Moonstone Beads

Moonstone beads bring a soft, luminous glow to any jewelry design. If you're looking for moon stone beads for sale, you'll find a range of options—from classic white moonstone beads to vibrant rainbow varieties and precision-cut faceted styles. These gemstone beads work beautifully in necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, offering both visual appeal and symbolic meaning. Whether you're a seasoned jewelry maker or just starting out, moonstone beads for jewelry making deliver that signature shimmer that sets handmade pieces apart.

Discover Exquisite Moonstone Beads

Moonstone stands out for its distinctive shimmer—a phenomenon called adularescence. This optical effect occurs when light scatters between microscopic layers of feldspar minerals inside the stone. The result is a soft, mobile glow that appears to billow across the surface as you turn the bead. That ethereal quality makes moonstone instantly recognizable and highly prized in jewelry design.

The finest moonstone displays a glassy clarity with a blue or silvery shimmer, though the effect can vary from stone to stone. Some beads show a gentle white glow, while others flash with hints of peach, grey, or even chocolate brown. This natural variation means every strand has its own character, giving your designs a one-of-a-kind look.

Why Choose Moonstone Beads?

Mesmerizing Moonstone Gemstone Properties

Moonstone is a variety of orthoclase feldspar, formed from interlocking layers of orthoclase and albite. These stacked layers are similar in size to a wavelength of light, which creates the stone's signature glow. The GIA notes that this adularescence is what gives moonstone its "mobile, electric blue shimmer" in the finest specimens.

Beyond its visual appeal, moonstone gemstone beads carry symbolic weight. Many people associate moonstone with intuition, emotional balance, and feminine energy. It's often used in spiritual jewelry or pieces meant to promote calm and inner clarity. You don't need to subscribe to these beliefs to appreciate the stone's beauty, but they add an extra layer of meaning for those who do.

How Moonstone Enhances Jewelry Designs

Moonstone works well in almost any jewelry application. Its soft shimmer complements both casual and formal designs, making it a versatile choice for everyday wear or special occasions. Necklaces benefit from moonstone's glow, catching light as the wearer moves. Bracelets gain depth when moonstone beads are stacked or mixed with other gemstones. Earrings showcase the stone's adularescence up close, where the light play is most visible.

The shape of your moonstone beads influences the final look. Round beads offer a classic, timeless feel and work well in simple strung designs. Faceted beads add sparkle and dimension, reflecting light from multiple angles. Rondelles create visual rhythm in a strand, while nuggets and irregular shapes bring an organic, artisan quality to your work. Each shape serves a different design purpose, so consider your project's style before choosing.

Explore Types of Moonstone Beads

8mm Moonstone Beads

The 8mm size hits a sweet spot for many jewelry projects. It's substantial enough to show off moonstone's shimmer but not so large that it overwhelms delicate designs. 8mm round beads typically have a 0.75mm hole, which accommodates most stringing materials without issue. This size works equally well in bracelets and necklaces, making it a practical choice if you're building a versatile bead collection.

Our 8mm off-white moonstone faceted pillow beads show how this size can take on different shapes beyond the standard round. The faceted pillow cut adds geometric interest while maintaining that characteristic moonstone glow. These beads feature a vitreous luster and symmetrical shape, with great schiller across the strand.

Round Moonstone Beads & Genuine Round Options

Round moonstone beads are the foundation of many jewelry designs. Their uniform shape makes them easy to work with, and they pair well with other gemstones or metal accents. When shopping for genuine moonstone round beads, look for that soft, shifting glow rather than harsh, artificial-looking shimmer. Real moonstone contains natural impurities and inclusions, so the color won't be perfectly uniform.

Our 8mm greyish white moonstone plain rounds come on 15" strands with approximately 48 beads. For larger designs, the 9.5–10mm grey and cream moonstone rounds offer an exquisite polish and a 1mm large hole, perfect for detailed work where you need stringing flexibility.

White Moonstone Beads & White Beads Moonstone

White moonstone is the most traditional variety, featuring that classic milky appearance with blue adularescence. It has a timeless quality that works in both modern and vintage-inspired designs. The luminous charm of white moonstone makes it a reliable choice when you want a piece to feel elegant without being flashy.

Our Ceylon moonstone faceted rondelles (8.5–9.5mm) showcase this variety at its best. These beads feature a vitreous luster and translucent body with a billowy white adularescence—what we describe as a "sublime strand of other-worldly beads." The faceted cut enhances the natural light play, creating extra sparkle.

Rainbow Moonstone Beads

Rainbow moonstone displays flashes of color beyond the standard blue or white shimmer. Sometimes called white labradorite, this variety shows hints of yellow, peach, green, or purple as light moves across the surface. It's considered higher-end due to its vibrant flash and rarity.

For designers who want subtle color variation, our 6.5–7mm multi-color moonstone faceted coin beads offer mixed tones in a distinctive coin shape. The faceted surface catches light from multiple angles, showing off the stone's natural color play.

Faceted & Mystic Moonstone Beads

Faceting adds dimension to moonstone by creating multiple surfaces that reflect light. The cuts enhance the stone's natural shimmer, producing extra sparkle that plain beads can't match. Faceted moonstone works well when you want a piece to feel more formal or when you're mixing gemstones and want consistent light reflection across different materials.

Our 3mm cream moonstone microfaceted rounds show how even tiny beads benefit from faceting. These micro-fine faceted beads display vitreous luster and a symmetrical shape, perfect for detail-rich designs or delicate layering pieces. The 3.5mm angel skin peach moonstone microfaceted rondelles offer similar precision in a warm peach tone.

Chocolate Moonstone Beads

Chocolate moonstone brings rich brown tones to the moonstone family. This variety offers creative opportunities for designers who want to work outside the traditional white-and-blue palette. The brown hue pairs beautifully with warm metals like copper or rose gold, and it creates an interesting contrast when mixed with lighter gemstones.

Our 4mm chocolate moonstone faceted rondelles feature a rich chocolate brown hue with soft schiller within each well-crafted gemstone. The semi-translucent body and symmetrical shape make these beads consistent and easy to work with. For a bolder statement, the 12–14mm chocolate moonstone faceted heart beads offer an A-grade option with strong chocolate brown color and vitreous luster.

Beads Natural Moonstone Round

Identifying natural moonstone takes practice. The easiest method is examining the glow—authentic moonstone has a gentle, shifting adularescence rather than harsh shimmer. Look for natural imperfections and inclusions. If a stone appears perfect with a suspiciously low price, it's likely synthetic or treated.

Structure matters too. Natural stones usually have small bubbles or irregularities when examined closely. The color should vary slightly from bead to bead within a strand, since natural formation creates subtle differences. Our strands emphasize consistent quality while preserving the natural character that makes each bead unique.

Shop Our Moon Stone Beads for Sale

Ready to start your next project? Browse our gemstone beads collection to find moon stone beads for sale in various sizes, colors, and cuts. We offer free shipping and returns on orders over $100 in the United States, making it easy to stock up on materials for multiple projects.

Our moonstone selection includes everything from tiny 3mm microfaceted beads to substantial nuggets measuring over 25mm. You'll find classic white and grey options alongside warm peach tones and distinctive chocolate varieties. Each strand is carefully selected for consistent quality, well-matched color, and that characteristic moonstone glow.

Check our new arrivals regularly to see the latest additions to our moonstone collection. We also carry complementary materials like metal beads and findings and chain by the foot to complete your designs.

Where to Find Moon Stone Beads for Sale

Shopping for moonstone beads for sale online gives you access to a wider selection than most local bead shops can offer. The Bead Traders ships throughout the United States, bringing high-quality moonstone beads directly to your door. Our online catalog lets you compare sizes, shapes, and colors side by side, making it easier to find exactly what your project needs.

U.S. customers benefit from our free shipping policy on orders over $100. We also offer returns, so you can order with confidence knowing you're not locked into a purchase if the beads don't match your expectations. This flexibility makes online shopping practical even for designers who prefer to see materials in person before committing.

Moonstone Beads: Meaning & Metaphysical Benefits

Moonstone carries symbolic associations that extend beyond its physical beauty. Many people believe moonstone beads enhance intuition and connect with feminine energy. The stone is thought to soothe emotional instability and stress, providing a sense of calm and balance.

In spiritual jewelry, moonstone is often used to facilitate connection with higher consciousness. It's considered a symbol of inner clarity and spiritual growth. Some wearers choose moonstone specifically for these metaphysical properties, while others simply appreciate the stone's soft glow and the intention it represents.

Common beliefs about moonstone include promoting emotional balance, enhancing intuition, and encouraging spiritual awareness. Whether or not you subscribe to these ideas, they add depth to moonstone jewelry and can make pieces more meaningful to the wearer.

Jewelry Making Tips with Moonstone Beads

Choosing the Right Beads for Your Project

Match your bead size to your jewelry type. Bracelets typically work well with 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm beads—these sizes suit an average 7-inch bracelet length. Necklaces can accommodate larger beads, especially as focal points or centerpieces. Earrings benefit from smaller, lighter beads that won't pull on the earlobe.

Moonstone pairs beautifully with complementary gemstones. Pearls and rose quartz create soft, romantic combinations. Turquoise adds a pop of color while maintaining an organic feel. Clear crystals or diamonds amplify moonstone's shimmer. Our 8mm feldspar faceted rounds (a mix of sunstone and moonstone feldspar) offer natural shimmer and signature chatoyance, creating a versatile option that brings warmth and texture to mixed-media pieces.

Design Inspiration

Layered necklaces work well with moonstone because the stone's glow adds visual interest without competing for attention. Try combining a strand of small moonstone beads with longer chains or other gemstone necklaces. The soft shimmer creates cohesion across different lengths and materials.

Stacked bracelets benefit from moonstone's neutral palette. Mix moonstone with metal bangles, leather cords, or other gemstone strands. The stone's subtle color variations—from white to grey to peach—coordinate with almost any color scheme. Our cream moonstone plain nugget ovals (4×6–6×8mm) work particularly well for both casual and formal looks, with excellent polish and warm color.

Care & Handling for Moonstone Beads

Moonstone ranks 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, making it somewhat fragile compared to harder gemstones. The GIA recommends cleaning moonstone only with warm soapy water. Soak your moonstone jewelry in mild dish soap and water for 2-5 minutes, then gently buff dry with a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals.

Store moonstone beads in soft-lined boxes or cloth pouches, separate from harder stones like sapphires or diamonds that could scratch the surface. Keep them in cool, dry places away from prolonged direct sunlight. Sudden temperature changes can cause breaks due to moonstone's cleavage properties, so avoid exposing your beads to high heat or rapid cooling.

Handle moonstone jewelry with care. The stone's two cleavage directions make it vulnerable to hard blows. This is why moonstone works better in pendants, earrings, and pins than in rings, which receive more daily impacts.

Related Resources & Guides

Looking to expand your gemstone knowledge? Explore our other guides on working with gemstone beads and freshwater pearls. Check our new arrivals regularly to discover the latest additions to our moonstone collection and other jewelry-making materials.

When you're ready to find moonstone beads for sale that meet your quality standards, start with our carefully selected strands. Each one emphasizes the luminous body color, fine cutting, and characteristic light play that makes moonstone so compelling for jewelry design. From microfaceted rondelles to substantial nuggets, you'll find options that bring that signature moonstone shimmer to your next creation.