August Birthstone Jewellery: The Best Rings, Necklaces, And Earrings In Peridot, Spinel And Sardonyx

Looking for the perfect piece of August birthstone jewellery? August babies have their pick of a trio of stunning gem stones to choose from.

The three August birthstones are peridot, spinel and sardonyx and each look ethereal in rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

Some months have three birthstones due to supply and demand of certain stones over the years. Often, more modern and affordable stones are added to a month to give people more options. In August's case, sardonyx is the month's original birthstone and was first found 4,000 years ago. Spinel was later added as a second alternative after being mistaken for ruby for many years, whilst peridot is the third and most modern of the three August birthstones. After having a shop around, we found peridot to be the most popular and purse-friendly of the three birthstones. Peridot also has an interesting formation as it's found in hardened lava that carried it from deep within Earth’s mantle, as well as in meteorites that travelled from outer space. Casual indeed.

If your birthday is in August and you're looking to treat yourself - or you're seeking a present for a friend or family member with a summer birthday - we've rounded up everything you need to know about the three August birthstones, as well as curated a selection of the best peridot, spinel and sardonyx rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets to buy now.

The month of August has three birthstones, much like June and December, giving summer babies their pick of the bunch.

The original gem stone for August is sardonyx, which a combination of alternating layers of sard and onyx. It has a reddish zebra-striped hue with white or black bands running through it.

‘Sardonyx’ combines the word ‘sard’ (a nod to the ancient Persian city, Sardis - now Turkey - where the red stone originates from) with ‘onyx’ (which means ‘nail’ or ‘claw’ in Greek).

Sardonyx was used in ancient times for Roman seals and signet rings because, rather handily, hot wax wouldn't stick to it. It has also been used for centuries as a popular carving material for cameos, brooches and intaglios, and was also believed to be a stone found within the High Priest’s breastplate.

The gem stone has long been believed to hold protective benefits, with Roman soldiers wearing sardonyx rings emblazoned with the image of Mars for protection in battle. Today, people look to the stone for courage, happiness and clear communication, especially in marriages.

The second August birthstone is spinel, which gets its moniker from the Latin word ‘spina’, which means thorn. Only recently has spinel been recognised as its own birthstone; for years, it was mistaken for other gemstones such as ruby. In one of the most famous cases, a ruby given to Edward, Prince of Wales in 1367 was mistaken for a ruby. Today, you'll find the historic red spinel  in Great Britain’s Imperial State Crown. Major.

If you're looking to invest in one, vivid red is the most desirable colour to plump for, followed by cobalt blue, bright pink, and bright orange. If you're on a budget, look for gem stones with paler colours because they are the more affordable ones.

The third and final August birthstone, which is the most popular, is peridot - a greenish yellow corundum that's often mistaken for emerald and topaz. In fact, some historians are convinced that Cleopatra’s iconic emerald collection was actually full of peridot and it's been proven that the 200-carat gemstones adorning one of the shrines in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral are peridots rather than emeralds.

Despite often being confused with other gem stones, peridot was omnipresent in ancient times and was worn by priests in the second century BCE and later by religious folk in medieval Europe. 

Peridot, which is the gem given to celebrate the 15th wedding anniversary, has long been seen as protective gem stone and was used in ancient times to prevent night terrors. It is also regarded as ‘the stone of compassion’, and believed to bring the wearer good health, restful sleep, balanced emotions and good cheer. It's basically a great all-rounder and an ideal gem stone to add to your jewellery collection.

After more jewellery content? You're in luck because we've got plenty, including gold jewellery, gold hoop earrings and initial pendants. We've also got friendship bracelets, pearl jewellery, unique engagement rings, Missoma jewellery, Monica Vinader jewellery, resin rings a la Dua Lipa and clip on earrings (yes, really). We also have guides to the best September birthstone jewellery, October birthstone jewellery, November birthstone jewellery, December birthstone jewellery, January birthstone jewellery, February birthstone jewellery, March birthstone jewellery, April birthstone jewellery, May birthstone jewellery, June birthstone jewellery  and July birthstone jewellery if you're looking to treat someone with a birthday in those months. You're most welcome. 

Scroll through our edit of August birthstone jewellery to shop now and wear forever…

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