If you have your birthday in August, then consider yourself one of the lucky ones! Why? Well, as an August-born, you can choose between 2 beautiful gemstones as your birthstone – the lush green Peridot, and the pretty Spinel. These befitting gemstones are the perfect presents for August babies. Read the brief information about these 2 popular August birthstones.
Peridot, the olive-green gemstone comes from a magnesium-rich variety of olivine. The formation of peridots takes place in silica-deficient rocks such as volcanic basalt and pallasitic meteorite. It is a gemstone that comes in only one color tone which is the olive-green hue.
Spinel is its own mineral and comes in a variety of colors. The red spinel is sometimes mistaken for a ruby, for example, The Black Prince Ruby. Contrary to the name, this royal gem is a spinel. Spinel received its name from the Spanish word, Spinella which means spine, in reference to its pointed crystals.
Let’s learn more about these August birthstones in detail.
Peridot
One of the rarest gemstones in the world is the peridot. It is a semi-precious gemstone and comes from the mineral olivine. Peridot is known for its rich, vibrant color and excellent value. This gemstone is a variety of the mineral olivine and derives its vibrant green color from the presence of the trace element iron.
Peridot seems to have a rich and extensive cultural significance. It is one of the oldest gemstones believed to have been mined in 1500 BC on St. John’s Island in the red sea. Ancient Egyptians called this gemstone the “Gem of the sun” while the medieval Christians used peridots on their religious relics.
Peridot can be mined in several locations around the world. Australia, Brazil, Pakistan, Burma, Egypt, Kenya and Mexico are some of the prominent sources of peridot gemstones. Peridot ranks 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it a durable gemstone for everyday jewelry. GemsNY’s Peridot rings collection is definitely worth a try.
Also read>> Leo Soulmates for the magnificent August borns.
Let’s continue learning about peridot gemstones. Visit our peridot education section to learn more.
Some Facts about Peridots
- The base mineral of peridot gemstone is olivine. In the past, the gemstone had no other name but olivine. Another name for Peridot is Chrysolite.
- In 1912 peridot became the official birthstone for the 8th month of the year – August, along with Sardonyx.
- Miners have to dig really deep to find Peridot. It lies deep under igneous rocks, especially in areas where there have been volcanic eruptions.
- According to some beleifs, peridots ward off evil spirits and bring positive energy to the wearer.
Celebrities & Peridots
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
The royals definitely know how to style. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a pair of earrings featuring double oval peridot, blue topaz, and diamond stud earrings set in 18-karat yellow gold to attend the UK premiere of African Cats in 2012.
Benedict Cumberbatch
“Lo and behold, Doctor Strange is guarding a Time Stone”. This was the reaction of fans when at the Met Gala 2019, Benedict Cumberbatch wore an 18-karat yellow gold, peridot, diamond and platinum nosegay brooch from Verdura circa 1965. What do you think? Is it a jewel that came to life from the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Anna Wintour
In the 2022 Met Gala, Vogue’s global editorial director appeared wearing a tiara made of diamonds and peridots. It was an unusual but striking choice, don’t you think? The tiara in floral and ribbon motifs is said to be Wintour’s family heirloom which was made in 1910.
Spinel
One of the recent gemstones that has found its place in the list of birthstones for August is Spinel. It is a variety of the mineral group spinel with which it shares its name. Much like sapphires, spinel can be found in an array of colors and hues.
The most popular color of spinel is red, though it comes in a wide spectrum of vibrant colors such as pink, green, yellow, blue etc. In spite of the popularity of red and blue spinels, the gemstone is often overlooked. This may be due to the fact that in ancient times, people used to confuse spinels with rubies.
Spinel scores a reputable 8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of hardness. This score is quite comparable to some of the more pricey gemstones such as emeralds. So, it is indeed a durable and versatile option for jewelry. GemsNY has the finest quality spinel jewelry that you can get for yourself.
The color of a gemstone is one of the most important elements that decide the primary value of the gem. When the color saturation of the gemstone increases, its value increases. However, as the color in a spinel becomes oversaturated and eventually opaque, the price drops substantially.
Some Facts about Spinel
- A synthetic variety of spinel is now available, especially for commercial use. It looks like glass, but is considerably stronger and more resistant to pressure.
- The famous 170 carat Black Prince’s Ruby is not only the centerpiece of the Imperial Crown of England, but it is also a red spinel!
- Sri Lanka and Burma are two primary sources of spinel gemstones. It can also be found close to corundum deposits containing rubies and sapphires.
GemsNY has a phenomenal collection of different types of accessories such as earrings, rings, pendants, etc with a collection of more than 50,000 natural gemstones that will woo you. To get your hands on these beautiful August birthstones explore GemsNY.com now.
