Blue Moonstone Meaning: Love, the "Tears of the Galaxy" & How to Tell Real Moonstone

Key takeaways

• Blue moonstone is a feldspar gem whose soft blue flash glides across it as it moves.
• In crystal tradition it's a stone of love and romance, nicknamed the "tears of the galaxy".
• Real moonstone's flash moves and shows only at certain angles; opalite glass glows evenly from every angle.
• It's softer than quartz (about 6 on the Mohs scale), so handle it gently and skip soaking.

Blue moonstone is loved for one thing above all: that drifting blue light. This guide explains what it means, how to tell real moonstone from glass, how to care for it, and how to choose between our two blue moonstone bracelets.

What does blue moonstone mean?

Blue moonstone is a feldspar gem with a soft blue flash that glides across it as it moves, like moonlight on water. In crystal tradition it's a stone of love and romance, worn to welcome love and new connections, and it's poetically called the "tears of the galaxy". Moonstone is also a June birthstone.

The glow is called adularescence. It comes from thin layers inside the stone that scatter light, so the sheen seems to float just under the surface. Because of that moonlit look, moonstone has long been linked with the moon, softness and intuition.

In Chinese tradition blue moonstone is worn to enhance love and to attract romance (招桃花, "peach-blossom luck"). In crystal tradition it's linked with the third-eye and crown chakras and with the heart. Crystal meanings come from tradition and personal experience. They are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment.

How can you tell if moonstone is real?

Tilt the stone under a single light. Real moonstone's blue flash glides across it and appears only at certain angles, and you'll often see tiny inclusions or fine internal lines. Opalite, a man-made glass, glows milky blue evenly from every angle, looks perfectly clean and often shows small bubbles under magnification.

1. Watch the flash move. On real moonstone the blue sheen floats and fades as you tilt it.
2. Look for tiny inclusions. Small inclusions or fine lines are normal in natural moonstone.
3. Beware of an even glow. Opalite glows the same from every angle and can look orange against a dark background.
4. Check for bubbles. Round bubbles under a loupe or phone macro mode point to glass.
5. Expect variation. The flash differs from bead to bead. Identical beads are a warning sign.

How do you care for moonstone?

Moonstone is softer than quartz, about 6 on the Mohs scale, so handle it gently. Cleanse it with moonlight, sound, smoke or selenite rather than salt-water soaks, keep it away from perfume, lotion, chlorine and heat, store it apart from harder stones, and take it off before showering, swimming, exercising and sleeping.

Moonlight is a natural fit for moonstone: leave it on a windowsill overnight, especially at a full moon. For more rituals, see How to Cleanse a Crystal Bracelet.

Which wrist should you wear moonstone on?

Wear moonstone on your left wrist to welcome love, romance and gentle new beginnings in; in crystal tradition the left is the receiving side. Wear it on your right when you want to share kindness or let go of an old hurt. There's no wrong answer, so choose the side that matches your intention.

Should you choose the 8.7mm or the 5mm multi-wrap moonstone bracelet?

Choose the 8.7mm single wrap if you want larger beads that show the blue flash clearly, in a light everyday bracelet. Choose the 5mm multi-wrap for a fine, layered look: a long strand of small beads that wraps the wrist about three times. The meaning and care are the same for both.

8.7mm single wrap: milky-clear beads with a soft blue flash, one small orange-red bead with a sparkle, one pale-yellow round bead and a small aqua-blue teardrop charm on a short chain.

5mm multi-wrap: small milky-white beads with a blue flash, a carved orange-red flower-shaped bead, a small green bead, a small pale-yellow bead and a curved tube bar with a small green drop charm hanging from a leaf cap. New to wrap bracelets? Read how to wear a multi-wrap crystal bracelet.

Every order ships in our LME gift box, ready to give. US shipping is free on orders of $99 or more, otherwise a flat $8.99.

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