August Birthstone: Peridot

What Is the August Birthstone?

The August birthstone is peridot — a fresh, light-green stone traditionally associated with joy, lightness and new opportunity. Sometimes called the "evening emerald" for the way its green glows in lamplight, peridot is one of the few gemstones that occurs in only one colour.

Peridot Meaning & Properties

Peridot's story is written in fire: it forms in volcanic rock deep underground, and rare specimens have even arrived in pallasite meteorites — literally a gemstone from space. In crystal practice, peridot is traditionally linked to joy and lightness — a stone that practitioners associate with releasing old heaviness and welcoming new opportunity.

Its yellow-green colour is the colour of late summer itself, and old lore prized peridot as a stone of good cheer and protection against heaviness of spirit.

How to Wear Your Birthstone

Peridot jewellery brings a fresh, summery green to August birthdays — a peridot pendant or bracelet feels light, modern and full of good cheer. Its distinctive yellow-green pairs beautifully with gold, and unlike many stones it looks the same in daylight and lamplight — part of why it earned the "evening emerald" nickname.

Care & Cleansing

Peridot is moderately soft (6.5–7 on the Mohs scale): handle gently, remove before sports and housework, and store separately from harder stones.

Cleansing: rest them overnight on a Clear Quartz cluster — the simplest daily reset. For a deeper cleanse, try our Herkimer Diamond water method: soak a Herkimer Diamond in water for a few hours, then rest your crystal in the water for 10–30 minutes (skip water-based methods for these stones). Moonlight around the full moon is a good tool-free alternative. Read our full cleansing guide.

Avoid salt water — it can permanently dull or damage the stone's surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the August birthstone?

Peridot — the fresh green stone traditionally associated with joy, lightness and new opportunity.

Can I wear a different month's birthstone?

Absolutely. Many people wear a loved one's birthstone, choose a stone for its traditional associations rather than its month, or simply follow what they are drawn to. There are no rules — only personal meaning.

Is peridot the same as olivine?

Peridot is the gem-quality variety of the mineral olivine — same mineral, jewellery-grade clarity. Most peridot forms in volcanic rock; the rarest specimens arrived on Earth inside meteorites.

Explore all birthstone crystals by month.