Celebrate August with gemstones! In this birth month for Leo (August 1st-August 23rd) and Virgo (August 24th-August 31st), find their birthstone jewelry to protect him/her! Those born in August are fortunate to have three birthstones to choose from. Do you know what they are? Keep reading as this article provides a comprehensive analysis of August’s three birthstones, including their history, meanings, colors, and more.
Table Of Contents
- What are August Birthstones?
- The Most Classic August Birthstone—Peridot
- The Newest August Birthstone—Spinel
- The Oldest August Birthstone—Sardonyx
- Common Questions about August Birthstones
What are August Birthstones?
August has three birthstones: Sardonyx, Peridot, and Spinel. Currently, the official primary birthstone for August is Peridot, confirmed by the American Gem Society in 1912. It is the most classic and popular birthstone for August. Sardonyx and Spinel are secondary birthstones. If you delve into gemstone history, you’ll find that the oldest August birthstone is Sardonyx. It has a long history and was mentioned multiple times in the Old Testament, believed to be one of the twelve stones worn on the breastplate of the High Priest Aaron (the precursor to birthstones). Spinel is the newest August birthstone, added to the list on June 1, 2016.
The Most Classic August Birthstone—Peridot
August Birthstone Peridot History
Have you heard about the 200-carat green gem in the Shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Cologne Cathedral, Germany? Did you think it was an emerald? No, it is actually the August birthstone, Peridot. As early as 1500 BCE, ancient Egyptians first discovered this gemstone on an island in the Red Sea called Zabargad (now St. John’s Island). Inspired by the Arabic word “faridat” (meaning gem), they named it “Peridot” and called it the “gem of the sun.” Peridot was very popular in ancient Europe and ancient Rome. Although it later lost some of its market to the harder emerald, the current trend of semi-precious stones has revived its popularity.
August Birthstone Peridot Origin
August birthstone peridot comes from many places, including China, the United States, and Myanmar, with Arizona in the United States being the largest source of peridot. Most Peridot forms deep within the Earth and is brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions. In June 2018, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted, and Peridot within the volcanic rock was ejected, causing a rain of gems. Local residents could easily pick up Peridot on the streets and beaches. Papakolea Beach on the southernmost part of Hawaii is entirely made of Peridot, making it one of only two green sand beaches in the world (the other being in French Guiana’s Kourou).
Surprisingly, Peridot also forms in outer space. In the 18th century, German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas discovered Peridot inclusions in meteorites. In 2003, NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor found that Peridot covers more than 19,000 miles of Mars, giving the red planet an undeniable green hue. On May 15, 2019, the prestigious international academic journal Nature published an article titled “Chang’E-4 initial spectroscopic identification of lunar far-side mantle-derived materials,” stating, “Here we report on the initial spectral observations of the Visible and Near Infrared Spectrometer (VNIS) onboard Yutu-2, which we interpret to represent the presence of low-calcium (ortho)pyroxene and olivine, materials that may originate from the lunar mantle.” It can be inferred that the lunar mantle is rich in Peridot (so, can we say the Moon is a green planet in the future? lol).
Peridot Color and Hardness
Peridot, the August birthstone, belongs to the silicate mineral group with a chemical formula of (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 and a hardness of 6.5 to 7. Its color ranges from yellow-green to olive green and can even have brownish tones. The final color of Peridot is mainly determined by the iron and magnesium content in its chemical composition. The iron content affects the green hue, while the magnesium content influences the brightness of the color. High iron content makes Peridot appear rich green, while high magnesium content makes it brighter. The deep green Peridot is very similar to emerald, and some historians believe that part of Cleopatra’s famous emerald collection was actually Peridot.
Related Reading: Peridot vs. Emerald
Symbol of Peridot
The vibrant green peridot, the birthstone for August, is believed to symbolize hope, peace, and rebirth. It is also said to promote harmony in life and relationships. In ancient Egypt, people believed that has protective powers and could bring good luck and health. During the Middle Ages, people used peridot as a healing stone, believing it could cure various diseases, especially liver and gallbladder diseases. In addition to being an August birthstone, Peridot is also the gemstone for the 16th wedding anniversary.
Do you like the green color of the August birthstone? Explore our collection of August peridot rings and find jewelry that speaks to you!
The Newest August Birthstone—Spinel
August Birthstone Spinel History
Spinel is the “youngest” of August birthstones, officially joining the list on June 1, 2016. Although it hasn’t been long since its addition, the updates to birthstones often come from gemstone enthusiasts’ calls, showing that Spinel is seen as a suitable and beautiful “August birthstone” by gem lovers. For centuries, people mistook the intensely red Spinel for ruby until 1783, when gemologists discovered that Spinel’s chemical composition was different from ruby, distinguishing the two. Named Spinel after the Latin word “spina” (meaning thorn) due to its pointed shape, the most famous Spinel is the “Black Prince’s Ruby,” set in the British Imperial State Crown (once thought to be a ruby).
Related Reading: Spinel vs. Ruby
August Birthstone Spinel Origin
Spinel is a metamorphic mineral found in metamorphic limestone and low-silica mudstone. This August birthstone comes from many places, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Tanzania, and Pakistan. Among them, Myanmar produces the highest quality red spinel.
Spinel Color and Hardness
Spinel is an oxide mineral with the chemical formula MgAl2O4 and a hardness of 8. The August birthstone Spinel is a multicolored gemstone, including red, pink, blue, orange, black, and green.
Symbol of Spinel
Spinel, the August birthstone, is considered a symbol of energy and vitality. Red Spinel symbolizes passion and strength, while blue Spinel represents calmness and wisdom. In India, people believe that spinel has protective properties, driving away negative energy and bringing mental peace. Additionally, this August birthstone is the gemstone for the 22nd wedding anniversary.
The Oldest August Birthstone—Sardonyx
August Birthstone Sardonyx History
Sardonyx’s history dates back 4,000 years, making it the oldest of the three August birthstones. In ancient Rome, this August birthstone was often made into seal rings for signing letters and stamping documents. In ancient Egypt, people commonly made sardonyx into amulets to protect the wearer.
August Birthstone Sardonyx Origin
This ancient August birthstone consists of two quartz varieties: sard and onyx, which gives it the name sardonyx. Sardonyx comes from many locations, including India, Brazil, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Madagascar, Uruguay, and the United States. Among them, people recognize the sardonyx from India for its excellent color-layer contrast.
Sardonyx Color and Hardness
Sardonyx has the same Mohs hardness (6.5-7) as Peridot. This August birthstone’s main body is brown, red, or orange, with white or black onyx stripes.
Symbol of Sardonyx
Sardonyx, the August birthstone, symbolizes protection, courage, happiness, and communication. In ancient Rome, soldiers wore Sardonyx in battle, believing it enhanced courage and determination. People also believe that sardonyx has healing properties, balancing energy and promoting physical health.
Final Words
August’s birthstones—Peridot, Sardonyx, and Spinel—each have their own unique history and meanings. Those born in August are lucky to choose from three beautiful birthstones.
Common Questions about August Birthstones
August has three birthstones: Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx.
The updates to birthstones partly come from gemstone enthusiasts’ calls and partly because jewelry associations adjust based on the unique history and meanings of gemstones.
Peridot is the most popular and traditional August birthstone.
Those born under Leo (August 1st-23rd) have Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx as their birthstones.
Those born under Virgo (August 24th-31st) have Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx as their birthstones.
August birthstones include the green and yellow-green of Peridot, the red, pink, green, orange, blue, and black of Spinel, and the brownish-red and orange of Sardonyx.
No. In addition to August, June and December also have three birthstones.
Any gemstone can be an August birthstone—as long as it has meaning to you in August!
Related Readings: January Birthstone, February Birthstone, March Birthstone, April Birthstone, May Birthstone, June Birthstone, July Birthstone, September Birthstone, October Birthstone, November Birthstone, December Birthstone