IVY Birthstone: The Moon Has Never Been Closer
For thousands of years Moonstone has adorned women with its gentle look and feminine energy. The stone has been prevalent in ancient Roman, Greek, and Hindu cultures, but it wasn't until the early 1900s that the Gem became an important focal point. In the years preceding the Art Nouveau Era, Moonstone was often used as a small accent stone.
Artisans like René Lalique brought on a powerful change with the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts Movement between 1890 and 1910. Natural, mystical Gems with unique properties were favored over traditional glitzy stones. The Art Nouveau period was short-lived and the Art Deco movement was soon to follow with a heavy emphasis on diamonds and traditional precious stones. It wasn't until the 1960s that Moonstone came back into fashion.
Someone once said, if Art Nouveau is about curves, Art Deco is about angles. Art Nouveau pieces made during the late-Victorian era are all about the curves whether as a part of art, design, or architecture. This style grew from the Arts & Crafts and Aesthetic movements and looked to nature for much of its inspiration.
Extremely popular in the late 1800s into the early 1900s, this style emphasizes flowing lines and ethereal beauty incorporating natural elements such as flowers and vines whether literal or stylized. Animals and insects, both real and imagined, decorate many pieces with bats, dragons, birds, and dragonflies as popular motifs. Some of the curls and curves were inspired by newly documented sea-dwelling creatures as well.
Women depicted in Art Nouveau pieces will often have flowing hair. Those in more provocative poses may have their hair down or even be nude draped in billowy folds of fabric. No wonder that Moonstone, the epitome of femininity, elegance and eternal light, was one of the hallmark symbols of Art Nouveau.
The most striking quality of Moonstone is adularescence, or schiller. This comes from the gemological name for the Orthoclase mineral of a Feldspar group - Adular. Moonstone is the only natural stone that possess this unique optical feature, and it requires a special cut en-cabochon to display the visual effect. As light strikes a Moonstone, the internal structure of the Gem makes the light scatter. It gives the same visual effect as when clouds are lit up by the moon. This is where the name of the Moonstone originates from. In fact, in many ancient cultures, the Gemstone was thought to had been created from moonbeams! High quality Adulars reveal a beautiful blue sheen, yet the most coveted Gems originate from Burma and display a distinct golden sheen. These Burmese Moonstones are special pride of Yavorskyy collection, and they are generously featured in IVY Jewelry.
Every woman would love to have a Moonstone in her jewelry box as it provenly enhances the female energy, and because it looks graceful on any occasion. And if you were born in June it goes without saying: Moonstone is your lucky Gem, let it work some magic on you!
Happy Birthday Moonstone!
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