Moonstone Buying Guide: How to Choose a Good Chandrakant

A moonstone is bought for one thing above all: the soft light that floats across it when you tilt it. Gemmologists call it adularescence, and in Pakistan the stone is often sold as Chandrakant. Everything else in this guide, colour, clarity, cut, size and origin, is really about how well a stone shows that light.

The good news is that you can judge that sheen with your own eyes and a single lamp. The harder part is knowing which "moonstone" you are being offered, because the trade uses the name for several different stones. This guide takes you through both, then sets out the questions to ask and how to buy safely online.

First, know which moonstone you are looking at

Moonstone is a feldspar mineral. Several related stones are sold under the same name, and they look and behave differently.

• Classic moonstone is colourless to milky white with a blue or white sheen. A transparent stone with a bright blue sheen is the most prized form.
• Peach, grey and brown moonstone have a coloured body with a white or silvery sheen. They are usually more affordable and very wearable.
• Rainbow moonstone shows flashes of blue, purple and other colours on a white body. Strictly speaking it is a white variety of labradorite, not the same feldspar as classic moonstone, but the trade name is universal. It is a genuine natural stone and a lovely one.
• Cat's eye and star moonstone show a single line or a star of light when cut as a domed cabochon. They are less common.

Ask the seller which type they are offering. A fair listing names it. If you specifically want a blue-sheen moonstone, say so, because a rainbow moonstone will not give you that look.

The sheen: the first thing to judge

Hold the stone under one light source, such as a phone torch or a single bulb, and tilt it slowly.

• Strength. A good stone shows a bright, clear glow. A weak stone gives only a faint haze that you have to search for.
• Colour of the sheen. Blue is the most sought after, followed by a clean silvery white. In rainbow moonstone, look for strong, varied colours rather than a single dim blue streak.
• Coverage. The sheen should spread over most of the face. A small patch of light at one side is less attractive.
• Position. In a well-cut stone the sheen sits in the centre of the dome when you look straight down. If you have to tilt the stone sharply to see it, the cutter did not orient the rough well, and the stone will look dull in a ring.

Shop and studio photos often show the sheen at its best angle. A short video where the stone is turned under a single light tells you far more.

Body colour and transparency

The body of the stone is the background the sheen floats over.

In classic moonstone, a clear or near-clear body makes the blue sheen look deep, as if it sits inside the stone. A milky or cloudy body makes the sheen softer and whiter. Both are attractive; the transparent stones are rarer.

In peach and grey moonstone, look for an even, pleasant colour without muddy brown patches. In rainbow moonstone, a clean white body sets off the colours best.

Clarity: what is normal and what to avoid

Most moonstone contains something. The question is whether it spoils the look or the strength.

• Small "centipede" inclusions, tiny cracks with a short line running through them, are typical of moonstone and confirm a natural stone. A few are acceptable.
• Black needles or specks are common in rainbow moonstone. A few add character; a crowd of them across the face makes it look dirty.
• Cleavage cracks that reach the surface are the real concern. Feldspar can split along these planes, and a stone with an open crack may break when set. Tilt the stone and look for flat, mirror-like flashes inside or fine lines at the edge.

A completely clear, glassy stone with an even blue glow from every angle is more likely to be glass or a synthetic than a fine moonstone.

Cut: the cabochon matters

Moonstone is almost always cut as a smooth dome, called a cabochon, because that shape gathers the sheen into a moving band.

• Dome height. A good, rounded dome shows the sheen well. A very flat stone shows little movement.
• Symmetry. Look at the stone from the side. The dome should rise evenly, with no lopsided slope.
• The base. A very thick, heavy base adds weight but not beauty, and makes the ring sit high. A moderate base is better.
• Polish. The surface should be smooth and glassy, without scratches or tiny pits. Moonstone is only 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so a worn surface on a "new" stone is a warning.

Faceted moonstones exist and sparkle softly, but they usually show less of the floating glow.

Size and weight

Moonstone is a lighter stone than sapphire or ruby, so a given weight looks larger. Many buyers in Pakistan choose stones in the range of several carats to well over ten for rings and pendants. As with any gem, larger stones with a strong, centred sheen are harder to find and cost more for each carat.

If an astrologer has given you a weight in ratti, ask which ratti they mean. The gemstone ratti is 0.91 carat; the sunari ratti used by jewellers is about 0.61 carat. Our carat to ratti converter does the sum. Ask for measurements in millimetres too, so you can picture the stone on your finger.

Origin

Sri Lanka is the classic source of blue-sheen moonstone. India supplies a great deal of the rainbow, peach and grey material on the market. Madagascar, Myanmar and parts of East Africa also produce moonstone.

Origin is a minor factor for most buyers. A strong, well-centred sheen is worth more than any place name, and origin claims for moonstone are rarely backed by a lab report. Judge the stone you can see.

Treatment and imitations

Most moonstone is sold untreated. Treatments you may meet include a thin coating to brighten the sheen and, occasionally, a dark backing or paint on the base of a cabochon to make the glow stand out. Both should be disclosed. A coating can wear off, so ask directly.

The common imitations are opalite, a man-made glass with a bluish glow, and milky glass. They glow evenly from every angle instead of showing a band that moves, and they often look too clean. Our guide to real and fake moonstone goes through the checks in detail.

Matching the stone to how you will wear it

The best moonstone for you depends on where it will sit.

• A daily ring. Choose a stone with no surface-reaching cracks, a moderate dome and a size that a bezel can wrap around fully. A slightly milky stone with a good sheen is often the practical choice here, because it hides small scuffs better than a glass-clear one.
• A pendant. Pendants take far fewer knocks, so you can choose a larger or more transparent stone and enjoy the full glow. Make sure the sheen shows when the stone hangs straight, not only when you hold it at an angle.
• Earrings. Ask for two stones matched for body colour and sheen. A slight difference is easy to see when they sit either side of the face.

Questions to ask the seller

1. Is it classic moonstone, rainbow moonstone, or another feldspar?
2. Is it natural and untreated? Is there any coating or backing?
3. What is the exact weight in carats, and what are the measurements?
4. Can you send a video turning the stone under a single light?
5. Are there any cracks that reach the surface?
6. Can a certificate be provided, or independent testing arranged?
7. What happens if I am not happy with it when it arrives?

Buying moonstone online in Pakistan

Because the sheen moves, photos alone can mislead. Here is how to buy online with confidence:

• Buy the exact stone. Every GemStore listing shows the individual stone you will receive, with its own weight and price, so you can compare like with like.
• Watch it move. Ask us for a video if the listing does not already show the sheen under a single light.
• Inspect before paying. With Cash on Delivery you can open the parcel and look at the stone before paying the rider. Use a phone torch and tilt it.
• Take your time. Our 7-day return window gives you room to show the stone to a jeweller or have it tested.

Browse our moonstone collection to compare sheen and body colour across stones. A 10.65 carat Chandrakant and a 14.75 carat Chandrakant are a useful pair to compare for size and glow.

After you buy

Moonstone is softer than many ring stones and can split if knocked hard, so a bezel setting and a little care go a long way. Our moonstone care guide covers cleaning and storage. Moonstone is also one of June's birthstones, and the June birthstone page compares it with pearl if you are choosing a gift.

If you are torn between two stones, send us both links on WhatsApp. Tell us whether you want the strongest blue sheen, the best value or a stone for daily wear, and we will give you a straight answer.

Shop the stones: moonstone.