All About Peridot; The Birthstone for August

Each month of the year is associated with a different gemstone which brings luck to the wearer. The birthstone for August is Peridot.

This semi-precious gemstone is translucent and sparkling, popular for its fresh colour and radiance. The olive-green colour is caused by iron ions within the mineral. The colour of peridot can vary from yellow-green through to deep green; the less iron present in the mineral, the greener the stone.

Beautiful green peridot has been treasured since earliest times. Ancient papyri record the mining of peridot as early as 1500 BC, and the ancient Egyptians called peridot the “gem of the sun”. Speculation has it that the emeralds in Cleopatra’s famous jewellery were, in fact, peridots.

Peridot has been found in meteorites and, in 2005, peridot was found in comet dust brought back from the 'Stardust' robotic space probe.

Cheerful, light, and summery in all its green glory, the peridot is a beautiful stone to behold.

You can explore all of Azendi's peridot jewellery here: Peridot Jewellery