Peridot is one of the few gems that exists in exactly one color, because the green is built into its chemistry rather than borrowed from a trace impurity. The ancient Egyptians mined it on a Red Sea island by night, when the stone was said to glow, and it kept the nickname evening emerald for the way its green holds under lamplight. A small number of peridots have even arrived from space, recovered from pallasite meteorites. August's birthstone has better stories than most, and our peridot guide tells them properly.
Peridot turns up less often than the marquee stones, in vintage and estate settings and in modern rings, earrings, and pendants, and a good one is worth noticing when it does. The color sits beautifully in yellow gold, which frames the green instead of cooling it.
At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale peridot is comfortable in earrings, pendants, and rings worn with ordinary care. Clean it with mild soap and a soft brush, keep it clear of ultrasonic machines, and it stays bright. Our care guide covers colored stones like this one in detail.
For the other months of the year, see our birthstone jewelry guide.
