Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist – September 2019

Recognized as a June birthstone
and historically deemed a lucky gem,
moonstone is a variety of the mineral
feldspar. Amazonite, andesine, and
labradorite are also feldspar family
gemstones.
“Moonstone is not enhanced or
treated; it’s all natural,” cheers Paul
Dragone, president of the Boston-
based Boston Gems. “It’s a unique
gemstone that has motion and life.
And, it comes in all price points.”
In the moonstone business for 30
years, Dragone believes this gem is
riding a wave of popularity that has
no end in sight. For the past fi ve
years, he says moonstone has been
extremely popular, not only for high-
end customers who want something
diff erent, but also for younger con-
sumers in silver jewelry that’s more
aff ordably priced.
“Designers large and small love
moonstone,” he hails. “The red car-
pet’s favorite designers have been
using this ethereal gem for years, like
Irene Neuwirth, Deirdre Featherstone,
and Temple St. Clair.” Possessing a
vast inventory of moonstones in fi ve
varieties, he cites blue sheen moon-
stone as most popular.
Moonstones are designer darlings
because they bring a lot of “piz-
zazz” to precious gemstone designs,
says Manu Nichani, of Blue Moon
Enterprises, Carlsbad, California:
“Anyone can work with moonstone,
which is an important reason why
moonstone’s popularity sustains.
Moonstones are phenomenal gems
that have a lot of allure, magic, and
mythology around them.”

CUT IS KEY
Interesting cuts in moonstone is a
key trend, says Nichani, who cites
rose cut, checkerboard and briolette,
bullet and cone shapes, and beads.
“Moonstone easily transforms from a
fresh day gem to a glamorous night
stone,” he fi nds.

Seattle designer Shamila Jiwa of

Shamila Fine Distinctive Jewelry be-

lieves that the availability of diff erent

cuts and shapes in moonstone have

inspired designers. “Cut and shape set

a moonstone apart,” she says, sharing

that she works with such shapes as

trillion, hexagon, and round medallion.

A fan a many gems, Jiwa says

that when she’s shopping she looks

for stones that captivate her atten-

tion. “I don’t go by trends,” she says.

“It’s about how I feel when I hold

the stone.” She tells of a recent fi nd,

a strand of rainbow moonstone in

freeform pebble shapes, 245 to-

tal carats that became a beautiful

custom piece. “The moonstones had

this silky, fabric-like quality with lilac

undertones.”

Consumers are used to seeing

really opaque material, but there are

diff erent grades of moonstone, says

Jiwa. The most highly favored moon-

stones display a colorless, translucent

to nearly transparent appearance

with no visible inclusions, and a vivid

blue adularescence seen from a

range of angles.

Designer Daria de Koning Fine

Jewelry, New York City says that many

of her new pieces, primarily set in 18K

yellow gold, feature moonstone this

year. She describes moonstone’s al-

lure as a “gravitational pull that draws

people in” and sees it as a three-

dimensional stone that changes every

time the light hits it.

“Moonstone easily

transforms from

a fresh day gem

to a glamorous

night stone.”

De Koning has been using a va-

riety of colors and tones in moon-

stone — especially in white, peach,

and gray hues — and works with the

gem as a central design element and

accent. “It’s a hearty gemstone,” she

says, noting that it works well in ev-

ery jewelry style. Partial to wearing

and making earrings, she also enjoys

the challenge of fi nding the perfect

matched pair.

Jiwa likes how moonstone mixes

so well with other gemstones, as

she explores in her popular stack-

able rings and pendant necklaces

for layering. She enjoys showing off

diff erent pairings like peach and

gray moonstone with smoky quartz,

white moonstone with rose quartz,

rainbow moonstone with indicolite,

and playing with diff erent metal

colors as well like peach moonstone

with rose gold or gray moonstone

with a deep pink rose quartz in silver

or white gold.

Finding good material, advises

de Koning, really boils down to your

stone dealer. “I go to people who

generally carry quality products, so

I am more likely to fi nd better mate-

rial with strong adularescence.”

DEBORAH YONICK has been writing about

jewelry and fashion trends for more than 25

years for trade and consumer publications and

online, and has loved both for much longer!

With roots in New York, she presently lives and

works in York, PA.

Seattle designer Shamila Jiwa of

“M

tr

a

De

Shamila Jiwa

Rings

Peach and gray moonstone

PHOTO: COURTESY SHAMILA JIWA

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 35