Moti
Pearl, the gemstone of Chandra
Moti is the gemstone of Chandra, the Moon. It is the softest of the Navratna stones and the only one produced by a living animal rather than the earth. What separates an ordinary pearl from a fine one is nacre thickness and the quality of its lustre, which should look lit from within rather than merely shiny.
In Vedic tradition Moti is worn to steady the Moon, and is associated with calm, emotional balance and clear sleep.
The stone itself
- Planet
- Moon / Chandra
- Rashi
- Cancer / Karka
- Hardness
- 2.5 to 4.5 Mohs
- Colour
- Lustrous White
- Usual cut
- Natural Sphere
- Classic origin
- Persian Gulf
What to check before you pay
Natural Basra pearls are effectively unobtainable at sensible prices, so almost every pearl sold today is cultured. That is not a defect, but it should be stated plainly. Ask for nacre thickness, and handle a pearl gently: at 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale it scratches more easily than any other stone in this list.
Traditional wearing guidance
As practised in Vedic tradition. Your astrologer’s instruction takes precedence over any general rule.
- Metal
- Silver
- Finger
- Little finger
- Day
- Monday, in the evening
