How to Choose From the Three Beautiful August Birthstones

by Nancy Plante July 25, 2019 1 Comment

If you have a birthday in August, you are lucky to have three gorgeous birthstones to choose from: vibrant peridot, captivating sardonyx, and vivid spinel. 

August’s original birthstone was sardonyx. Peridot, a more familiar gemstone, was added as time went on. In 2016, a new August birthstone was proclaimed: spinel! This adds an exciting new choice to the more traditional birthstones, whether you’re shopping for a birthday gift for someone special or a piece for yourself.

Here’s a look at each of these stunning August birthstones, including their histories, and how to care for and buy them. 

August Birthstone: Peridot

History and Meaning of Peridot

Most commonly associated with August birthdays, peridot is a vibrant greenish-yellow and represents good fortune. It is also given to celebrate the 16th year of marriage. The finest peridots are a brilliant green without any brown or yellow, but the gem’s hue can vary from a yellowish-green to an olive green. The color depends on the amount of iron that is present in the stone.

Most gemstones form in the earth’s crust. However, peridots—like diamonds—form very deep in the earth and are brought to the surface by volcanic action. One of the oldest known gemstones, peridot was mined as early as 1500 B.C. The first known source of peridot was a volcanic island known as Topazos (later called Zabargad Island or St. John’s Island) located in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. Another early source of peridot was the Island of Oahu in Hawaii, where tiny grains of the gem can still be found washed up on the shore. Today, sources of fine peridot include Pakistan, Arizona, Norway, Mexico, Oregon, and Russia.

Peridot was highly valued in ancient Egypt as the “Gem of the Sun.” The tombs of the pharaohs were guarded against the evil eye by peridot gemstones and artifacts. It is believed that the famous emeralds of Cleopatra were actually peridots. The gemstone was a favorite of hers, and she wore them for their beauty and ability to ward off evil spirits. Perhaps Cleopatra’s tomb will be discovered someday, and we will get to see her amazing gem collection! Today, peridot is still considered the National Gem of Egypt.

The Romans called peridot “evening emerald,” and wore it on their right arms in battle. They traded peridot, and by the Middle Ages it was treasured in Europe for its beauty and its mystical powers. In Hawaii, peridot was believed to be the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire.

Throughout the ages, much has been written about the powers of this meaningful gemstone. Set in gold, it glows in lamplight, and is believed to be a strong talisman against night terrors and frightening visions. Known as the stone of compassion, peridot is said to bring good health, restful sleep, and peace to relationships. Its light green color brings renewal and love, calms anger, and signifies nature and youthfulness. It has even been used for medicinal purposes—in powdered form to treat asthma and as a cure for thirst brought on by fever. 

Known as the “study stone,” the peridot gemstone is believed to increase mental focus and give you strength to persevere, particularly during challenging academic pursuits. It’s also used as an antidepressant—worn over the heart chakra to heal, clear out negative emotions, and open up to love. 

How to Buy Peridot Jewelry

• Like all colored gemstones, rich color is the most important factor in choosing a peridot.

• Look for a bright, pleasing green color, with no visible inclusions. Flawless peridots over five carats are extremely rare. 

• Peridot looks sparkly and pretty when combined with blue topaz and aqua colors, or white pearls. 

• Like many gems, the setting can change the look completely—peridot looks very different set in yellow gold as opposed to white gold or silver. 

• Some peridot is brownish-green. It’s more affordable than bright green peridot. The brownish-green hue goes well with earth tones in your clothing or mixed with other gemstone beads in coordinating colors.  

How to Care for Peridot

Peridot has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that it is softer than many other gems, and therefore not ideal for extreme daily wear, especially when it comes to peridot rings. We recommend that you take off your peridot jewelry when you are doing heavy work or physical activity. The best way to clean peridot is with warm, soapy water. Rinse it in lukewarm water and let it air dry. Protect it from scratching by wearing with care, and store it in a soft pouch, not touching other metal jewelry. Avoid exposing peridot jewelry to drastic changes in temperature, and don’t use ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners to clean it. 

August Birthstone: Sardonyx

History and Meaning of Sardonyx

Sardonyx is a somewhat obscure gemstone that is comprised of alternating layers of sard and onyx. A translucent gemstone, it is reddish-brown in color with bands of white. Sard ranges in color from yellowish-red to reddish-brown, depending on how much iron oxide is present. Sardonyx is suitable for carving, and is often seen cut as cameos. 

The most ancient of the August birthstones, sardonyx’s popularity dates back to the Second Dynasty of Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. The gemstone was prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who wore sardonyx talismans engraved with images of gods for protection in battle. Egyptians believed the sardonyx had the power to heal the body, particularly bones. 

During the Renaissance, sardonyx was associated with eloquence. Public speakers and orators wore it to promote clear thinking and communication.

A highly protective stone, sardonyx is associated with creativity, courage, and happiness. It offers metaphysical properties that encourage confidence, motivation, and willpower. This August birthstone is associated with clear communication, and brings stability to marriage and partnerships. Sardonyx has many sources, including India, Brazil, Madagascar, and the United States. 

Buying Sardonyx Jewelry

• Sardonyx is not a very hard gemstone, measuring 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It is best worn as earrings, pendants, and necklaces, rather than rings and bracelets. 

• The highest quality gemstones have a high contrast between the brown and white stripes. They may be translucent or opaque, and rarely show flaws or fractures.

• With its earthy look, Sardonyx lends itself well to artsy pendants with freeform shapes, as well as beads that are combined with gemstone beads of other colors. 

• Sardonyx pendants and earrings are usually designed with bezel settings (a bezel is a frame of metal around the gemstone). 

• Cameos and other vintage sardonyx jewelry pieces feature carved sardonyx in traditional settings.  

• Vintage necklaces with sardonyx and other gemstone beads are an interesting way to wear this unusual birthstone.

How to Care for Sardonyx Jewelry

Care for sardonyx jewelry as you would any other gemstone jewelry. Store it separately to avoid scratching, and clean it gently with warm soapy water. Rinse and wipe it dry with a soft towel. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners should be used with caution. 

August Birthstone: Spinel

History and Meaning of Spinel

The newest August birthstone is spinel. If this is the gemstone you’ve never heard of, prepare to be delighted! Spinel is sparkly, comes in a wide range of colors, and is cut into all kinds of shapes—this makes it a very versatile gem! 

In earlier days, spinel was often mistaken for ruby or sapphire because of its colors and the fact that it was often found in the same areas as these other gems. Red spinel, also called Balas Ruby, comes from the famous Badakhshan mine in Northern Afghanistan, known for its gemstone mines as early as 1000 A.D. The light red gems were identified as ruby, but today we now know that some of them were spinel. These large, light red crystals belonged to royalty in central and southeast Asia.

Other spinels are in royal collections—notably, the Black Prince’s Ruby in the Crown Jewels of England; the Samarian Spinel, the largest fine red spinel in the world and part of the Iranian Crown Jewels; and a beautiful red spinel in the Russian Imperial Crown.

Spinel has an interesting trait that sets it apart from other gems: it is magnetic. The blue color offers the strongest magnetic properties. In the 1800’s, spinel was identified as a gemstone in its own right, with an astonishing range of colors. The most desired color is vivid red, followed by cobalt blue, bright pink, and bright orange. Other shades such as lavender, gray, black, greenish-blue, and yellow are less expensive. Today, spinel is mined in Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Rare cobalt blue spinel gemstones are only found in Sri Lanka.

Lodestone, or waystone, is magnetite, a variety of spinel that is highly magnetic. Known for its use in magnetizing compass needles for navigation, lodestone has also been used for its healing powers since ancient times. Cleopatra slept on a lodestone to keep her skin looking youthful. It was used to treat melancholy, baldness, and arthritis. 

Different colors of spinel have different properties and offer various benefits. Vivid red spinel signifies vitality and promotes harmony. Red spinel was also a remedy for blood loss and inflammatory diseases. Softer colors offer calming energy, renewal, healing, and stress relief. Green and pink spinel are associated with love and compassion. Violet spinel is ideal for spiritual development, and yellow spinel aids the intellect.

Tips for Buying Spinel

• Spinel is very popular right now. Its sparkle and range of colors and shapes make it an exciting choice for jewelry. Gray and black spinels create a sparkly contrast when paired with white gems such as diamonds or white sapphires. 

• Look for lively, sparkly gems with no visible inclusions. Spinel is not usually treated. Synthetic spinel is commonly available. 

• Trending spinel shapes are octagons, trillions, squares, fancy pears, and ovals. Faceting brings out the sparkle. Tiny beads strung as strands and tassels are a pretty fashion look.

• Colors will really pop when you combine different-colored gems in one jewelry piece. Use a small angular cut spinel to accent a larger round gem for a pendant, or have a row of tiny square spinels on the shank of a ring.  

• Rarely, spinel exhibits asterism—a “star”—and will be cut in a cabochon (smooth domed shape) to highlight this phenomenon.

How to Care for Spinel

Spinel is not quite as hard as sapphire and ruby—it measures 8 on the Mohs scale. However, it is suitable for everyday wear. Remove your spinel jewelry when you are going to do heavy work or physical activity. Store it separate from other jewelry pieces that may catch or scratch it. Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, and air dry. 

Plante Jewelers offers a wonderful selection of gorgeous August birthstone jewelry to match your personal style. Visit our store in Swansea to check out our collections or create your own personalized designs. Whether you are shopping for the perfect gift for someone special or treating yourself to a fabulous piece, we can help.

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