How to Orient Moonstone

Develop the Flash Plane

• 1

  Place your rough, uncut moonstone beneath the overhead light so you can clearly see its color.

• 2

  Roll the moonstone around slowly, using your fingers. Look for a bluish-white flash of color. When you spot the flash, use a lead pencil to mark the exact spot.

• 3

  Roll the moonstone over to the exact opposite point from where you have just marked. Look carefully beneath the overhead light for another flash of color on the stone. Mark the spot.

• 4

  Roll the stone in turns from left to right and then up and down to double-check your flash plane. Mark any new flashes with the lead pencil.

• 5

  Holding your pencil on its side, rotate the moonstone slowly and mark a dividing line between your first two points where you noted the bluish-white flash.

Identify the Cat's-eye Flash or Sheen

• 6

  There is another coloration in the stone, called the cat's-eye. Hold the stone under the light so that your dividing line is facing the light.

• 7

  Roll the stone slowly, carefully looking for another bluish flash. This flash may be difficult to detect, but should appear perpendicular to your dividing line. Mark the spot where you see a flash, using your pencil.

• 8

  Flip the stone and identify the flash point on the opposite side of the stone. Mark this spot with your pencil. You have now marked the flash points of your stone, which serve as markers for cutting your gem.