The month of August carries a trio of gemstones that reflect centuries of belief, trade, and modern marketing. While many months split between American and European lists, August’s lineup now includes three distinct stones, each with its own story.
Peridot: the classic green stone
Peridot, a variety of olivine, displays a vivid olive-to-yellow hue that ancient Egyptians called the “gemstone of the sun.” They believed it offered protection and luck, a sentiment that still guides its popularity today.
On the Mohs scale, the gem rates between 6.5 and 7, making it suitable for jewelry but sensitive to harsh chemicals and heat. Its double refraction is readily seen under magnification, revealing facet edges in twin images.
Pricing remains modest until a stone reaches three carats or more; at that size, clear, inclusion-free specimens can command double or triple the usual rate because large, clean material is scarce.
One unusual fact: peridot can occur in pallasite meteorites, giving some stones an extraterrestrial origin. Current sources include China, the United States, Myanmar, Egypt, and Pakistan.
Sardonyx and spinel: history and new choices
Sardonyx is the original August birthstone in Europe, a layered chalcedony that pairs reddish-brown bands with white. Its hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale makes it durable for rings, cameos, and signet pieces.
Archaeologists link sardonyx to the ancient breastplate of Aaron, an early reference to birthstones. The stone was favored by Greeks and Romans for seals, and its natural banding still defines authentic antique cameos.
Typical treatments involve dyeing to heighten contrast or heating to darken certain layers, though many stones reach the market without alteration. Today, sources span India, Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, and Madagascar, and the material remains affordable unless attached to historic artifacts.
In 2016, the Jewelers of America added spinel as a third August birthstone, expanding options for collectors and designers alike.
Spinel scores an 8 on the Mohs scale, offering strong resistance to scratches and heat. Its colors range from pale reddish orange to deep red to beautiful cobalt blue.
Historically, spinel was mistaken for ruby; the famous “Black Prince’s ruby” in the British crown is actually a spinel. Gem traders in Myanmar recognized the distinction as early as the late 1500s, but scientific separation required 18th-century advances.
Given its durability and color variety, spinel has attracted modern jewelers seeking a tough alternative to traditional red stones, one that is also visually striking.
Key producing nations for spinel today include Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Vietnam, each contributing distinct color grades to the global supply.
Ancient belief systems linked specific stones to celestial bodies, deities, and planetary influences, forming the earliest birthstone assignments. Religious rites often incorporated a chosen gem as a protective talisman, while astrologers matched colors to zodiac signs. Over centuries, these symbolic pairings traveled along trade routes, allowing cultures to exchange both material and mythic meanings attached to each stone.
Today, birthstone jewelry represents a significant segment of the luxury accessories market, with retailers promoting pieces for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestone celebrations.
