What Is the August Birthstone? A Complete Guide to Peridot
- Lee Molseed
- 4 days ago
- 9 min read
The primary and most widely recognised August birthstone in the UK is peridot, a naturally green gemstone known for its fresh yellow-green to rich olive-green colour. August also has two recognised alternatives, spinel and sardonyx, but peridot remains the stone most people associate with an August birthday.
Peridot jewellery has a long history, yet its bright colour also feels distinctly modern. It works particularly well in birthday pendants, earrings and occasional-wear rings, making it a meaningful choice for someone who prefers colourful jewellery to more conventional clear stones.
Primary August birthstone: peridot
Alternative August birthstones: spinel and sardonyx
Typical peridot colour: yellowish green, lime green or olive green
Mineral family: olivine
Mohs hardness: approximately 6.5 to 7
Popular jewellery choices: pendants, earrings, bracelets and carefully protected rings
You can explore our peridot jewellery collection. Our online range represents only part of what we can access, so customers looking for a particular stone size, design or budget are also welcome to arrange a consultation.
What Is Peridot? Properties, Colour and Strength
Peridot is the gem-quality form of olivine, a mineral containing magnesium, iron and silicate. Unlike gemstones that occur in many unrelated colours, peridot is always green. Differences in iron content and crystal structure produce shades ranging from pale yellow-green to stronger grass-green and olive tones.
Colour: green with varying yellow, gold or olive undertones
Lustre: vitreous, meaning it has a bright, glass-like surface
Clarity: fine stones can appear clean to the unaided eye, although small dark crystals or disc-shaped inclusions may occur
Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, softer than sapphire, ruby, aquamarine and diamond
Optical character: strong double refraction can make internal facet edges appear doubled when viewed closely
Common cuts: oval, round, cushion, pear, emerald and mixed cuts
Peridot is softer than aquamarine, which measures approximately 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, and considerably softer than sapphire or diamond. It is therefore best suited to earrings and pendants, which receive fewer knocks. A peridot ring can still be an excellent choice, but the setting should protect the stone and the wearer should remove it for manual work.
Peridot is also visually different from emerald. Emerald is a variety of beryl and is usually valued for deeper green or bluish-green colour, while peridot has a brighter yellow-green character caused by iron within the mineral itself.
Peridot has an unmistakable freshness, but choosing the right setting is important because it is not as hard as sapphire or diamond.
Why Is Peridot the Birthstone for August?
Peridot has been admired for thousands of years and became closely associated with light, warmth and the sun. Ancient sources were sometimes confused with emerald or topaz, but the stone's distinctive green colour and long use in jewellery helped establish it as the principal modern birthstone for August.
Historical accounts connect peridot with protection from darkness and night-time fears. These are traditions and folklore rather than proven effects, but they remain part of the stone's appeal as a symbolic birthday gift.
Peridot is also associated with a 16th wedding anniversary in many modern jewellery traditions, giving it relevance beyond August birthdays.
Why Does August Have Three Birthstones?
Birthstone lists have changed over time as historical traditions, jewellery trade conventions and consumer preferences developed. Sardonyx is the oldest of the three recognised August stones, peridot became the best-known modern choice, and spinel was later adopted as another alternative.
Peridot
Peridot is the primary August birthstone and the clearest answer for most UK shoppers. Its green colour makes it instantly recognisable and easy to connect with an August birthday.
Spinel
Spinel occurs in several colours, including red, pink, purple, blue and black. Fine red spinel was historically mistaken for ruby, while modern spinel offers August-born customers a wider range of colours than peridot.
Sardonyx
Sardonyx is a banded form of chalcedony with alternating layers of sard and onyx. It is the traditional or vintage August birthstone and has been used for carvings, seals and jewellery for thousands of years.
Where Is Peridot Found Naturally?
Peridot forms under unusual geological conditions. Much of it develops deep within the Earth's mantle before volcanic activity carries it towards the surface. Gem-quality olivine has also been identified in certain meteorites, although jewellery made from extraterrestrial material is exceptionally uncommon.
Historic peridot came from Zabargad, an island in the Red Sea. Modern sources include Pakistan, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Tanzania and the United States, particularly Arizona. Origin can influence availability and appearance, but a stone should ultimately be judged on its individual colour, clarity, cut and condition.
For anyone searching for peridot jewellery in Plymouth, it is worth clearing up one local misconception: peridot is not mined beneath Plymouth Sound or around Dartmoor. The stone reaches our Plymouth workshop through the wider jewellery and gemstone trade, allowing customers to compare gems from established international sources.
A gemstone's country of origin can be interesting, but colour, cut, clarity and structural condition have a more immediate effect on how it looks and wears.
What Colour Is the August Birthstone?
The defining August birthstone colour is green. Peridot can range from pale lime and yellowish green to stronger grass-green or olive-green shades. The most desirable colour is generally a lively, even green with minimal brown and enough depth to remain attractive in different lighting.
Pure green peridot without an obvious yellow or brown undertone is comparatively uncommon. However, colour preference is personal: some customers favour crisp lime tones, while others prefer deeper olive or golden-green stones.
How to Choose a Quality Peridot Gemstone
A well-chosen peridot should look lively, balanced and attractive in the setting rather than simply meeting a particular carat weight. Use the following process when comparing stones.
Assess the colour: look for an even green that appeals to you, with limited brown or muddy areas.
Check the clarity: many good peridots are eye-clean, although tiny natural inclusions are acceptable when they do not distract.
Examine the cut: a well-proportioned stone should return light evenly without a large transparent or lifeless area through the centre.
Consider size and saturation together: larger stones can show stronger colour, but a smaller well-cut gem may look brighter than a poorly cut larger one.
Inspect the surface and facet edges: scratches, chips and abrasion matter because peridot is moderately hard rather than exceptionally durable.
Choose a suitable setting: protective edges, secure claws or a partial rubover can reduce exposure in rings.
View it in more than one light source: daylight, warm indoor light and showroom lighting can each affect how green and yellow tones appear.
Which Peridot Jewellery Makes the Best August Birthday Gift?
The best design depends on the recipient's lifestyle, taste and how frequently the piece will be worn. Peridot is available across a broad range of gift budgets, particularly in smaller earrings and pendants.
Peridot pendants: a practical birthday gift because the stone is protected from most everyday knocks
Peridot stud or drop earrings: bright, wearable and easy to coordinate with other jewellery
Peridot bracelets: attractive for occasional wear, provided the stones are not exposed to repeated impact
Peridot rings: a more prominent choice that benefits from a protective setting and careful wear
Peridot and diamond jewellery: diamonds create contrast and can make the green appear brighter
Bespoke peridot jewellery: useful when you want a particular stone shape, metal colour or personal design detail
Peridot in Yellow Gold
Yellow gold reinforces peridot's warm yellow and olive undertones. The combination feels rich and traditional, particularly in vintage-inspired rings, pendants and cluster designs.
Peridot in White Gold or Platinum
White metals create a cooler, cleaner contrast and can make a bright green peridot feel more contemporary. They also work well when the design includes diamonds.
Peridot in Rose Gold
Rose gold provides a stronger colour contrast. It can complement softer yellow-green stones, although the combination is more distinctive and should ideally be viewed in person before ordering.
Peridot Jewellery in Plymouth
West Country Goldsmiths is a Plymouth jewellery workshop and retailer. Visiting in person allows you to compare peridot size, colour, lustre, cut and metal tone rather than judging a gemstone from a screen alone.
Our online peridot jewellery collection is a useful starting point, but we can access considerably more designs and loose-stone options than we display online. Bespoke commissions are made on site, with specialist offsite work used where a design requires services such as stone-setting or hallmarking.
Customers sometimes fund a new piece by selling unwanted or broken gold. If you are planning a meaningful peridot purchase and have old or unwanted gold you no longer wear, our guide to selling gold in Plymouth explains how selling gold can help fund a new piece of jewellery.
How to Care for Peridot Jewellery
Peridot needs gentler care than harder gemstones. Its moderate hardness means it can be scratched by materials such as sapphire, ruby and diamond, while sudden heat changes may damage a vulnerable stone.
Check the jewellery for loose claws, movement or visible damage before cleaning.
Prepare lukewarm water with a small amount of mild washing-up liquid.
Clean gently with a very soft brush, paying attention to the back of the setting.
Rinse carefully in clean lukewarm water, avoiding sudden temperature changes.
Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth rather than rubbing aggressively.
Store the piece separately from harder gemstones and metal edges.
Arrange a professional inspection if the stone moves, the claws catch or the surface looks chipped.
Do not use steam cleaners on peridot
Avoid ultrasonic cleaning unless a qualified jeweller has inspected the piece and confirmed it is suitable
Remove peridot rings before gardening, lifting, cleaning, sport or manual work
Keep the stone away from harsh chemicals, acids and abrasive cleaning products
Do not place peridot loose in a jewellery box beside diamonds or sapphires
Have frequently worn rings and bracelets inspected periodically
Professional cleaning is especially useful when dirt has collected beneath the stone or when a ring has received a knock. A workshop inspection can also identify worn claws or structural problems before the gemstone is lost.
Frequently Asked Questions About the August Birthstone
What is the real August birthstone?
Peridot is the primary and most widely recognised August birthstone. Spinel and sardonyx are also accepted alternatives.
What is the August birthstone in the UK?
In the UK, peridot is generally presented as the main August birthstone, with spinel and sardonyx recognised as alternatives.
What are the three August birthstones?
The three recognised August birthstones are peridot, spinel and sardonyx. Peridot is the modern primary choice, while sardonyx is the oldest traditional option.
Why does August have three different birthstones?
Birthstone lists developed through different historical and jewellery-trade traditions. Sardonyx, peridot and spinel were adopted at different times, giving August three accepted choices. If you're looking for a stone that is more widely known and available, peridot is a great choice.
Did August's birthstone change?
The list expanded rather than simply replacing one stone. Sardonyx is the traditional August birthstone, peridot became the dominant modern choice, and spinel was later recognised as another alternative.
What is the vintage August birthstone?
Sardonyx is usually described as the traditional or vintage August birthstone. It has a history extending back thousands of years.
What colour is the August birthstone?
Peridot is green, ranging from pale yellow-green and lime to stronger grass-green and olive-green tones.
What is the rarest colour of peridot?
A vivid, evenly saturated green with little obvious yellow or brown is comparatively rare and is generally the most sought-after peridot colour.
Is peridot an expensive stone?
Peridot is often more affordable than emerald, ruby or sapphire, particularly in smaller sizes. Prices increase for larger stones with strong colour, good clarity and excellent cutting.
Which August birthstone is most expensive?
There is no fixed answer because quality, colour, origin, size and rarity all matter. Exceptional spinel can be very valuable, while fine large peridot can also command a significant price. However, by size comparison with other gemstones, peridot can be one of the more affordable stones.
Which August birthstone is luckier?
No gemstone is proven to bring luck. Peridot, spinel and sardonyx all have different traditions and symbolism, so the most meaningful choice is usually the stone the wearer personally prefers.
Who should not wear peridot?
There is no evidence-based reason for a person to avoid peridot because of their birthday or zodiac sign. From a practical perspective, people who are hard on their jewellery may prefer it in earrings or a pendant rather than an exposed everyday ring.
Which zodiac sign should wear peridot?
Peridot is commonly linked with August and is therefore often associated with Leo and Virgo. Anyone can wear it, regardless of zodiac sign.
What is a Leo's lucky stone?
Peridot is frequently associated with Leo because much of the Leo period falls in August. This is a cultural and astrological tradition rather than a scientifically proven effect.
What is the rarest birthstone?
Rarity depends on quality and definition, but fine alexandrite is often considered one of the rarest stones used in modern birthstone jewellery.
What are the birthstones for each month?
The commonly used modern list is January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal or tourmaline, November topaz or citrine, and December turquoise, tanzanite or zircon.
Comments