Moonstone
Moonstone is the gem variety of the feldspar mineral adularia (a form of orthoclase, KAlSi3O8), prized for adularescence, an internal billowing blue-to-white sheen caused by light scattering off microscopic intergrown layers of orthoclase and albite feldspar. It is cut almost exclusively as a cabochon (a smooth domed shape, not faceted) to display this optical effect across the surface of the stone. It is used in jewellery, principally rings, pendants and earrings, as both a centre stone and an accent stone, and is one of the traditional birthstones associated with the month of June.
Start the deal with our desk
Choose the deal you want. A trader on our desk picks it up directly, no signup required.
Nothing here matches what you are holding? Send it anyway. The sheets cover the markets we publish, not the limit of what the desk will look at.
Listed moonstone markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Price guarantee on moonstone
If a move in the moonstone price would hurt you, fix the price now. We agree it today for the months you name, and it holds whatever the market does in between.
| Buying | You use or resell moonstone and need to know your cost. We fix your purchase price for the quantity and months you name. |
|---|---|
| Selling | You grow, produce or hold moonstone and need to know your revenue. We fix your sale price ahead of production or shipment. |
| Settlement | Against delivery of the moonstone. |
A price is fixed only once a trader confirms it in writing. Ask the desk for a fixed price.
Caps and floors on moonstone
A fixed price binds buyer and seller. A cap or a floor is a guaranteed price on one side only. You pay a fee up front for it, and it is a right, not an obligation: you use it only if the market moves against you.
| Cap | For buyers. A guaranteed maximum price for moonstone. If the market is above the cap when you buy, you pay the cap. If it is below, you buy at the market price and let the cap lapse. |
|---|---|
| Floor | For sellers. A guaranteed minimum price for moonstone. If the market is below the floor when you sell, you receive the floor. If it is above, you sell at the market price and let the floor lapse. |
| Fee | Agreed and paid up front. It is the whole cost of the cap or floor, and it is not refunded if the cap or floor goes unused. |
A cap or a floor is in place only once a trader confirms it in writing. Ask the desk for a cap or a floor.
Grades
A sample is examined for species and variety identification (refractive index, specific gravity and optic character distinguishing feldspar moonstone from imitations such as synthetic spinel or milky quartz), then assessed on the strength, colour and coverage of its adularescence, its body transparency, the presence of visible fractures or internal stress inclusions, the precision of its cabochon cut and dome, and its weight in carats.
Gemological identification (refractive index and specific gravity)
1 grade
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| RIRefractive index range | approximately 1.518 to 1.526 |
Quality-factor assessment
1 grade
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| NANo fixed ladder | Reported descriptively per stone; no industry-wide numbered or lettered grade scale exists |
Grades and quality descriptions outside this list trade on request.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Galle and Ratnapura districts, Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces | Origin |
| India | Southern India (various) | Origin |
| Madagascar | Various | Origin |
| United States | National | Destination |
| Spain | National | Destination |
| Thailand | Bangkok cutting and treatment trade | Origin and destination |
Locations outside this list trade on request.
Timing
Moonstone is mined year-round from small shaft pits rather than on a seasonal harvest calendar; the operative timing constraint is cutting and polishing lead time and export documentation, not a harvest window.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Year-round shaft-pit mining; no seasonal harvest pattern |
Timing outside this pattern trades on request.
Common questions
What grades of moonstone does SIP Global trade?
We quote 2 published grades of moonstone, including RI - Refractive index range and NA - No fixed ladder. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is moonstone graded?
A sample is examined for species and variety identification (refractive index, specific gravity and optic character distinguishing feldspar moonstone from imitations such as synthetic spinel or milky quartz), then assessed on the strength, colour and coverage of its adularescence, its body transparency, the presence of visible fractures or internal stress inclusions, the precision of its cabochon cut and dome, and its weight in carats. Grading runs on 2 systems: Gemological identification (refractive index and specific gravity) and Quality-factor assessment.
Where does SIP Global trade moonstone?
We trade moonstone in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, United States, Spain and Thailand. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
Can I fix a moonstone price ahead?
Yes. SIP Global fixes a moonstone price ahead for buyers and for sellers, as a price guarantee. Send the grade, the quantity and the months you need covered. We settle against delivery, and a price is fixed only once a trader confirms it in writing.
How do I get a price for moonstone?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 3 listed moonstone markets are published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We buy and sell the physical cargo, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- GIA (opens in new tab)Gemological Institute of America grading
- UN Comtrade (opens in new tab)Official international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade Map (opens in new tab)Bilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTAT (opens in new tab)FAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities