August Birthstones – Sardonyx, Spinel & Peridot

August month birthstones are Sardonyx, Peridot and Spinel. Each stone has a special characteristic which applies to the zodiac sign – LEO. 

Sardonyx

To begin with sardonyx is the original birthstone for the month of August going back 4000 years in history. It is an ancient birthstone. It is a combination of sard and onyx gem material. Together they form the reddish – brown colour or orange with bands of black or white. It combines alternating layers of sard and onyx—two types of the layered mineral chalcedony—to create a reddish zebra-striped stone with white bands.

The meaning of Sardonyx is “Sard” references the ancient city “Sardis,” and “onyx” derives from the Greek word “onux,” meaning “fingernail.”

In the ancient times sardonyx was used as Roman seals & signets. The Roman soldiers used to wear sardonyx for protection. They engraved heroes like Hercules and Mars, the God of War on the sardonyx. Artists carve cameos and intaglios out of sardonyx.

Sardonyx was a common gemstone and easily available for the less wealthy people.

Queen Elizabeth wore sardonyx set in gold with her portrait and gifted it to the Earl of Sussex as a token of friendship and assured him that she would always come to his aid if he requested it.

It helped to strengthen marriage and partnerships. It imparts happiness and courage to the wearer.

Sardonyx is found in India, Brazil, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Madagascar, Uruguay and the U.S.  

Spinel

Spinel is the 2nd birthstone for the month of august added in the year 2016. It has been in use for many ages now. Spinel is called the called a “stone of immortality”.

It is available in many colours like vibrant shades of pink, orange, red, gray, green, purple and blue. People can easily confuse the spinel with ruby. It is a known fact that old crowns and jewellery of the king and queens studded with rubies were actually spinel. 

Before modern Gemology practices, Spinel and rubies were rather difficult to distinguish, especially since they occurred in the same mines. The large red centrepiece of British State Crown has been discovered to be a spinel, not a ruby as previously believed. Similarly, some of the finest “rubies” in Indian collections may very well be spinel too. For e.g., 170 carat Black Prince Ruby in the English Crown & 361 Carat Timur Ruby a part of the English Crown jewel is Spinel.

One way to distinguish raw spinel from ruby is its cubic structure (similar to garnet and diamond), which commonly displays twinning crystals. Spinel, which individually, can be found in a range of colours, tends to be one colour all the way.

Spinel can renew one’s energy to continue further attempts after failing at difficult tasks. Those who do persevere will accept victory with humility when the battle is won.

Spinel is mainly mined in Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia

PERIDOT

Peridot is the 3rd gemstone for the month of August. It is known as “evening emeralds” for its vibrant olive-green colour. 

Peridot is one of the only gemstones to form entirely under the earth’s crust like diamonds.

Peridot’s history dates back even farther in Africa and the Middle East. Known as “the gem of the sun” to ancient Egyptians, the bright green peridot birthstone takes its name from “faridat,” the Arabic word for gem. Found on Topazios (modern day Zabargad or St John’s Island), this early source of the green gem was closely guarded by soldiers, and allegedly snakes.

“Perhaps because of its rarity, few superstitions are associated with the peridot,” writes Willard Heaps in his book Birthstones. “Romans wore it to repel terror, enchantment, and melancholy. In the Middle Ages it was a charm against the ‘evil terrors of the night,’” he continues. Long thought to be emeralds, over 200 carats of peridot are featured in the Three Holy Kings shrine in Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to 1248. If “terrors of the night” were a concern in Medieval Germany, the grand Gothic cathedral seems like the perfect place to take refuge.   

Peridot can facilitate an understanding of big life changes, help heal bruised egos, and magnify the inner aspects of any situation, she writes. Peridot’s warm, friendly energy is used to create a protective field around the body, and bring good luck to mothers during delivery.

Peridot is also mined at another location in Arizona, and in Arkansas, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico at Kilbourne Hole. It is also found in Australia Brazil, China, Egypt, Kenya, Myanmar (Burma), Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. 

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Author: – Charmi Soni Shroff

Being a part of the Gems & Jewellery industry for the last 15 years I garnered insights into gems, diamonds and jewellery. I have authored a handbook on casting techniques and various blogs on various methods of healing and meditation with gemstones. Presently working with IIG Mumbai as a writer, author, external spokesperson and PR representative.