Those born in June are completely spoiled with two wonderful birthstones to choose from. Both Pearl and Alexandrite are associated with the month of June, providing an incredible selection of birthstone jewellery and gifts to choose from. The purity and iridescence of pearl instantly evokes sophistication while the unique Alexandrite gemstone is nature’s magic trick as its colour completely changes in different lights from red to green to blue.
Pearl Birthstone Meaning & History
Since it was first discovered, the Pearl has symbolised elegance, innocence and oceanic beauty, fascinating women of all ages with its unique iridescence and shine. Natural pearls originate from lakes, rivers and oceans and are found within the tissue of saltwater or freshwater molluscs. The mollusc secretes a substance known as nacre around a foreign piece of sand or parasite that has invaded the shell. Cultured pearls on the other hand are a product of human intervention. They are created by implanting a piece of tissue into a mollusc which then produces nacre, just like that of a natural pearl. Cultured pearls are now widely used within pearl jewellery after thousands of years of pearl fishing has almost depleted natural pearl beds.
The pearl has held several different meanings in different cultures including ancients from the Middle East believing that they were teardrops fallen from heaven while the Chinese believed the June birthstone to be the brain of a dragon. When translated, ancient Sanskrit text described pearls as being able to bestow long life and prosperity while many cultures in Asia believed pearls to help alleviate indigestion and haemorrhages. With its long associations with purity and innocence, the pearl is often given as a wedding gift or worn by the bride on her wedding day.
Where are Pearls found?
Natural pearls have been found all over the world, with large amounts found around the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. In the 16th century, large quantities of natural pearls were recovered from the waters of Mexico but unfortunately due to overfishing, only small quantities of pearls can now be found in these areas.
Cultured pearls are grown in many areas around the world, often away from civilisation since pearl bearing molluscs struggle to thrive in polluted waters. The legendary Akoya cultured pearl is primarily found in Japan and China while South Sea cultured pearls are farmed from the northern coast of Austria through to Indonesia, the southern coast of Southeast Asia and the Philippines. The striking black Tahitian cultured pearls can be found on the Gambier Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago, both part of French Polynesia.
Alexandrite Birthstone Meaning & History
Unlike pearls and many other gemstones, Alexandrite doesn’t share the same ancient history and lore since it was only uncovered in the 19th century. The stone is named after the Russian tsar Alexander II. It was discovered in the emerald mines near the Tokovaya River in Russia’s Ural Mountains in 1830 on the very same day the prince was born. When it was found, miners believed that the stones were emeralds until they were taken back to the camp at the end of the day. In the firelight, the stones shone a completely different shade of colours going from green to red.
The June birthstone displays a vivid green to blue colour in daylight and an intense red to purple in incandescent light. This remarkable property only made it more respected in Russia since both red and green were the principal colours of old Imperial Russia. Since its discovery, Alexandrite has been associated with good luck, good fortune and love. In Russia, it remains a stone of very good omen.
Where is Alexandrite found?
The original source of Alexandrite, Russia’s Ural Mountains, has now mined out. Now most of the stone comes from Brazil, Sri Lanka and East Africa. The newer deposits are still considered to be of high quality, but none seem to match the intense colour change of the original 19th century stones found in Russia. Since it is still a fairly new discovery, high quality alexandrite is one of the most expensive coloured gemstones in the world.
June Birthstone Jewellery
At C W Sellors, we have a fantastic selection of Pearl jewellery and Alexandrite jewellery to choose from which make perfect gift ideas for someone celebrating their June birthday. From dazzling alexandrite rings to exquisite pearl necklaces and pearl earrings, our selections of June birthstone jewellery will leave you spoiled for choice for that special someone. Get in touch with our team of gemstone jewellery specialists today for help and advice on our ranges of Alexandrite jewellery and Pearl jewellery.
