Peridot: August's Luminous Birthstone, the 'Gem of the Sun'

If you were born in August, I'll be honest with you, peridot doesn't always get the fanfare it deserves. It sits in the shadow of the ruby and the sapphire, the birthstones everyone's heard of, and I think that's a real shame. Because once you spend time with a peridot, really look at it in good light, you understand why it's been treasured for thousands of years.

It's one of the few gemstones that only comes in one colour - that lovely, lively olive-to-chartreuse green - and there's something wonderfully honest about that. No colour treatments, no enhancements needed. What you see is what nature gave it.

Where Peridot Comes From

Peridot has one of the more unusual origin stories in the gem world. Most gemstones form in the earth's crust, but peridot is born much deeper, in the earth's mantle, and is brought to the surface by volcanic activity. Some of the peridot used in jewellery has even been found in meteorites, which I think is a wonderful thing to tell a customer when they're trying it on. You're wearing something that, in some cases, quite literally fell from space.

The ancient Egyptians called it the "gem of the sun" and mined it on a Red Sea island called Zabargad. There's a lovely (if unproven) theory that some of Cleopatra's famous "emeralds" were actually peridot — which tells you how highly it was once regarded.

A Stone with a Political History

There's another chapter to peridot's story that I love sharing with customers — its link to the suffragette movement. In the early 1900s, suffragette jewellery often combined green, white and violet stones, standing for "Give Women Votes." Peridot was one of the green stones used alongside amethyst and pearl or diamond, and pieces in these colours became a subtle, wearable way for women to show their support for the cause without saying a word. I think that's rather wonderful — a stone that's been quietly worn as a symbol of conviction for over a century.

What to Look For

When I'm selecting peridot for the shop, I'm looking for that rich, saturated olive-green colour with as little brown or yellow undertone as possible. The very best stones have a clean, almost juicy green — think fresh apple skin rather than khaki. Clarity matters too; peridot can have small internal characteristics, but a good stone should still look clean and bright to the eye.

Because I hand-select every stone that comes into Fogal & Barnes, I can tell you honestly — good peridot isn't always easy to find in the sizes and quality I want. It's worth the search, though, because a well-chosen peridot has a warmth and glow that photographs beautifully and looks wonderful against both yellow and white metal.

Peridot in Jewellery

Peridot works beautifully in pretty much everything — pendants, drop earrings, stacking rings, and it's a gorgeous choice for anyone wanting a coloured stone that isn't the "expected" green of an emerald. It tends to be more affordable than emerald too, which makes it a wonderful option if you love that green sparkle but want more stone for your budget.

"There's something so cheerful about peridot — it catches the light in a way that always makes me smile. It's a stone with genuine personality."

I've set it in everything from delicate silver pieces to solid gold, and it holds its own in both. If you're after a birthday gift, an anniversary piece, or simply something a little different from the usual suspects, peridot is well worth considering.

Caring for Your Peridot

Peridot sits at around 6.5–7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means it's a little softer than sapphire or ruby. It's perfectly durable for everyday wear in earrings, pendants and rings, but I'd always suggest taking it off before anything particularly rough on the hands — gardening, gym sessions, that sort of thing. Clean it gently with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners, which can be too harsh for it.

A Stone Worth Discovering

If you've got an August birthday, or you know someone who has, I'd genuinely encourage you to come in and see peridot in person. Photos really don't do that colour justice — it needs to be seen in daylight to understand the fuss. And if you'd like something bespoke built around it, I'd love to help you choose the stone myself.

Pop into the boutique at 14 Cambridge Street, Harrogate, or get in touch to book a time that suits you.

Mona x

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