synthetic moonstone" on Amazon is glass (opalite). Rainbow moonstone is strictly a white labradorite, sold under the moonstone name.

From the ground to your hand

The same stone at four moments. Tap a photo of a listing to see it on Amazon.

  1. 01 In the ground (step 1 of 4)

    A moonstone crystal from Santo Domingo, Sonora, Mexico, at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Uncut, it looks like any feldspar; the glow appears when it is cut into a dome.

    A moonstone crystal from Santo Domingo, Sonora, Mexico, at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Uncut, it looks like any feldspar; the glow appears when it is cut into a dome.

    Real specimen. Photo: Eric Polk, CC BY-SA 4.0.

  2. 02 The glow (step 2 of 4)

    A 27 mm moonstone from Meetiyagoda, Sri Lanka, the classic source. The soft light floating just under the surface is adularescence.

    A 27 mm moonstone from Meetiyagoda, Sri Lanka, the classic source. The soft light floating just under the surface is adularescence.

    Real specimen. Photo: Wouter Hagens, CC BY-SA 4.0.

  3. 03 Rough to own (step 3 of 4)

    Rainbow moonstone rough: turn a piece in the light and the blue flash appears.

    Rainbow moonstone rough: turn a piece in the light and the blue flash appears.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

  4. 04 Set (step 4 of 4)

    A natural moonstone in a sterling silver Celtic knot ring.

    A natural moonstone in a sterling silver Celtic knot ring.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

Mineral
Feldspar (orthoclase or adularia with albite)
Glow from
Light scattering between thin layers
Hardness
6 to 6.5, with easy cleavage
Grown in labs?
No; glass imitates it
Famous sources
Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar

Moonstone vs the glass sold as moonstone

Mined and lab-grown moonstone are the same mineral; this is what differs
Natural moonstoneOpalite ("synthetic moonstone")
What it isFeldspar from the groundMan-made glass
The glowFloats inside and moves as you turn itEven milky blue, glows orange against a dark background
InsideSmall cracks and "centipede" Clean, sometimes with bubbles
PriceCheap to moderate; fine blue Sri Lankan stones cost moreVery cheap

Moonstone is affordable, so the fake is rarely worth the trouble, but "synthetic moonstone" and "opalite" listings are glass. Look for the word natural and a glow that moves.

Treatments. Moonstone is rarely treated. Some is coated or backed to boost the glow. All gem treatments explained.

Where natural moonstone comes from

Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

List of every place on the map (3)
  • Moonstone: Meetiyagoda, Sri Lanka. The classic source of moonstone with a blue sheen.
  • Moonstone: Tamil Nadu and Odisha, India. Most rainbow, peach and grey moonstone sold today comes from India.
  • Moonstone: Mogok, Myanmar. Fine blue-sheen moonstone from the same valley as ruby.

How it is cut

Lab moonstone is mostly machine-cut in calibrated sizes, which is why a cut lab stone costs little more than its rough. Fine mined stones are often native-cut to keep weight, then recut by precision cutters. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.

What to buy

Checked in stock on October 10, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

LabradoriteOpal

The moonstone shop: 7 more pieces we trust

Every piece names the real stone and comes from a seller with a record, checked in stock on October 11, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

WomenSilvershake natural moonstone marquise filigree ring, 14 x 7 mmNearly 1,000 ratings.about $45on Amazon →WomenMoonstone filigree teardrop earrings, sterling silverAbout 780 ratings.about $45on Amazon →WomenADITA GOLD moonstone pendant, sterling silverabout $100on Amazon →WomenNOVICA rainbow moonstone ring from Bali, sterling silverShips on a lead time.about $48on Amazon →WomenPeach moonstone necklacePeach and grey moonstone are natural colours.about $18on Amazon →Carvings and decorRainbow moonstone towerabout $20on Amazon →Carvings and decorRainbow moonstone obelisk, 3 to 3.5 inabout $15on Amazon →

Your kit for moonstone

Five tools that let you check what you bought (a loupe, a UV torch, locking tweezers, a gem box and a pocket scale), plus a turntable that spins your stone under the light the way jewellers show one. The full collector's kit.

LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeunder $20LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $10HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $15MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40

In short

Moonstone grows over millions of years in the earth, or in hours to months in a lab. Both are real moonstone; the mined stone is rare and priced for rarity, the lab stone is priced for the cost of growing it. Buy lab to wear and enjoy, check the listing names the mineral, and test it when it arrives.

See our first pick: Silvershake natural moonstone Celtic knot ring, 8 mm

Frequently Asked Questions

Is moonstone natural?

Real moonstone is always natural feldspar. Listings that say "synthetic moonstone" or "opalite" are glass.

Is rainbow moonstone real moonstone?

It is a white labradorite, a close cousin, sold as moonstone by long trade custom. It is a natural stone with a stronger, more colourful flash.

Can I wear moonstone every day?

Gently. At 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and with easy cleavage, it scratches and chips more easily than quartz, so pendants and earrings suit it better than rings.

Photo credits

  • moonstone-sonora-crystal.webp: Eric Polk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • moonstone-sri-lanka.webp: Wouter Hagens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Product photos: Amazon listings, via the Amazon Product Advertising (Creators) API.

Amazon links are affiliate links (tag thegemtray-20): buying through them costs you nothing extra and supports the site. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.