August is here! The birthstone for those born in August is Peridot, otherwise known as the “gem of the sun" and the gem given to celebrate a 15th wedding anniversary. The word “peridot” comes from the Arabic faridat, meaning gem. Always green in colour but with considerable variations, a peridot's particular shade depends on its source.
Peridot has always been associated with light. In fact, the Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun.”A historic fact for you, some believed that it protected its owner from “terrors of the night,” especially when it was set in gold. Others strung the gems on donkey hair and tied them around their left arms to ward off evil spirits.
Peridot is the yellowish green to greenish yellow.
Throughout history, peridot has often been confused with other gems such as topaz and emerald. The Red Sea island of Topazios, a purported source of the name “topaz”, actually produced peridot. The Shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral is decorated with 200 carats of gems that were believed to be emeralds but are, in fact, the August birthstone peridot. Some historians even speculate that Cleopatra’s famous emerald collection may have been comprised of peridot.
First found in Egypt, Peridot is the national gem for Egypt. It is believed to have adorned Queen Cleopatra VII, the great and last queen of Egypt from 51-30BC.
Peridot is also called the "evening emerald" because of its unique capacity to sparkle under natural or artificial light. However, it should not be confused with emerald because peridot has its own distinct characteristics setting it apart from other gemstones.
What is the spiritual meaning of peridot?
Egyptian priests lined their ceremonial goblets with peridot. Isis, one of their goddesses, is connected with peridot and is known for magical healing. For this reason, Egyptians believed that drinking from a peridot-lined goblet could heal.
Peridot is said to bring peace to relationships as well as helping maintain and mend friendships. The cool colours of this gemstone also encourage relaxation and soothe anger. Looking into peridot is said to help when processing thoughts and feelings, encouraging kindness and understanding.
The large (364 ct) crystal is from the historic Red Sea source, Zabargad.
Source - GIA.
PERIDOT BIRTHSTONE CARE & CLEANING
With a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, peridot is softer than many gems and cannot take hard wear, so it is not recommended for daily use in a ring.
Peridot rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Source - GIA.
Cleaning peridot is a delicate process. Never use a steam or ultrasonic cleaner, as your peridot birthstone is vulnerable to thermal shock. It is safest to use a soft-bristle brush with a mild dish soap in warm water. Peridot should be stored with care to avoid scratching by gems with greater hardness.
Here at Lancastrian Jewellers, we stock a great range of jewellery from antique pieces to modern classics, we have something for everyone.
You can browse more of our Peridot jewellery here.
Please get in touch if you need any further help finding the perfect piece of jewellery.
Further Reading:
If you'd like to expand your knowledge on Peridot jewellery even further, we recommend taking look at the links below.
