What is peach moonstone?
Peach moonstone is a potassium feldspar, orthoclase with thin albite lamellae, that shows a soft apricot body color from trace iron and a moving glow called adularescence. When we shop or sort, we want color that is consistent across the strand and a sheen that glides as the beads roll. Nearly all cutting material comes from India.
For a deeper stone overview, see our moonstone guide covering peach, gray, chocolate and golden-shine grades at our stone guides. Composition is (K,Na)AlSi3O8, hardness is Mohs 6 to 6.5, and it has two cleavage directions, so we design around impact risk.
How does the glow happen?
Light enters and scatters between very thin, alternating layers of orthoclase and albite. That scattering creates adularescence, the soft, billowing sheen that appears to float across the surface. The body color is separate from the sheen, so you judge both glow quality and base color independently.
We see the strongest effect on smoothly domed or well-faceted surfaces with good polish. On flatter faces or poor polish, the glow looks patchy or disappears at some angles.
How do I pick a glowing strand?
We tilt under a single overhead light. The best strands show a traveling sheen bead to bead, with few dead spots. Body color should read as clean peach without muddy gray or brown casts. Inclusions are fine when they do not break the glow across the face.
How many 6 mm beads do you need?
Use these ready counts so you can plan stringing without guesswork. For a 7.5 in bracelet with a clasp, about 25 beads of 6 mm cover the 6 in beaded run. For a 7 in bracelet with a clasp, about 23 beads. Stretch bracelets use the full length, so 7 in of 6 mm is about 29 beads.
Necklaces are similar. An 18 in necklace takes about 70 beads of 6 mm. A 16 in choker takes about 61. A 15 to 16 inch strand of 6 mm rondelles typically has about 65 to 70 beads, so one strand can cover many bracelets. Knotting adds about 1 mm per knot to the final length.
Rondelles are the workhorse for these projects. See how we size and drill them on our rondelle shape page.
What shapes and cuts should I choose?
For bracelets and full necklaces, rondelles or heishi give an easy, even drape. For earrings and pendants, pears and marquise concentrate the glow and keep weight down. We cut moonstone in pears, marquise, rectangles and heishi for those reasons.
How should I care for peach moonstone?
Moonstone sits at Mohs 6 to 6.5 and has two cleavage directions. We recommend earrings, pendants and carefully worn bracelets, and we avoid ring tops. Store strands in soft wraps so facets do not rub. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth handle routine cleaning well.
By tradition it is connected with June and the moon, which is why many clients choose it for bridal palettes in peach. When stringing, use protective beads near clasps and avoid crimp pressure directly against the stone. Knotting between beads adds spacing and a safety margin.