Peridot August Birthstone

Peridot, August birthstone is said to bring power to anyone who wears it on his or her person. It is also associated with good health while bringing peace and prosperity not to mention fame, love and dignity. If that is not enough, the peridot also symbolizes truth, faithfulness as well as strength while helping to shun evil spirits. With all these magical powers attributed to this beautiful green stone, it's no wonder peridots are worn by some people as amulets to ward off evil while others wear them in rings and necklaces not only for their special powers but also because of the natural beauty of the stones.

Unlike most other gemstones, the peridot is found only in this one color and although beautiful, it is not as valuable as other precious stones which make it a popular buy to be worn or to give as a gift to someone born in the month of August. It is believed that Cleopatra loved the lush green of the peridot and used to wear them always believing them to be emeralds. The difference in emeralds and peridots are; that while the former comes in a rich dark green the latter has a yellow tinge to it The green of the peridot comes in many shades such as olive green, lime green and pale green, all of which are found in China, Brazil, Myanmar and Australia while those of the best quality can be found only in Pakistan with a large stone weighing up to 310 carats.

The peridot is relatively a soft stone and therefore any jewelry made out of it has to be protected from being scratched or damaged by striking against a hard surface. The only way to clean peridot August birthstone is to wash it in warm water with a very mild detergent. Harsh chemical solutions should never be used to clean peridots since they could damage the beauty of the stone and make it lose its luster.

while no one is quite sure as to how the name was given to the peridot, there are many suggestions as to it's birth; and one is that it came from the French word 'peritot' meaning 'unclear' because of the slight cloudy nature of the stone while another is that it came from the word 'faridat' which is Arabic for gem. Whatever it is, there is no doubt that this particular gemstone has been in existence for thousands of years and surprisingly enough, its even mentioned in the Bible where the word 'pitdah' is mentioned meaning 'peridot' in Hebrew.

The peridot is an ideal gift to be given on its own or as a piece of jewelry for anyone born in the month of August or for those who come under the zodiac sign of the Libra Constellation. A striking and very attractive stone when set in gold, it can look absolutely amazing in pendants, earrings, bracelets or rings. Being a stone that has an unusual and unique color and not being too expensive, the peridot is gaining in the popularity stakes which has resulted in more and more jewelry craftsmen putting it to good use.