The August birthstone is peridot — the sunlit, lime-green gem long associated with light, warmth and good fortune. Where some months offer a choice of stones, August belongs first and foremost to peridot, with spinel recognised as a modern alternate. If you or someone you love has an August birthday, this guide covers what peridot means, where it comes from, the two star signs it belongs to, and the easiest way to wear it every day.
What is the August birthstone?
August’s birthstone is peridot — the gem-quality form of the mineral olivine. It is one of the very few gemstones that occurs in only one colour: a fresh yellow-green to olive green that comes from iron within the crystal itself, not from any added trace element. That is why peridot always glows with the same warm, lit-from-within green whatever the light. It sits at 6.5–7 on the Mohs hardness scale — comfortably durable for everyday jewellery with a little care. At Alya Stone we set peridot in solid 9k recycled gold, never plated, so the stone’s sunny green can be worn and layered for years. August’s modern alternate is spinel, a brilliant gem that comes in many colours, but peridot remains the month’s signature.
The meaning & symbolism of peridot
Peridot has always been a stone of light, warmth and positivity. The ancient Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun” and believed it held the power of sunlight — protecting the wearer from the terrors of the night and warding off bad dreams. Across cultures it has stood for good fortune, friendship, renewal and a calm, open heart, said to dispel envy and lighten the mood of whoever wears it. Its glowing green is the colour of new growth, which makes it a naturally optimistic, life-affirming gem — a lovely choice to mark a summer birthday, a fresh start, or a warm friendship.
A short history of peridot
Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones. For centuries the finest stones came from Zabargad (St John’s Island) in the Egyptian Red Sea, mined as far back as 1500 BCE — the source was so closely guarded that its location was lost for generations. It is widely believed that some of Cleopatra’s famous “emeralds” were in fact peridot. The gem travelled the trade routes into medieval Europe, where it adorned cathedral treasures and reliquaries. Peridot is also one of the rare gems found beyond Earth — it occurs in certain meteorites, and turns the sand of some Hawaiian beaches a faint green. Today fine peridot comes chiefly from Myanmar, Pakistan, China and Arizona in the United States.
August birthstone by star sign
August spans two zodiac signs, and peridot’s warm, generous symbolism suits both:
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Leo (about 23 July – 22 August): Leo is radiant, warm-hearted and confident, and peridot’s sunlit green and “gem of the sun” history are a natural match — a fitting birthstone for a Leo.
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Virgo (about 23 August – 22 September): Virgo is thoughtful, grounded and quietly caring, and peridot’s calming, fortune-bringing symbolism complements the sign beautifully — a meaningful birthstone for a Virgo.
How to wear & gift the August birthstone
The simplest way to wear a birthstone today is as a charm you can add to a necklace and keep close. Our Curation Suite is built for exactly that: choose a chain, then clip on the charms that mean something to you. A peridot charm makes a bright, optimistic August birthday gift, an easy everyday green that flatters warm and cool tones alike, or one stone in a growing family-birthstone necklace where each loved one gets their month.
Two ways to wear August at Alya Stone — the vintage-inspired Aster August Peridot Charm with its ribbed-frame setting, or the pavé-set Ellis August Peridot Charm. Both are made to order in solid 9k gold.
Browse every month in the Birthstones collection, or read the full Birthstones by Month guide. Along the calendar from here: the July birthstone, ruby, and the September birthstone, sapphire.
August birthstone FAQ
What is the August birthstone?
The August birthstone is peridot, the lime-green gem-quality form of olivine. Spinel is recognised as a modern alternate, but peridot is the month’s signature stone.
What does peridot symbolise?
Peridot symbolises light, warmth, good fortune and friendship. The ancient Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun” and believed it protected the wearer from the fears of the night.
What colour is peridot?
Peridot is always green — a fresh yellow-green to olive green. It is one of the few gems that occurs in only one colour, because the green comes from iron within the crystal itself.
What is the August birthstone for Leo and Virgo?
Peridot is shared by both August signs. Its sunlit, warm-hearted symbolism suits confident Leo, while its calming, fortune-bringing nature complements grounded Virgo.
Is peridot durable enough for everyday wear?
Yes, with a little care. Peridot ranks 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, so a peridot charm is well suited to everyday wear — just avoid hard knocks and store it separately from harder stones.
August Birthstone: Meaning, Symbolism & How to Wear It
The August birthstone is peridot — the sunlit, lime-green gem long associated with light, warmth and good fortune. Where some months offer a choice of stones, August belongs first and foremost to peridot, with spinel recognised as a modern alternate. If you or someone you love has an August birthday, this guide covers what peridot means, where it comes from, the two star signs it belongs to, and the easiest way to wear it every day.
What is the August birthstone?
August’s birthstone is peridot — the gem-quality form of the mineral olivine. It is one of the very few gemstones that occurs in only one colour: a fresh yellow-green to olive green that comes from iron within the crystal itself, not from any added trace element. That is why peridot always glows with the same warm, lit-from-within green whatever the light. It sits at 6.5–7 on the Mohs hardness scale — comfortably durable for everyday jewellery with a little care. At Alya Stone we set peridot in solid 9k recycled gold, never plated, so the stone’s sunny green can be worn and layered for years. August’s modern alternate is spinel, a brilliant gem that comes in many colours, but peridot remains the month’s signature.
The meaning & symbolism of peridot
Peridot has always been a stone of light, warmth and positivity. The ancient Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun” and believed it held the power of sunlight — protecting the wearer from the terrors of the night and warding off bad dreams. Across cultures it has stood for good fortune, friendship, renewal and a calm, open heart, said to dispel envy and lighten the mood of whoever wears it. Its glowing green is the colour of new growth, which makes it a naturally optimistic, life-affirming gem — a lovely choice to mark a summer birthday, a fresh start, or a warm friendship.
A short history of peridot
Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones. For centuries the finest stones came from Zabargad (St John’s Island) in the Egyptian Red Sea, mined as far back as 1500 BCE — the source was so closely guarded that its location was lost for generations. It is widely believed that some of Cleopatra’s famous “emeralds” were in fact peridot. The gem travelled the trade routes into medieval Europe, where it adorned cathedral treasures and reliquaries. Peridot is also one of the rare gems found beyond Earth — it occurs in certain meteorites, and turns the sand of some Hawaiian beaches a faint green. Today fine peridot comes chiefly from Myanmar, Pakistan, China and Arizona in the United States.
August birthstone by star sign
August spans two zodiac signs, and peridot’s warm, generous symbolism suits both:
How to wear & gift the August birthstone
The simplest way to wear a birthstone today is as a charm you can add to a necklace and keep close. Our Curation Suite is built for exactly that: choose a chain, then clip on the charms that mean something to you. A peridot charm makes a bright, optimistic August birthday gift, an easy everyday green that flatters warm and cool tones alike, or one stone in a growing family-birthstone necklace where each loved one gets their month.
Two ways to wear August at Alya Stone — the vintage-inspired Aster August Peridot Charm with its ribbed-frame setting, or the pavé-set Ellis August Peridot Charm. Both are made to order in solid 9k gold.
Browse every month in the Birthstones collection, or read the full Birthstones by Month guide. Along the calendar from here: the July birthstone, ruby, and the September birthstone, sapphire.
August birthstone FAQ
What is the August birthstone?
The August birthstone is peridot, the lime-green gem-quality form of olivine. Spinel is recognised as a modern alternate, but peridot is the month’s signature stone.
What does peridot symbolise?
Peridot symbolises light, warmth, good fortune and friendship. The ancient Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun” and believed it protected the wearer from the fears of the night.
What colour is peridot?
Peridot is always green — a fresh yellow-green to olive green. It is one of the few gems that occurs in only one colour, because the green comes from iron within the crystal itself.
What is the August birthstone for Leo and Virgo?
Peridot is shared by both August signs. Its sunlit, warm-hearted symbolism suits confident Leo, while its calming, fortune-bringing nature complements grounded Virgo.
Is peridot durable enough for everyday wear?
Yes, with a little care. Peridot ranks 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, so a peridot charm is well suited to everyday wear — just avoid hard knocks and store it separately from harder stones.