August
This month we are putting a spotlight on the August birthstone: Peridot.
Often mistaken with topaz or emerald, this beautiful yellowish green stone has a rich history. Formed in the Earth’s mantle and brought to the surface by volcanoes, peridot is found all over the world. Its first appearance was on the Egyptian island of Zabargad, also known as the Island of Death and Snakes. It was favored by Cleopatra, and her famous emerald collection is rumored to be mostly peridot.
Peridot Beach, Hawaii
It is also prominently found on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona due to its highly volcanic environment. Also in the US, peridot is commonly found in Hawaii, where there is an entire beach covered in peridot, aptly named, Peridot Beach. In Hawaiian culture, the stone symbolizes the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess.
The origin of the stone’s name is highly contested, but it is believed that its roots lie in Arabic and Greek origins. Coming from the Arabic word “faridat”, meaning “gem”, and the Greek root “peridona”, meaning “giving plenty”. The etymology of the gem also hints to its spiritual and symbolic connections. Historically, peridot is associated with prosperity, good fortune, and luck. Affectionately nicknamed, “the stone of compassion,” it is said to symbolize renewal and growth for the wearer and also ward away evil and night terrors when set in gold.
Peridot is an extremely soft stone, and is very unique due to its color, for it comes from the composition of the mineral itself, rather than its impurities. It is one of the few gemstones that only comes in one color, but its shades vary due to the amount of iron present. It also has a translucent quality, which makes for beautiful jewelry.
In our shop, we cherish Peridot's unique color. Shop Peridot in our collection and have a great August!