Sailor Moon's Silver Crystal, Explained (2024)

From sparkling compacts to shining jeweled wands, Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi have many dazzling magical items used for magical girl transformations. However, the most iconic and powerful artifact is the Silver Crystal.

In Sailor Moon, the Silver Crystal, also known as Maboroshi no Ginzuishou in Japanese, is a magical crystal artifact with immense power and is known to be the most powerful in the universe. Many evil forces strongly seek out the crystal, but the sole possessor of the Silver Crystal is Sailor Moon. Here’s a guide to the origin of the mysterious Silver Crystal.

The Origin of the Silver Crystal

The Silver Crystal can only be used by a member of the Moon Kingdom dynasty. The Silver Crystal was originally in the possession of Queen Serenity, and then it was passed down to her daughter, Sailor Moon, and then to her granddaughter, Chibiusa. The Silver Crystal protected the Moon and Earth and even allowed the inhabitants of the Moon Kingdom to live peaceful lives.

However, Queen Serenity’s reign of peace and prosperity ended when Queen Beryl, under Queen Metalia's control, destroyed the Moon Kingdom and its inhabitants, including Queen Serenity’s daughter, Princess Serenity, the Sailor Senshi, and Princess Serenity’s lover, Prince Endymion. Queen Serenity uses the Silver Crystal’s power to dispel the enemy and sends her daughter, the Sailor Senshi, and Prince Endymion to Earth, where they can be reborn and live peaceful lives.

Queen Serenity also sends Luna and Artemis to Earth so that they can watch over the Sailor Guardians and guide them in case evil returns. Queen Serenity dies after using the Silver Crystal’s power. After the destruction of the Moon Kingdom, the Silver Crystal became the object of desire between the Dark Kingdom and Tuxedo Mask. The Dark Kingdom desired the crystal for its power, while Tuxedo Mask hoped to use it to restore his memories.

In the manga, when fighting Kunzite, Tuxedo Mask protects Sailor Moon from an attack, and they both regain their memories from when they lived in the Moon Kingdom. Tuxedo Mask dies in Sailor Moon’s arms, and she cries in grief. Fortunately, a single tear glows brightly and formulates the Silver Crystal. The light of the crystal heals anything it touches, including Tuxedo Mask. The origin of the Silver Crystal is different in the anime, in which the Silver Crystal was divided into the Seven Rainbow Crystals to seal away the Seven Great Youma, the great warriors of the Dark Kingdom.

The Silver Crystal reemerges once Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask regain their memories. The Silver Crystal is a significant artifact in the storyline because it is the source of Sailor Moon's power and her identity. The Silver Crystal allows Sailor Moon, the Sailor Senshi, and Tuxedo Mask to remember their past lives and their purpose on Earth. Furthermore, the Silver Crystal helps Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask to realize their feelings for one another.

The Silver Crystal's Special Abilities

The Silver Crystal is known for its healing properties. The Silver Crystal can revive the deceased, as evident when Queen Serenity uses the crystal on her daughter so that she can be reborn on Earth. The crystal can also restore forgotten memories, such as when Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask forget their past lives. Lastly, the crystal can extinguish the monsters and dark energy that possess humans and can turn evil entities into good individuals.

In the series finale of Sailor Moon, the Silver Crystal’s pure white light purified the evil cosmic force known as Chaos that possessed Sailor Galaxia, and as a result, Sailor Galaxia returned to her original form. In addition, the Silver Crystal can also be used as an offensive weapon. The crystal can create and destroy planets, as evident when Sailor Moon was able to stop a Xenian asteroid from obliterating Earth. It can also generate protective shields and barriers against an enemy’s attacks.

The barrier is capable of withstanding the attacks of Queen Beryl and Fiore. In addition, the crystal can generate energy beams and blasts as offensive attacks. Although the Silver Crystal has immense power, it comes with a price. The wielder’s life force is connected to the Silver Crystal’s power; thus, if the wielder overly exerts the crystal’s power, it can potentially lead the user to lose their lives. However, if the Silver Crystal’s power is used alongside other people's inner powers, the wielder of the Silver Crystal wouldn’t face death, but instead, they would be in a weakened state for a short while.

The Evolution of the Silver Crystal & Sailor Moon's Transformation Compacts

Over each story arc, the Silver Crystal changes form and becomes more powerful. In the first season, the Silver Crystal is a round jewel attached to the Moon Stick. When the Silver Crystal’s power is depleted during the fight against Queen Beryl, Queen Serenity restores Usagi’s transformation brooch and merges the Silver Crystal with it. Usagi Tsukino’s new transformation brooch is known as the Crystal Star.

The Crystal Star compact showcases the Silver Crystal in a lotus shape. However, in the manga and the Sailor Moon Crystal series, the Crystal Star compact was left by Queen Serenity in the Chamber of Prayer. Usagi finds the Crystal Star compact after visiting the restored Moon Castle after the defeat of Queen Metalia.

To activate the Crystal Star, Usagi places the Silver Crystal into it. Soon after, the Crystal Star was upgraded into the Cosmic Heart Compact. This compact is the last item that allowed her to transform into her original sailor f*cku outfit. The Cosmic Heart Compact is red in the anime, but in the manga, it is pink. Soon after, the Cosmic Heart Compact was upgraded into the Crisis Moon Compact, which was given to her by Pegasus.

The Crisis Moon Compact was upgraded into the Eternal Moon Article, which allowed Usagi Tsukino to transform into the Eternal Sailor Moon. Each colored gem on the Eternal Moon Article represents a respective Sailor Senshi’s color-themed outfit. The gems on the left represent the Inner Senshi, and the gems on the right represent the Outer Senshi. As for the pink gem in the middle of the brooch, it represents Sailor Moon.

The Eternal Moon Article was formed when the eight Sailor Senshi joined together and combined their powers. At the time, Usagi’s brooch would fluctuate between the Crisis Moon Compact and the Eternal Moon Article. Yet in Episode 172, “Moon Love Power! The End of a Nightmare,” the Eternal Moon Article becomes Usagi’s permanent transformation brooch after all ten Sailor Senshi and Prince Endymion combine powers to stop Queen Nehellenia.

The Silver Crystal is a mysterious gem that saved Sailor Moon from numerous battles and challenges. The crystal has been a source of power for rejuvenation, bringing Sailor Moon’s loved ones from death to life. Even though it is a fictional object, the Silver Crystal is iconic enough that it was brought to real life in various forms, such as cosmetics and jewelry, allowing Sailor Moon fans an opportunity to own a profound gem.

Sailor Moon (1992)

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

A group of schoolgirls discover they are incarnations of super-powered alien princesses, and use their abilities to defend the earth.

Release Date

September 11, 1995

Cast

Stephanie Sheh , Kotono Mitsuishi , Kate Higgins , Aya Hisakawa , Cristina Valenzuela , Michie Tomizawa , Emi Shinohara , Amanda Céline Miller , Cherami Leigh , Rica f*ckami

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

5

Creator

Naoko Takeuchi

Main Characters

Susan Roman, Jill Frappier, Katie Griffin

Production Company

Toei Agency, Toei Animation, Toei Company

Number of Episodes

200