Cat's Eye Moonstone Gemstone Information

Cat's eye moonstone is a transparent to opaque variety of orthoclase feldspar known as moonstone, a potassium aluminum silicate that exibits the rare trait of chatoyancy. Chatoyancy is an optical phenomenon distinguished by a unique reflection of light that closely resembles the slit-eye of a cat. It is exceptionally rare and occurs only in a handful of different gems, which include cat's eye chrysoberyl, apatite, aquamarine and tourmaline. In addition to chatoyancy, cat's eye moonstone exhibits the optical trait of adularescence, which is what moonstone is best known for. Adularescence is best described as a milky sheen or glowing light which appears to come from below the surface of the stone.

Moonstone is the best-known gemstone quality potassium feldspar. Its name is owed to the almost magical, bluish-white shimmer that resembles that of the moon at night. The shimmer is the result of alternating layers of orthoclase and albite which causes interference of light as it enters the stone. The light is reflected back and scattered equally, resulting in a fantastic schiller. The resulting sheen most commonly occurs in white, blue or blue-orange color and it appears with the cat's eye reflection. The combination of adularescence and chatoyancy in a single stone is exceptionally rare. Top quality specimens can exhibit 'three-dimensional' depth of color due to moonstone's remarkable level of adularescence.

Identifying Cat's Eye Moonstone Cat's Eye Moonstone Origin Buying Cat's Eye Moonstone Cat's Eye Moonstone Gemological Properties Cat's Eye Moonstone Varieties Cat's Eye Moonstone Mythology Cat's Eye Moonstone Jewelry Cat's Eye Moonstone Gemstone Care

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Cat's eye moonstone is an extreme rarity, that occurs in the same mines as other varieties of moonstone. The most important deposits are sourced from Sri Lanka and India. Sri Lanka is most famous for its highly desirable bluish colored moonstone and India is the leading source for 'blue-sheen moonstone'. Other notable deposits include Australia, Brazil, Myanmar (Burma), Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Tanzania and the United States.

Cat's Eye Moonstone Color

Moonstone is typically colorless, but it can actually occur in a wide range of colors. It most often occurs with a silvery sheen and base body colors of gray, cream, mocha, brown, yellow, orange, green, pink, blue and white. The most desirable moonstones are those with a blue sheen and a white to colorless body color. Deep-blue moonstone is the most valuable.

Cat's Eye Moonstone Clarity and Luster

Cat's eye moonstone typically occurs with translucent clarity when held to the light. Transparent specimens are most valuable. Cat's eye moonstone has an attractive vitreous to pearly luster. Some rare moonstone gems may exhibit asterism, and are known as star moonstone. Star moonstone is exceptionally rare and highly desirable.

Cat's Eye Moonstone Cut and Shape

Cat's eye moonstone is always cut en cabochon. Cabochons maximize the desirable effects of chatoyancy. The orientation of cut is also very important in order to maximize the effects of schiller and adularescence, so most stones are cut with high domes. Cat's eye moonstone is most often cut in ovals, since these shapes tend to preserve the most carat weight. Specimens with clear and distinct 'eyes' are considered most valuable.

Cat's Eye Moonstone Treatment

Cat's eye moonstone is not treated or enhanced in any way. However, there have been reports of some brighter blue colored moonstones being coated for color-enhancement.

Please refer to our Gemstone Glossary for details on gemology-related terms.

Moonstone Cabochon

Cat's eye moonstone belongs to the large family of feldspar minerals. The feldspar minerals are the most abundant minerals on earth. In fact, approximately 60% of the Earth's crust is composed of feldspar, which means there are a variety of related gems and minerals. Feldspars are typically classified into two main gemstone groups: Potassium feldspars and plagioclase feldspars.

All varieties of moonstone are potassium feldspars. Other potassium feldspars include amazonite and orthoclase. There are also several gemstones that are often confused with moonstone based on appearance, including 'rainbow moonstone'. Rainbow moonstone is actually not a moonstone, rather, it is a variety of labradorite (plagioclase feldspar).

Most Popular Similar or Related Trade Names & Gemstones:

Moonstone, star moonstone, rainbow moonstone and sunstone are the most popular and well-known trade names used for similar or related gemstones.

Lesser-Known Similar or Related Trade Names & Gemstones:

Orthoclase, amazonite, labradorite, andesine, andesine-labradorite and oligoclase are the lesser-known trade names used for similar or related gemstones.

Cat's eye moonstone shares the same legend, powers and energy as other varieties of moonstone. Few gemstones have accumulated as much lore as moonstone. Moonstone has been known and revered for thousands of years by many cultures. According to Hindu legend, moonstone was formed from moonbeams, and at one time it was believed that if you held one in your mouth during a full moon, you would see your future. In India, moonstone is regarded as a sacred stone and it is widely believed to bring good fortune. In Arab countries women often sew moonstone into their garments, because it's considered to promote fertility.

In ancient Rome, moonstone was associated with the moon and it was speculated that the gem was formed from drops of moonlight. The gemstones were believed to possess the properties traditionally associated with the moon, which include legend of romance, femininity, intuition, dreams, emotion and love. Moonstone is highly prized among lovers as it is thought to arouse tenderness and passion. Those who possess moonstone are thought to be able to foretell their future life together as a couple. Moonstone is the official birthstone for June. Moonstone is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces. Physically, moonstone is thought to alleviate the symptoms and pain associated with headaches and common muscular backaches.

Cat's eye moonstone is not as hard as most other types of jewelry gemstones. Despite lack of durability, it remains one of the most popular gemstones for jewelry. In fact, moonstone has been worn as jewelry for centuries, dating back to ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.

Moonstone jewelry should be limited to protective-style jewelry designs, such as earrings, pendants, pins and brooches. Cat's eye moonstone can be worn as a ring, but care should be taken to prevent scratches and blows. The wearing of cat's eye moonstone rings should be limited only to occasional wear. Cat's eye moonstone is extremely sensitive to pressure, so care should be taken when setting stones. Cat's eyes are quite popular for both men and women. For men's designs, cat's eye moonstone is especially attractive as cufflinks and tie-tacks.

Note: Buy colored gemstones by size and not by carat weight. Colored stones vary in size-to-weight ratio. Some stones are larger and others are smaller than diamond by weight in comparison.

Cat's eye moonstone is not very hard compared to other more popular types of jewelry gems. Therefore, quite a bit of care should be taken to retain the beauty of your cat's eye moonstone gems and jewelry. Do not use any harsh chemicals or cleaners, such as bleach or sulfuric acid to clean your gems. Avoid the use of ultrasonic cleaners or steamers as well. To clean your gems, you can use a mild soap or detergent and simply wipe down your stones using a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse your gemstones and jewelry well with warm water to remove any soapy film and residue as this can dull the attractive luster of moonstone.

Moonstone is sensitive to pressure, so avoid extreme temperature and climatic fluctuations when possible. Do not set your gems in any type of tension-style mountings. Always remove jewelry before exercising, playing sports or performing household chores. When storing your cat's eye moonstone gems, store them separately from other types of gems and jewelry. If possible, wrap stones individually in a soft cloth, or place them inside a fabric-lined jewelry box.