For those of you who celebrate their birthday in August, you are lucky enough to have a choice between two stunning birthstones: Peridot and Spinel. Peridot is one of only a few gemstones that comes in only one colour, a rich green tone that looks breathtaking in sterling silver and gold jewellery. Beautifully contrasting in colour, Spinel is frequently found in ruby red or a dark pink colour making it another fantastic choice for jewellery and an unforgettable gift for someone with an August birthday.
Peridot Meaning & History
Named after the French word peritot meaning ‘gold’, Peridot is a wonderfully coloured gemstone coming in shades of yellowish green and greenish yellow. As well as being the August birthstone, the gem is also used to celebrate a 16th wedding anniversary. Sources of Peridot have been found to go as far back as 1500BC and its history is nothing short of magical. In ancient times, peridot stones were used for carved talismans and it is believed that habitants of Topazo Island (now Zabargad or St. John’s Island), the main source of peridot in the ancient world, were forced to collect the gemstone for the Pharaoh’s treasury.
The Peridot birthstone has also been used for centuries as a protective talisman, guarding its wearer from evil spirits and terrors of the night particularly when the gem is set within gold. The Shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral is also famously decorated in the gemstone, 200 carats of peridot. Originally these stones were believed to be emeralds but were confirmed to be the August birthstone only in the last century.
Where is Peridot found?
The main source of peridot in the ancient world was Topazo Island, now Zabargad or St. John’s Island, in the Egyptian Red Sea. Mining was believed to have started around 340-279 BCE and peridot found within this area remains highly prized for its quality and colour. Today, Peridot is sourced all over the world including China, Pakistan, Vietnam, the United States, Myanmar and Tanzania. Some of the gemstones are believed to have journeyed to Earth on meteorites while others can be found in exotic locates. Peridot Beach in Hawaii is famed for its sources of the stone where the luminous green shades can be spotted between the white grains of sand.
Spinel Meaning & History
The name for Spinel comes from both the Greek word for spark and the Latin word spina which means thorn. Both translations refer to the structure of the August gemstone and how it is often found in very sharp crystals. The stone can be found in a variety of shades including intense red, pink, coral orange, purple, blue and even bluish green. It’s most common shade of red meant that the stone was often mistaken for ruby, and since medieval times the stone has been known as the ‘balas ruby’, after Balascia (today Badakhshan), a region of northeast Afghanistan which became a source of the stone.
One of the most famous stories of a mistaken ruby was that of the 170 carat Timur Ruby. This spectacular gemstone was owned by a succession of Moorish and Spanish kings including Emperor Shah Jahan of India, who built the Taj Mahal. In 1367, Edward Prince of Wales, also known as the Black Prince, received the stone as payment for winning a battle of behalf of Peter of Castile. But it wasn’t until the 18th century that the ‘ruby’ was finally identified as a red spinel and remains one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Where is Spinel found?
Spinel can be found in several locations across the world with its main sources including Tajikistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tanzania and Pakistan. The stones usually occur in limestone gravel with the finest quality gemstones coming from the Mogok mines in Central Burma. Spinel has also been found in Australia, Italy, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sweden, Turkey, Ceylon, Thailand, New Jersey and New York.
August Birthstone Jewellery
At C W Sellors, we have a fantastic selection of Peridot and Spinel jewellery to choose from which make perfect gift ideas for someone celebrating their August birthday. From dazzling peridot rings to exquisite spinel necklaces and peridot bracelets, our selections of August birthstone jewellery will leave you spoiled for choice for that special someone. Get in touch with our team of gemstone jewellery specialists today for help and advice on our range of Peridot and Spinel jewellery.
