For those who wonder what is the August Birthstone…
If you were born in August then you are one of the lucky ones because the birthstone of this month is famous for its extraterrestrial specialties. lt is the gemstone born from fire and that is why the GIA (The Gemological Institute of America) called this stone “the extreme gem”. Let’s find out the hidden secrets of this mesmerizing gemstone.
Peridot is one of the only two gems (the other one is diamond) formed not in the Earth’s crust but in molten rock of the upper mantle. It reaches to the surface by tremendous forces of earthquakes and volcanoes. So it really does born from fire and when you think about it, it is a pretty long and difficult journey until it comforts itself on glamorous jewelry.
And you don’t even know half of it yet. Peridot is also found within meteorites from space. In 2006, NASA found gem-quality peridots among other particles they gathered near the sun. It is even found on Mars and the moon (in its basic form olivine). So yes, our extraterrestrial August Birthstone is pretty amazing!
So, what about its color?
Peridot is one of the few gems that occur only in one color, olive green. Though the intensity of the color depends on the iron it has in its crystal structure. The more iron it has, the darker the shade becomes.
Historically,
Being one of the oldest gems, Peridot was discovered in 1500 BC on St. John’s Island (Zabargad), in the Egyptian Red Sea. So, our alien-like gemstone is nearly 3520 years old!
The ancient Romans called it “The Evening Emeralds” for its inextinguishable fire and light even at night. In the 1930s and 1940s, during World War II, it was sometimes called “The Poor Man’s Emerald” for its affordability during economically depressed times.
What does Peridot symbolize?
Being one of the favorite stones of Cleopatra, Peridot is also known for its protective power. It is believed to bring good luck, dignity, prosperity and fame. It is also the best gift for the 16th wedding anniversary.
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