Peridot: August Birthstone Meaning, History & Style

  1. Peridot: The August Birthstone

    A Guide to the Stone, Its Meaning and How to Wear It

    If you were born in August, peridot is your stone, and it's a striking one. Its lush, yellow-green colour is unlike almost anything else in the gemstone world, and unlike most gems, that colour doesn't vary from stone to stone. What you see is what peridot always is.

    Here's what makes peridot worth knowing, and how we think about wearing it.

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    What is peridot?

    Peridot is the gem-quality form of a mineral called olivine, and it's one of the few gemstones that occurs in a single colour rather than a family of shades. That yellow-green comes from iron within the stone's structure, and the more iron present, the deeper the green.

    What makes peridot genuinely unusual is where it comes from. Most gemstones form within the earth's crust. Peridot forms much deeper, in the molten rock of the upper mantle, and is carried to the surface by volcanic activity. Alongside diamonds, it's one of only two gemstones known to form this way, which is part of why gem-quality peridot is considered relatively rare, even though the mineral itself is common.

    Some of the finest peridot in history has an even stranger origin story. Certain deposits have been found in pallasite meteorites, meaning some peridot on earth arrived from space before it was ever set into jewellery.

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  1. The meaning behind the stone

    Peridot's history as a gemstone stretches back thousands of years, and it has long been associated with light. Ancient Egyptians called it the "gem of the sun" and are believed to have mined it on the Red Sea island of Zabargad by torchlight, since the stone was said to be difficult to see clearly in daylight against the surrounding terrain.

    Across different cultures and eras, peridot has been associated with strength, protection and inner clarity. It's often described as a stone that wards off negative energy and encourages restful sleep, and as a gift, it carries meaning around renewal and good fortune, making it a considered choice for a milestone piece as much as a birthday gift.

    Whether or not you hold to the symbolism, there's something fitting about an August birthstone that's genuinely tied to warmth and light, given the season it represents in the northern hemisphere.

  1. How peridot wears day to day

    Peridot sits at a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it durable enough for regular wear but softer than diamond or sapphire. It's a good stone for earrings, pendants and occasional rings, and one we'd recommend treating a little more gently in a ring worn daily on a hand that's constantly active, in the same way we'd approach an emerald.

    Peridot's colour is also part of what makes it easy to wear well. It reads as fresh and grounded rather than precious, which means it doesn't need a heavily worked setting to feel considered. A simple bezel or a claw setting in warm gold tends to let the stone's colour do the talking, and peridot has a natural affinity with yellow gold in particular, since the warmth of the metal deepens the green rather than competing with it.

  3. Peridot in a Kate & Kole piece

    We work with peridot as part of our birthstone collection, where it sits alongside a natural stone for every month of the year. A few ways it's worn well as an August birthstone piece:

    As a fixed pendant. Our Tiny Birthstone Necklace sets a single peridot as a simple drop, worn close and personal rather than as a statement.

    As part of a story you're still adding to. The Kin Necklace and matching Kin Bracelet are built to carry more than one birthstone over time, which makes peridot a natural starting point for a piece that grows to represent a family or the people who matter most.

    As a small, everyday piece. Our Tiny Birthstone Bracelet sets a small natural peridot in solid 9ct gold or silver, made to be worn daily without asking for attention.

    You'll find peridot across our full Birthstone & Zodiac collection, alongside the birthstones for every other month.

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    Buying peridot: what to look for

    Colour saturation is the main thing to pay attention to. The most prized peridot has a rich, pure yellow-green with minimal brown undertone, though genuine variation is normal and part of what makes a natural stone a natural stone. Clarity matters too, though peridot is typically found with good transparency, and heavily included stones are worth avoiding.

    As with any natural gemstone, sourcing matters. We use natural peridot that's responsibly sourced, set in recycled precious metal, so the piece carries meaning that extends beyond the birthstone itself.

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  1. Make it personal

    A birthstone piece is one of the more meaningful ways to personalise jewellery, whether it's for yourself, marking your own birth month, or a gift for someone born in August. Pair peridot with an engraved initial or date, or start a Kin piece that adds a stone for each person in your life.

    If you'd like help choosing a setting or building something bespoke around a peridot stone, our concierge team is happy to talk it through.

    Explore Birthstone Jewellery or book an appointment to start something personal.

  1. Frequently asked questions

  2. What is the birthstone for August?

    Peridot is the birthstone for August. It's a yellow-green gemstone, and unlike many birthstones, it occurs naturally in just one colour family rather than a range of shades.

  3. Is peridot a rare or valuable gemstone?

    Gem-quality peridot is considered relatively rare, since it forms deep within the earth's mantle rather than the crust, and is carried to the surface through volcanic activity. Fine, richly saturated stones are the most sought after.

  4. Can peridot be worn every day?

    Yes, with some care. Peridot rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it suitable for regular wear in earrings, pendants and occasional-wear rings, though it's softer than diamond or sapphire and best treated gently in daily rings.

  5. What metal suits peridot best?

    Yellow gold is a classic pairing, since its warmth complements peridot's yellow-green colour. White gold and silver also work well for a cooler, more contemporary look.

  6. What does peridot symbolise?

    Peridot has historically been associated with strength, protection, light and renewal. Ancient Egyptians called it the "gem of the sun," and it's long been considered a stone that wards off negative energy.

  7. Is peridot the same as emerald?

    No. While both are green gemstones, they're entirely different minerals. Emerald is a variety of beryl and typically a deeper, cooler green, while peridot is a variety of olivine with a distinctive yellow-green tone.

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