August Birthstones

August has three official birthstones: peridot, sardonyx and spinel. Peridot and sardonyx have represented the month since the 1912 list, and spinel was added in 2016, giving August birthdays a much wider choice of color. This collection brings together natural peridot and spinel.

Peridot is gem-quality olivine. Its green comes from iron that is part of the mineral itself, so peridot occurs in essentially one color family, from yellowish green to olive green. It forms deep in the Earth's mantle and is carried to the surface in volcanic rock, and it has even been found in meteorites.

Spinel comes in red, pink, purple, blue, grey and more. For centuries red spinel was mistaken for ruby: the famous Black Prince's Ruby in the British Imperial State Crown is in fact a spinel. It is hard, has no cleavage and is rarely treated, which makes it a durable and straightforward stone for jewelry.

Every stone here is natural, photographed individually and listed with its exact weight, dimensions and treatment status.

Month: August
Official birthstones: Peridot, Sardonyx, Spinel
In this collection: Peridot, Spinel
Hardness (Mohs): Peridot 6.5 to 7, Spinel 8