August Birthstone: Peridot
Peridot is a gemstone with a history as extraordinary as its origins. Treasured for thousands of years, this vibrant green variety of the mineral olivine has been used by ancient civilizations, mistaken for some of history's most famous gemstones, and discovered in places ranging from deep within the Earth to meteorites that have traveled through space.
As the traditional birthstone of August, peridot carries a rich history of symbolism alongside its distinctive natural beauty. Today, it remains treasured for both the remarkable story behind it and the personal meaning it can hold for those who wear it.
What Is Peridot?
Peridot is the gem-quality variety of the mineral olivine, and one of the few gemstones that occurs in only one color. It's most well-known as a bright yellow-green, but it can occur in a variety of shades, including a more subdued but no less beautiful olive green, as well as green with traces of brown. The percentage of iron within the mineral's crystal structure is believed to account for the particular hue.
Peridot forms under extreme conditions deep within the Earth's mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanic activity. It has also been discovered in meteorites, making it a truly ancient gemstone with fascinating connections to both our planet and the wider universe.
Behind the Name: Etymology & Pronunciation of "Peridot"
In an entry in the 1705 register of St. Albans Abbey, it states that, on his death in 1245, Bishop John bequeathed various items—including peridot gems—to the Abbey. This is the earliest known recorded use of the word "peridot" in English, yet while it entered the English language centuries ago, its deeper linguistic roots remain uncertain.
Unlike the names of many other gemstones, which can be clearly traced to ancient languages or cultures, the exact origin of the word peridot remains a matter of debate. One theory links the name to the Arabic word faridat, which can be translated as “precious gem”. Another theory, supported by the Oxford English Dictionary, traces it through the Anglo-Norman word pedoretés (derived from the classical Latin pæderot), a term once used to describe a type of opal.
The pronunciation of peridot has likewise inspired some debate. In English, two pronunciations are commonly accepted: “pair-ih-dot", with the final “t” pronounced, and “pair-ih-doh", with the final “t” silent. The silent “t” is sometimes attributed to a presumed French origin of the word, but the uncertain etymology of peridot means this explanation remains one of several possibilities.
In short, whether you pronounce the final “t” or don't, you can confidently say “peridot” either way.
History & Cultural Significance
Many cultures have appreciated peridot for its bright, luminous color and its associations with light, protection, and spirituality. However, throughout much of history, peridot was often mistaken for other green gemstones. Many who believed they were admiring emeralds or topaz may, in fact, have been looking at the distinctive yellow-green hues of peridot.
Ancient Egypt & the "Gem of the Sun"
Peridot is closely associated with ancient Egypt, where the gemstone was mined for thousands of years on the Red Sea island of Zabargad. The ancient Egyptians associated peridot with light and called it the “gem of the sun". Over time, the stone also became associated with protection from evil spirits and nighttime terrors, beliefs that contributed to peridot's long history as a protective talisman.
Ancient Rome & the "Evening Emerald"
The gemstone continued to be valued throughout the Mediterranean during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Peridot from the Red Sea was fashioned into jewelry, including cabochons and intricately carved intaglio stones set into rings. Surviving examples of Roman peridot jewelry date from approximately the 1st century B.C.E. through the Imperial period (27 B.C.E. to 476 C.E.).
Peridot is also commonly referred to as the “evening emerald", a nickname traditionally associated with the ancient Romans. According to popular lore, its vivid green color remained striking even under the darkness of dusk. While the historical origins of this nickname are difficult to verify, the comparison is fitting: throughout history, peridot was frequently confused with emerald and other green gemstones.
Peridot Mistaken for Emerald
One of the most famous examples of this historical confusion involves Cleopatra. The Egyptian queen was known for her love of emeralds, but some historians have speculated that at least some of the green gemstones in her legendary collection may actually have been peridot. Because both true emerald and peridot were available in ancient Egypt, however, it is impossible to know the exact composition of her collection today.
A similar case can be found in Cologne, Germany. For centuries, the magnificent green gemstones adorning the Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral were believed to be emeralds. The approximately 200 carats of green gems are, in fact, peridot, illustrating just how easily the two stones could be confused before the development of modern gemology.
Peridot as a Birthstone & Anniversary Gemstone
Today, peridot is most widely recognized as the traditional birthstone for the month of August. It is also associated with the 16th wedding anniversary, making peridot jewelry a meaningful gift to celebrate sixteen years of marriage.
With its distinctive green color and centuries-old associations with light, protection, and spiritual significance, peridot continues to carry a rich symbolism that connects its ancient history with its modern-day interpretations.
Peridot Meaning & Symbolism
With its luminous green color and fascinating history, peridot has accumulated a rich collection of meanings and symbolism over time. Historically associated with light and protection, the gemstone has also come to represent positivity, prosperity, emotional balance, and personal growth.
Light, Positivity & Joy
Peridot's connection with light stretches back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians associated the gemstone with the sun, while later traditions credited it with the ability to dispel darkness and protect its wearer from nighttime terrors. Today, this connection with light is often interpreted more symbolically, with peridot representing happiness, optimism, and positive energy.
Its vibrant yellow-green color further contributes to these associations, evoking sunlight, warmth, and the vitality of the natural world.
Protection & Emotional Balance
Protection is one of peridot's oldest symbolic associations. Historically worn or treasured as a protective talisman, peridot was believed to guard against evil spirits and other negative influences.
In modern spiritual traditions, this protective symbolism has evolved to include emotional well-being. Peridot is often associated with releasing negative emotions while encouraging emotional balance, confidence, and a more positive outlook.
Prosperity & Abundance
Peridot has also become associated with prosperity, good fortune, and abundance. Its vivid green color naturally recalls growth and flourishing, while its long history as a treasured gemstone has contributed to its connection with wealth and success.
For this reason, peridot is sometimes viewed as a symbol of both material and personal abundance—not simply acquiring more, but appreciating and nurturing what already brings value and meaning to one's life.
Growth & Renewal
The fresh green hues of peridot have also made it a natural symbol of growth, transformation, and renewal. Much like the greenery of spring, its color can evoke new beginnings, resilience, and the ability to grow through periods of change.
Although these ideas are largely modern symbolic interpretations rather than documented ancient meanings of peridot, they complement the gemstone's longstanding associations with light and positivity.
Love & Connection
As a gemstone associated with emotional harmony and the 16th wedding anniversary, peridot can also symbolize enduring love, connection, and the continued growth of a relationship. Its symbolism makes peridot jewelry especially meaningful for celebrating not only August birthdays, but also anniversaries, personal milestones, and relationships that continue to grow over time.
Peridot Gemstone Properties
Mohs hardness: 6.5–7
The Mohs hardness scale measures a gemstone’s resistance to scratching, on a scale from 1 (very soft) to 10 (very hard). Peridot ranks between 6.5 and 7, giving it moderate hardness compared to many other popular gemstones.
Refractive index: 1.654–1.690
Refractive index (RI) refers to how light bends as it passes through a gemstone, and it contributes to a stone’s brilliance and overall visual appearance. Peridot has a refractive index of approximately 1.654 to 1.690.
One defining optical characteristic of peridot is its strong double refraction, or birefringence. Light entering the gemstone splits into two rays, causing the bottom facets of the stone to appear doubled. This effect can be visible to the naked eye in larger or particularly clear peridots and is one characteristic gemologists can use when identifying the stone.
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)
Luster describes how a gemstone’s surface interacts with light. Peridot has a vitreous, or glass-like, luster, meaning a well-polished stone reflects light with a bright, smooth sheen similar to glass.
Because peridot's color comes from iron that is naturally present within its chemical structure, rather than from trace impurities introduced into an otherwise colorless mineral, its characteristic green color is an inherent part of the gemstone itself. When well-cut and polished, its vitreous luster enhances these fresh yellow-green to olive-green hues, contributing to peridot's distinctive luminous appearance.
Wearing & Caring for Peridot Jewelry
Peridot is a beautiful and relatively durable gemstone, but its moderate hardness means it requires a little more care than harder stones such as ruby, sapphire, or diamond. It can be susceptible to scratches and abrasion with regular wear, particularly when worn in rings, which tend to experience more contact with hard surfaces than pendants or earrings. Protective settings, mindful wear, and proper cleaning and storage habits can help preserve the stone’s polished surface over time.
Do: Gently clean by hand with warm water + mild soap
The safest way to clean peridot jewelry is with warm (not hot) water, mild dish soap, and a soft toothbrush or cloth. Gently clean the gemstone and surrounding setting to remove everyday buildup from oils, lotions, and dirt. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Avoid: Ultrasonic & steam cleaning
Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are not recommended for peridot jewelry. Peridot can be vulnerable to thermal shock from rapid temperature changes, while the intense vibrations produced by ultrasonic cleaners may pose an unnecessary risk to the gemstone or its setting.
Do: Remove peridot jewelry before cleaning, swimming, gardening & strenuous activities
With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, peridot is more susceptible to scratching and chipping than harder gemstones, particularly when worn in rings and bracelets. Remove peridot jewelry before exercising, gardening, playing sports, or performing other activities that could expose it to impact or abrasion.
Taking your jewelry off during these activities also helps protect the precious metal setting and prevents buildup from sweat, soaps, lotions, and other substances that can dull the appearance of the finished piece.
Peridot can also be sensitive to certain acids, minerals, and chemicals, so it's best to remove peridot jewelry before cleaning and entering swimming pools, hot tubs, or the ocean.
Avoid: Chemicals, saltwater & prolonged perspiration
Avoid exposing peridot jewelry to household cleaners, bleach, chlorine, acids, and other harsh chemicals, which may damage the gemstone as well as the surrounding metal.
Peridot may also be sensitive to acids, so prolonged or repeated exposure to perspiration—which naturally contains salts and can be mildly acidic—is best avoided. Occasional contact with sweat is not generally cause for concern, but jewelry should be gently cleaned and thoroughly dried after significant exposure.
Safe storage & daily wear
When not being worn, store peridot jewelry in a soft pouch or separate compartment within a jewelry box. Keeping it separate from harder gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, and sapphires will help prevent accidental scratches.
Peridot jewelry can be enjoyed regularly with mindful wear, but rings and bracelets are particularly likely to encounter hard surfaces throughout the day. Removing your jewelry during heavy lifting, yard work, sports, cleaning, or other activities that could subject it to impact or abrasion will help protect both the gemstone and its precious metal setting.
August's Alternative Birthstones: Sardonyx & Spinel
What Is Sardonyx?
Sardonyx is a naturally banded variety of chalcedony, a form of cryptocrystalline quartz. Its name reflects its composition: alternating layers of sard, typically reddish brown to dark orange, and onyx, which generally forms contrasting white or black bands. The name onyx itself comes from the Greek word meaning “claw” or “fingernail".
Considered the original and most ancient of the three August birthstones, sardonyx has been admired for more than 4,000 years. Its distinct layers of color have made it especially well suited to carving, while its rich patterns and warm, earthy hues continue to give the gemstone a unique appeal in jewelry today.
History & Symbolism of Sardonyx
Sardonyx has been used for decorative and practical purposes for thousands of years, with its contrasting bands of color making it particularly well suited to intricate carvings. A Late Minoan sardonyx lentoid dating to approximately 1600–1425 B.C.E., now held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, features carved images of fish and another bird or fish—evidence of the stone's use in intricate gem carving more than 3,000 years ago.
Cameos and intaglios carved from sardonyx survive from the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, depicting everything from gods and mythological scenes to rulers and other figures. The gemstone was particularly popular for Roman seals and signet rings because hot wax would not readily stick to its surface. According to ancient tradition, Roman soldiers also wore sardonyx rings carved with the image of Mars, the god of war, as a form of protection in battle. Other surviving sardonyx carvings depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty (known as Venus to the Romans), demonstrating the wide range of mythological figures represented in this ancient art form.
Over time, sardonyx accumulated a variety of symbolic meanings. Today, the August birthstone is commonly associated with courage, happiness, clear communication, and stability, carrying its long history as a symbolic and decorative stone into the modern era.
Sardonyx in Jewelry
With a Mohs hardness of approximately 6.5 to 7, sardonyx is suitable for jewelry, although it requires more mindful wear than harder gemstones. Pendants and earrings offer relatively protected ways to wear the stone, while sardonyx rings should be worn with additional care to help prevent scratches and accidental damage.
The gemstone may be polished into cabochons or beads, but its naturally contrasting layers have also made it particularly prized for cameos and intaglios. Skilled carvers can use the differently colored bands to create striking raised or recessed designs, a tradition that stretches back thousands of years and continues today.
With its long history, distinctive banded appearance, and associations with courage, happiness, communication, and stability, sardonyx remains a meaningful choice for August birthstone jewelry.
What Is Spinel?
Spinel is a colorful and historically underappreciated gemstone found in a remarkable variety of hues, including vivid red and pink, orange, purple, violet, blue, and bluish green. Its name is believed to come from the Latin word spina, meaning "little thorn" or "small spine", in reference to the naturally pointed shape of spinel crystals.
For centuries, spinel was frequently mistaken for other gemstones, particularly ruby. Large red spinels from Central and Southeast Asia were historically known as “balas rubies", and some were treasured by kings and emperors for generations before the two gemstones could be scientifically distinguished.
Like ruby, red spinel owes its rich color to chromium, helping explain why the two gemstones were so easily confused. Today, spinel is recognized as its own distinct gemstone and was added to August's birthstones in 2016.
History & Symbolism of Spinel
For centuries, red spinel was commonly mistaken for ruby, and some of history's most famous “rubies” were eventually discovered to be spinel. The two gemstones were not clearly distinguished based on their chemical differences until the 18th century.
One of the most famous examples is the approximately 170-carat Black Prince's Ruby. The historic red spinel passed through the hands of Moorish and Spanish rulers before being given to Edward, Prince of Wales—known as the Black Prince—in 1367. Today, it is set prominently in the Imperial State Crown and remains part of the British Crown Jewels. Another remarkable example is the approximately 352-carat Timur Ruby, which is also a red spinel rather than a true ruby. The gemstone passed through the hands of powerful rulers over the centuries and bears inscriptions recording several of its former owners, including Mughal emperor Jahangir.
Spinel has also carried symbolic significance throughout time. Historically, red spinel was believed to have healing properties, particularly for blood loss and inflammatory illnesses, and was also thought to ease anger and promote harmony. Today, spinel is often associated with energy, renewal, and inspiration and is recognized as both an August birthstone and a gemstone associated with the 22nd wedding anniversary.
Spinel in Jewelry
With a score of 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, spinel is a durable gemstone well suited to rings, necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry, including pieces worn regularly. As with any gemstone, proper care and protection from hard impacts will help preserve its polish and beauty over time.
Spinel's remarkable range of colors also makes it a versatile choice for fine jewelry. While vivid red spinel has historically been compared with ruby, the gemstone can also be found in brilliant pinks, purples, oranges, blues, and other hues, giving each variety its own distinctive appeal.
Once overshadowed by the gemstones it was mistaken for, natural spinel is now increasingly appreciated in its own right. Its combination of durability, rich color, fascinating history, and August birthstone status makes it a beautiful alternative to more familiar colored gemstones.
Celebrating August's Birthstones
From the luminous yellow-green hues of peridot to the distinctive bands of sardonyx and remarkable range of colors found in spinel, August's three birthstones each carry a fascinating history and symbolism of their own. Whether treasured for their beauty, historical significance, or personal meaning, these gemstones offer a unique way to celebrate those born in August.
Birthstone jewelry can also hold meaning far beyond a birthday. A gemstone may represent someone you love, commemorate an important milestone, or simply serve as a lasting reminder of a meaningful connection. However you choose to wear it, an August birthstone can carry a story that is both centuries old and uniquely your own.
Sources:
This birthstone guide was researched using trusted gemological, historical, and educational references, including:
- American Gem Society (AGS)
- Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
-
International Gem Society (IGS)
-
Mindat.org
- Selected historical and cultural sources
Including classical writings and widely documented folklore referenced through reputable gemological summaries.
