Designers Stephen Silver, Silvia Furmanovich, Verdura and Margot McKinney capture moonstone’s otherworldly luster.
The alluring play of light in a high-quality moonstone is unique among gemstones. Moonstone is a type of feldspar that has alternating layers of minerals called orthoclase and albite. The two layers produce a unique light diffraction in colors that can range from blue to white, depending on the layers’ thickness.
Moonstone can be found in an array of colors and varying levels of adularescence (also referred to as schiller), which is the milky glow or luster that arises from underneath the stone’s surface. A moonstone’s adularescence evokes the look of moonlight reflecting on water, and it is the origin of the gem’s name.
Moonstone has been used in jewelry and decorative objects for thousands of years. Ancient Greek and Roman cultures associated the stone with the moon gods’ powers. The Romans believed that the stone was actually made from solidified moon rays. Many cultures also believed that moonstone offered protection for travelers, especially over water and at night. Moonstone is associated with feminine energy, intuition, personal growth and transformation.
The first widespread use of moonstone in modern-era fine jewelry started in the Art Nouveau period. The stone was a perfect addition to Art Nouveau’s designs, incorporating flowing, organic lines and symbolic depictions of nature. Today, top jewelers capture its beauty and often accent the moonstone with precious gems, particularly diamonds.
Inspired By Nature
Designer Silvia Furmanovich collaborates with artisans and artists across the world, including in her native Brazil, to craft her one-of-a-kind pieces. “Our work is not so much about creating beauty than seeking it out and recognizing the beauty that already exists in all things,” according to the brand. The snail earrings pictured here are composed of hand-carved moonstones, gold and diamonds.
Rare Beauty
Each piece of Brisbane-based Margot McKinney’s jewelry is unique and crafted of some of the world’s finest gemstones. She is world-renowned for her extraordinary jewels and the use of rare stones, including her native country’s opals and pearls. The designer’s Marbella Moonstone pictured here is made of a 20.68-carat moonstone surrounded by several colors of sapphires, tsavorites, peridots, tanzanites and pink tourmalines.
Family Business
Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry is a fourth-generation, family-owned jeweler and is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Stephen is a renowned gem expert and creates custom pieces from rare gemstones sourced and carefully chosen for their color and character. The Moonstone Drop earrings pictured here are crafted of nearly 64.93 carats of moonstones and 0.89 carats of pavé-set diamonds.
Precious Pebbles
Verdura jewelry is well-known for its bold use of large colored gems since its founding in 1939. The late Fulco Verdura, who at the beginning of his career made jewelry for Coco Chanel, boldly mixed and matched precious and semiprecious stones to great effect. As a brand, Verdura continues his legacy of statement-making pieces to this day. The Verdura Pebble bracelet pictured here is crafted of cabochon rainbow moonstones set in yellow gold.