August

The modern August birthstone, peridot has been prized as a jewelry stone since ancient times. Always green in color but with considerable variations, a peridot’s particular shade depends on its source.

Peridots have been credited with protecting their wearer during the night. This is due to the fact that the lively appearance of peridot fostered ancient associations between the gemstone and the sun. It was thought that keeping the stone close during dark hours repelled nighttime evil spirits.

The green hue of some peridot may overlap with the green color displayed by emeralds. However, peridot often features a unique yellowish overtone not observed in emeralds. Some stones have a brownish appearance.

The gemstone known as spinel is actually one species in a group of related minerals known as the spinel subgroup. They are all isometric aluminum oxides with magnesium, iron, zinc, and traces of other elements. Some of the other minerals in the group are gahnite, galaxite, hercynite, and magnetite.

The spinel species itself is the only group member commonly worked by gem cutters and worn as a jewelry stone. The other members typically appear too dark for jewelry use. (Of course, adventurous faceters may cut them as curiosities).

Although long known best for being misidentified as ruby, spinel is a beautiful gem in its own right. Its colors, durability, and relative affordability make it an excellent jewelry stone.

Natural spinels range from strong, deep colors to very light pastels and come in all shades of pink, lavender, red, red-orange, purple, blue, and even black. Colorless spinels occur very rarely. Only pure green and yellow spinels appear absent in nature.

What is the sardonyx stone? In essence, sardonyx is an agate variant with straight and parallel banding made of layers of chalcedony and sard. In the larger family of gemstones, agate is a member of the chalcedony cryptocrystalline quartz family.

What sardonyx means varies, depending on who you ask and during what time period. In general, the stone’s bold, warm colors represent courage and happiness. When gifted or owned by a couple, sardonyx can help foster smoother communication skills and provide marital stability and everlasting happiness.

Today, white-banded and red bullseye sardonyx offers wearers charisma and exuberant personality. Wearers notice heightened self-confidence and a stronger sense of self-identity, thanks to sardonyx. Some even advise caution while wearing this stone. Sardonyx is rumored to give a person so much charisma that it may be overbearing to others, so you might want to reserve it for social encounters that command a more outgoing expression. Grab sardonyx and show ‘em who’s boss!