What is the Birthstone for August?
Written by Ciaran Vipond on Jul 12, 2023 | 0 Comments
True or False: Those born in August have three choices for birthstone.
Take a moment... Ready?
It’s true. August babies have not one, not two, but three birthstones to represent their month: peridot, onyx, and spinel. Read on to find out more about the history of how these gemstones came to be linked with those born in August, their different symbolism and our recommendations for choosing the perfect piece of birthstone jewelry.
How August Came to Have Three Birthstones.
Birthstones are a medieval tradition with ancient roots that can be traced back to the bible. The gifting of gemstones in correspondence with birth month is a tradition thought to have originated in Poland or Germany several centuries ago.
Since then, this tradition has evolved and there are now several sets of birthstones to choose from including ancient, traditional, or modern. Ancient or traditional birthstones refer to those which date to the 15th Century or even earlier, whereas modern birthstones were first introduced in the 20th Century. Additionally, jewelers in North America and the Europe often refer to slightly different birthstone traditions which can add regional differences to the mix. So it is easy to see how each month can be associated with at least one, and often more stones.
Sources vary on the origin of August’s three birthstones. Onyx is considered the “ancient” birthstone for August, while peridot is a "traditional" stone. The newest of the August birthstones, the "modern' choice is spinel, which only won its status in 2016.
Read on for the distinct histories, properties and suggested meanings of these three different and beautiful stones.
Peridot
Known as the "evening emerald," or the "gem of the Sun" to the ancient Egyptians, peridot is a sparkling green gem that we think looks brilliant at any time of day. Peridot is considered the primary, or traditional birthstone for August. This gemstone owes its lovely green hue to its composition, varying from yellowish-green, to apple, to olive, to dark-green depending on the amount of iron it contains.
Peridot is pronounced “pair-ee-doe”.
Peridot is the rare gem-quality variety of the mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the Earth. It is occasionally brought to the surface by volcanoes and is also known as "Pele's Tears", after the Hawaiian volcano goddess of fire Pele. Peridot is also occasionally found inside some types of meteorite, giving this gem an extra-special, extra-terrestrial allure!
Our Choices for August Birthstone
Today, given cost and rarity of gem quality stones, birthstone jewelry is typically made with a lab-created cubic zirconia in a lovely peridot green. This captures the beautiful hue and sparkle of this mineral, is hard wearing, and all at a lower price point. Check out our birthstone range for August to see more.
Onyx
Despite the prevalence of peridot as the birthstone for August, the original stone associated with this month was onyx. Onyx has a long history of use in jewelry with its granular structure ideally suited to being shaped and polished into cabochons and beads or carved into cameos. This structure also means it absorbs light so it is not known for its sparkle. But with a rainbow of varieties including red, green, and black, onyx can make for striking jewlery, so no sparkle required.
Our Choices for Onyx
Onyx represents strength and protection. Because it is available in so many colors and variations, a gift of onyx jewelry can suit any preference. We have several designs with onyx, which favour the green and black stones over red or striped varieties. We think it gives a lovely result, particularly when this stone is cut with delicate facets to create a wonderful shimmer. If you’re looking to gift an August birthday this choice for a birthstone we might recommend one of the vibrant green or striking black onyx pieces from our workshop.
Spinel
Spinel is the newest addition to August's birthstones. Just like onyx, it is a bit of a chameleon coming in a rainbow of colors including vivid red, cobalt blue, pink, orange, lavender, black, violet, greenish-blue, grey, mauve, yellow or brown! Given this variety, spinel has regularly been mistaken for other gemstones.
Spinel is said to symbolize passion and dedication.
Some of the most famous "rubies" in history have turned out to be spinel, including the large "ruby" at the center of the British Crown Jewels!
The British Crown Jewels with a large uncut red spinel, long believed to be a ruby
Our Choices for Spinel
We have recently added striking black spinel pieces to our collection for those looking for a piece with the newest of the August birthstones. The steely shimmer of black spinel is a perfect match for heirloom weight sterling silver and handsome celtic design.
Black Spinel Celtic Dog Tag
$390.00
Black Spinel Celtic Signet Ring
$305.00
Get In Touch
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Ciaran Vipond
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
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