August birthstone
Peridot: the August birthstone
Peridot symbolizes strength, good fortune and warding off nightmares. Its color, history, care, value and where it comes from.
- Birth month
- August
- Hardness
- 6.5–7 Mohs
- Anniversary
- 16th
- Sources
- Arizona (San Carlos), Pakistan, Myanmar, China and Vietnam
Color
Lime to olive green. It is one of the few gems that only comes in one color.
#9BBF3B #B5D35A #6E8F22
History & lore
Ancient Egyptians mined peridot on the Red Sea island of Zabargad and called it the "gem of the sun." Some of Cleopatra's "emeralds" may have been peridot. Tiny peridot crystals have been found in meteorites. August also has spinel, added in 2016, and sardonyx, the original August stone.
Care
Medium hardness, so pendants and earrings hold up better than rings worn every day. Avoid acids and sudden heat.
Value
Affordable: good peridot is often $50–$100 per carat.
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Questions, answered
What month is peridot the birthstone for?
Peridot is the August birthstone.
What does peridot symbolize?
Peridot symbolizes strength, good fortune and warding off nightmares.
How hard is peridot?
Peridot is 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale. Medium hardness, so pendants and earrings hold up better than rings worn every day. Avoid acids and sudden heat.
Where is peridot found?
Arizona (San Carlos), Pakistan, Myanmar, China and Vietnam.
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