Man in the Moon

There are certain stones that are believed to hold mystical powers, chief among them is moonstone. Moonstone is credited with everything from aligning vertebrae to balancing yin and yang. The Romans thought it was formed from moonlight, and therefore possessing the properties associated with the moon – romance, femininity, intuition and dreams. In India, it is still regarded as a sacred stone believed to bring good fortune.

Moonstone comes in a range of colors, but is most commonly a light gray, blue or white. It is known for its mysterious color play – a silvery or bluish iridescence known as adularescence, from the root adularia, which is another name for precious moonstone. In order to capture the full adularescence, the moonstone should be cut into a cabochon, which only adds to the moon-like appearance.

The stone gained popularity during the Art Nouveau period after winning the favor of designers like René Lalique. The Art Nouveau movement focused on feminine energy, so it’s no surprise that moonstone was a stone of choice. This particular piece is a platinum and diamond pendant with a moonstone cut into two faces. These pendants are known as “Man in the Moon” pendants, and are a cheeky play on the stone itself. This piece is from the 1920’s, and has the Art Nouveau element of the organic, naturalistic cut of the stone combined with the geometric platinum and diamond Art Deco setting, which gives it a unique hybrid feel. Print this post