How to Invest in Moonstone Jewelry

We all have our favorite antique jewelry. If you would like to collect and invest in Moonstone Antique Jewelry, it's a great place to start your collection as it is relatively still quite affordable.

Interested in the historic or academic importance of unusual stones set into primary Antique Jewelry 19th century only?

Your pleasure and buying confidence will grow with an appreciation of these incomparable, light and delicate opalescent gems with a pale blue internal glow.

Your knowledge about Antique Jewelry will also increase with your understanding of how to invest money in unusual antique gemstone jewelry, like Antique Moonstone Jewelry.

No other type of jewelry on earth can compare to unusual gemstone jewelry that came into fashion in the 1880s in the late Victorian era (1885-1901).

For a complete list of gemstones click here.

Semi-precious stones however were used in jewelry hundreds of years before. Semi-precious gems were usually worn during the day.

Moss agate and moonstone jewelry were favorites of Madame de Pompadour in the middle of the 18th century. In her famous collection of forty rings several were set with moss agate and moonstones surrounded with diamonds. Others were set with malachite, carbuncle (unfaceted garnet).

The popularity of Moonstone jewellery never diminished, and continued to be used in Jewelry of the 20th century.

Ms Sybil Dunlop was notable for her famous collection of jewelry, with its subtle combinations of colorful stones set in silver in Art Deco Jewelry of the 1920s: a great collector, partial to unusual gemstones, she loved to invest in moonstone jewelry of the expensive kind. One of her most exquisite brooches circa. 1925, was set with opal, tourmaline,sapphire, citrine, amethyst and moonstone. (Phillips, C., Jewelry, From Antiquity to the Present, Thames & Hudson, 1996.)

Pearls, Opals and Moonstones were the only gems considered "acceptable" to combine with primary Victorian Antique Diamond Jewelry. That is one of the reasons why many collectors like to invest in moonstone jewelry.

Although these gems in themselves were not then considered precious and its 'scrap value' may not have been great, it was, even so regarded as 'primary' jewelry because of the artistic value of the composition as a whole.

This style has always been a favorite among jewelry devotees and if you already have an example in your collection you understand why.

Moonstone Gem Facts

The optical properties include adularescence which is evident by the bluish-whitish opalescence which glides over the surface when the stone is cut en cabochon and a weak bluish orange fluorescence. It can be confused with chalcedony. The deeper the blue in the stone, the finer and more valuable the gem, and therefore the more valuable will be your piece of moonstone jewelry.

Think Moonstones - Think Young Victoria

She delighted just as much in the semi-precious stones as the precious. When everyone else was superstitious about wearing the newly discovered opals in Australia, Queen Victoria adored them and wasn't afraid to let anybody know.

Whatever Victoria adored, her loyal legions turned into fashion.

Moonstones, were at their peak in the Victorian era, around the same time when demand for colorless gems, that would not overtake the diamonds were in vogue. Moonstones were often surrounded by diamonds and pearls.

Not all jewelry was set with diamonds and pearls and if you come across hearts shaped cabochons it will be be a relic from the 1890s.

I like to invest in moonstone jewelry showcased in yellow gold, it gives an added touch of warmth.

One of the most charming Victorian examples that I have come across was a row of graduating puffy heart moonstone cabochons of fine quality set into a 15k gold pin brooch. My Mum loves to wear this antique moonstone brooch today.

Antique Jewelry Forms with Moonstone Include: