Today, let’s talk about sunstone and moonstone. These two gems, named after the sun and the moon, seem to carry a special kind of magic. Do they truly represent day and night, just like their names suggest? Curious? Keep reading—we’re diving into the cultural history, metaphysical meanings, and more behind these luminous stones.
Where Their Names Come From?
Are they fragments of the sun and moon? Not really.
Both sunstone and moonstone belong to the feldspar mineral family. Their names weren’t chosen at random—they directly reflect the stones’ visual characteristics and perceived energies. These names are a way for humans to interpret the beauty of nature through celestial archetypes.
Sunstone gets its name from its radiant, sun-like appearance and glow. Moonstone, on the other hand, evokes the ethereal sheen of moonlight. Naming them this way, inspired by the sun and moon, gives these gems a cultural and spiritual significance that goes beyond just their looks.
The Origins and History of Sunstone
Sunstone is typically a plagioclase feldspar, usually oligoclase or labradorite, though orthoclase and microcline variants also exist. Its chemical formula is (Ca,Na)((Al,Si)₂Si₂O₈), a sodium-calcium aluminum silicate. This radiant gemstone forms in igneous rocks and is a direct result of slowly cooling and crystallizing molten magma. This process—often associated with volcanic activity—creates the internal reflective inclusions that make sunstone shimmer.
Historically, Indigenous peoples of the Americas regarded sunstone as fragments of the sun. Once a rare and costly gem, sunstone remained relatively unknown until deposits were found in Norway and Siberia. Today, major sources include India, Canada, and Russia. The United States is home to the uniquely American Oregon sunstone, which has been named the official state gem of Oregon. What sets Oregon sunstones apart is their distinctive copper inclusions, unlike other varieties that shimmer due to hematite or goethite inclusions.
Sunstone Colors
Sunstone comes in a variety of colors—colorless, orange, yellow, red, green, blue, brown, and copper. Oregon sunstones, in particular, often display unique bi-color or tri-color effects.
Why Is Sunstone Considered a Fragment of the Sun?
The main reason sunstone is regarded as a fragment of the sun is because of its optical phenomenon known as aventurescence, also referred to as the schiller effect. This shimmer is caused by tiny, reflective inclusions of metallic minerals like copper, hematite, or goethite that are aligned within the stone. Under light, these inclusions produce flashes of gold to reddish-brown sparkle. The size and orientation of these inclusions significantly influence the intensity and appearance of the effect—larger inclusions tend to create a more striking shimmer.
A Closer Look:
Aventurescence is the broader scientific term for the sparkling effect seen in sunstones, while schiller is a term often used specifically by Oregon sunstone dealers to describe the copper-based shimmer. Understanding these terms helps distinguish Oregon sunstones from those sourced in other regions.
Symbolic Meaning of Sunstone
Known as “fragments of the sun,” sunstones symbolize life-giving warmth and energy. They’re believed to bring vitality and abundance, drive away darkness, and dispel fear and negative thoughts—ushering in light and positivity.
Healing Properties of Sunstone
From a metaphysical perspective, sunstone is thought to boost overall vitality, strength, and stamina. It’s also linked to relieving chronic throat issues, easing stomach tension, supporting the circulatory and digestive systems, enhancing fertility and libido, and alleviating symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These qualities make sunstone a helpful ally for those seeking more energy or relief from fatigue.
The Origins and History of Moonstone
Moonstone is a variety of orthoclase, a mineral in the feldspar group. What makes it unique is that it’s formed from alternating layers of two different feldspar minerals—orthoclase and albite. Its chemical formula, K(AlSi₃O₈) – Na(Si₃O₈), reflects its composition as an orthoclase variant intergrown with albite.
In ancient Rome, moonstone was believed to be solidified moonlight. People associated it with the moon goddess, as the stone appeared to hold lunar magic within it. In more modern times, this mystical optical effect has been termed adularescence (or schiller). The word adularescence itself originates from Mount Adular in Switzerland—a historic source of high-quality moonstone.
Why Does Moonstone Glow Like Moonlight?
This signature optical effect is the result of a unique geological formation process. As magma slowly cools deep within the Earth, orthoclase and albite separate into extremely fine, alternating layers. These microscopic layers create the internal structure responsible for moonstone’s signature sheen—diffracting light to produce a glow that ranges from soft white to vibrant blue.
Cabochon-cut moonstones (with a smooth, domed surface) often exhibit a cat’s eye or, more rarely, a star-like effect. This rounded cut is considered ideal for highlighting the stone’s adularescence.
Moonstone Colors
Moonstone appears in a wide variety of base colors, including blue, gray, white, colorless, pink, peach, green, and brown. The most valuable moonstones are colorless, semi-transparent to transparent, and display a vivid electric blue sheen—commonly referred to in the trade as “blue flash.”
Symbolic Meaning of Moonstone
Moonstone is closely tied to femininity, symbolizing feminine strength and is believed to attract love and prosperity. It also represents intuition and new beginnings.
Healing Properties of Moonstone
Often used in meditation, moonstone promotes emotional balance, clears negative thoughts, enhances spiritual awareness and intuition, and encourages creativity and balanced thinking. It’s also believed to support reproductive health, ease menstrual discomfort, regulate hormones, and aid the digestive system.
What Energy Does the Combination of Sunstone and Moonstone Bring?
The sun and the moon are universal symbols of balance and duality.
Sunstone is often associated with “masculine energy”—action, vitality, and leadership—while moonstone represents “feminine energy”—intuition, receptivity, and emotional harmony. The cool tones of moonstone and the warm hues of sunstone visually reflect their contrasting yet complementary powers, symbolizing perfect energetic balance.
Together, sunstone’s uplifting vitality and moonstone’s calming serenity work in harmony to stabilize emotional fluctuations while elevating mood and encouraging positivity. This creates a balanced flow of energy that keeps you grounded yet motivated.
If you’re drawn to the combined power of these two gems, consider customizing a Toi et Moi ring or necklace with both sunstone and moonstone—crafted just for you.
You Might Also Want to Know About Sunstone and Moonstone…
Yes—they both belong to the feldspar mineral family.
Yes! They’re believed to balance each other’s energies—sunstone energizes while moonstone soothes—making them a powerful duo for emotional and spiritual harmony.
Moonstone is one of the birthstones for June. Currently, there is no recorded association between sunstone and any official birth month.
Sunstone is often linked to Leo and Libra, symbolizing strength and optimism. Moonstone is associated with Cancer and Pisces, tied to intuition and emotional depth.
Both gems have a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5, so in terms of durability, they’re quite similar.
Generally, moonstone is more expensive than sunstone due to its greater market demand, though the final value depends on the specific quality of the gem.
Sunstone symbolizes divine masculine energy, representing action, vitality, confidence, and outward expression. Moonstone embodies divine feminine energy, symbolizing receptivity, emotional balance, intuition, and inner wisdom.