August Birthstone: Peridot

Peridot is an easily recognisable gem due to its bright lime green colour, with some naming it ‘an Evening Emerald’ as it glows a brilliant green. The stone is a fiery one and is brought to the earth’s surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii they were thought to be tears of Pele, the volcano goddess.

The story of the peridot really begins in Ancient Egypt on the Egyptian island of St. John or Zabargad in the Red Sea. This was one of the only ancient sources of the gem and islanders used to collect the stones for the Pharaoh’s treasury. In fact some historians believe that Cleopatra’s famed emerald collection may really have contained peridot. The Ancient Egyptians called them ‘the gem of the sun’ and thought that they harnessed the power of nature, with later cultures associating them with prosperity and good fortune.

Now the Ancient Egyptian treasures make a stunning piece of jewellery – and the prefect present for anyone with an August birthday!

It is said that when set in yellow gold peridot becomes a powerful talisman and the magnificent stone truly does make a breath-taking piece of jewellery. It is a little more unique than an emerald and is without a doubt a conversation starter.

A large peridot will always be a show-stopper and the vibrant colour means it creates a spectacular cocktail ring. Diamond shoulders add a decadent finish to a gemstone ring, creating the perfect dash of glitter. A diamond halo acts in the same way, whilst simultaneously framing and enhancing the centre stone with its dazzle. It is also a gem that works well in the solitaire style, allowing the mesmerising green colour to take centre stage.

It is a fabulous stone to design jewellery with, as it looks simply amazing set against yellow or white gold. It also lends itself to different cuts and a pear cut peridot creates a really intriguing piece of jewellery.

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Thank you for taking the time to read about the August birthstone, peridot. Follow our latest news on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, or if you have any questions please pop us an email at [email protected].

Til next time, Laings xXx