What is August’s Birthstone?

August’s Birthstone is the bright green gemstone called Peridot. We explore the history and meaning behind the Peridot birthstone for this month.

August is one of three months of the year, other than June and December that has three birthstones for people who were born in that month. Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx are the three birthstones for August, although the birthstone that takes centre stage for that month is Peridot.

Peridot is a rare gemstone, in that it only comes in different hues of green, which can vary from a yellowish green hue to a deeper olive green. This type of green gemstone is a great alternative for people who love green gemstones but are unable to afford the more expensive Emerald.

As one of the oldest gemstones in the world, Peridot has a fascinating history, which goes back thousands of years. We have a guide that looks at the birthstone for August, its history and the meaning behind this gemstone.

The History of Peridot 

Peridot is the birthstone for August and its greenish yellow to yellowish green gem comes from the mineral olivine. The gem was first discovered as early as 1500 B.C. Records have indicated that the first discovery of Peridot stones were found on Topazo Island (known now as St. John’s) in the Egyptian Red Sea.

According to legend, people who lived on the island were forced to mine and collect Peridot stones day and night for Pharaoh’s treasury. At night, Topazo Island’s residents were able to spot the green gemstone due to its stunning glow. Due to this reason, the Ancient Egyptians referred to the Peridot as the gem of the sun.

Peridots are also connected to Hawaiian culture as the gem is thought to be tears of the volcano goddess called Pele. The sand on Big Island’s Papakolea Beach has a stunning green hue, which is down to having a high amount of crushed olivine on the beach.

What is the meaning behind August’s Birthstone peridot?

Peridot’s stunning lime green colour is associated with nature, progress, prosperity and life. It’s a stone that promotes both abundance and fertility, whether that’s from a financial or mindset point-of-view. 

By wearing Peridot jewellery, it allows your mind to be open to new concepts and ideas without sticking to tried and tested ways of working. This gem works particularly well with people who are born in August as they are able to show an inventive or creative streak when it comes to solving problems.

August's birthstone, Peridot’s bright green colour represents healing, recuperation, regeneration and serenity. By wearing this gem, it can protect the person from evil spirits and nightmares, free the mind of jealous thoughts and also help people who have depression. 

Peridot is also a gem that’s given to married couples celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary.

Where is peridot found?

The birthstone for August, Peridot is found today in countries such as the United States, Vietnam, Tanzania, China and Pakistan to name but a few. The oldest recorded source of August’s birthstone was on the Egyptian island of St John’s in which the gem may have begun mining around 340-279 BCE. 

While St John’s was able to produce Peridot, the harsh conditions on the island gave it names such as the Island of Death and Ophiodes (snake island). Myanmar is another country that produces an abundance of the green stones. The most valuable pieces of Peridot are not sold in jewellery shops, but stored in museums all over the world.

How to care for your Green Gemstone Jewellery

When you’ve bought your Peridot or Emerald jewellery, it’s important that you know how to care for these types of green gemstone jewellery. While Emeralds are a very durable gemstone, Peridots are slightly less durable than an Emerald.  On the Mohs scale of hardness, the Peridot gem has a hardness of between 6.5 to 7.

As Peridot is softer than other gem types, you should take care in the jewellery cleaning process. You should use a soft brush with mild soap in warm water to clean the gem and avoid using a steam or ultrasonic cleaner as the gem is at risk of thermal shock. Once you’ve cleaned your Peridot jewellery, it should be stored safely to avoid the gem getting scratched.

On the other hand with Emerald jewellery, the best way to clean the gem is with either a warm soapy cloth or warm soapy water. You should never soak the gem in soapy water or use detergents that may remove or dilute the stone’s oils. After you’ve cleaned the piece of Emerald jewellery, it’s worth storing it in a separate envelope.

Diamond Heaven’s favourite Green Gemstone Jewellery

At Diamond Heaven, we have a wide variety of stunning green gemstone jewellery that will work extremely well for any occasion. From engagement rings and earrings to tennis bracelets and gemstone pendants, we can help find you a stunning piece of jewellery that you’ll wear for many years to come.

Emerald & Diamond Halo Pendant - £1,592.50

The perfect way to celebrate a loved one’s birthday or friendship is to give them a beautiful-looking Emerald & Diamond Halo Pendant. Sitting right in the middle of the pendant is a shiny green Emerald gem, which combined with its halo setting rests nicely on the wearer’s chest.

With a choice of three different metal colours (white gold, yellow gold and rose gold), you can decide on the metal that’s right for your pendant. If you are wearing your Emerald & Diamond Pendant every day for all occasions, then we recommend getting this piece of jewellery in 18ct Rose Gold.

                                                                                

Emerald & Diamond Halo Ring - £1,400

If you and your partner were born in August, then why not pop the question with our Emerald & Diamond Halo Ring. As Emerald engagement rings are a popular choice among couples, it’ll create a proposal that’s unique to the person you’re getting engaged to.

The combination of the bright green Emerald gem, combined with diamonds around the outer part of the ring looks incredible on the wearer’s ring finger. It’s the perfect ring that’s sure to make your partner say yes to your engagement proposal.

Emerald & Diamond Cluster Earrings - £2,400

If you’re still shopping around for your perfect gift, then our Emerald & Diamond Cluster Earrings are a great choice for birthdays or anniversaries. The green Emerald gems in the centre of the earring will shine brightly when they’re worn on your friend’s ears.

The Emerald & Diamond Cluster Earrings will add some sophistication and sparkle to any outfit. Whether you wear the earrings at a charity event or wedding, it’ll add some colour to your black dress that you’re wearing.

Unsure about the type of green gemstone jewellery to buy for August? Our team of experts will be able to help assist you with finding the perfect piece of jewellery with a green gemstone. As we have showrooms in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Cardiff, you can book an appointment today and we’ll help you find your ideal piece of jewellery.

Our 0% finance option is a great way of spreading the cost of your jewellery. With this finance option, you can pay for your jewellery payments from up to six months by paying a minimum 10% deposit on the jewellery you’ve purchased from Diamond Heaven.