Insights: August Birthstone

The concept of birthstones can be traced back to the book of Exodus in the bible, where the sacred breastplate of Aaron is described as a ceremonial garment that featured twelve unique precious stones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Early Christian tradition involved collecting all twelve stones and rotating the one you wore each month, harnessing its specific power. In the 1st century, historian Flavius Josephus linked the 12 breastplate stones to the twelve months and zodiac signs. 

These days, some months are lucky enough to have a selection of birthstones rather than just one, and those looking for an August birthstone have three to choose from; Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx.

For those looking for the deepest connection to ancient history, then the August birthstone for you in the Sardonyx. This gemstone features bands of sard in brownish red to brown to dark orange that alternate with typically white or black layers of oynx - a combination of two types of chalcedony, or cryptocrystalline quartz. It’s one of the stones believed to be in the breastplate of Aaron and represents the strength of spiritual life. This August birthstone today is thought to enhance courage, happiness and communication bringing stability to your relationships and partnerships. 

For those looking for a cosmic connection, Peridot is an excellent choice. This gorgeously green gemstone is either formed from hardened lava that carried it deep from within the Earth’s mantle or from meteorites that travelled from outer space.

This August birthstone gets its yellowish green colour from the mineral olivine. For centuries the Peridot has been carried as a protective talisman, shielding the owner from evil spirits and nightmares, and the ancient Egyptians named it the “gem of the sun” because of its bright and light-catching colour. 

The talisman qualities of Peridot are particularly strong when set in gold, and Lulu and Boo offer a bespoke jewellery design option, where we can work together to create an individual piece with 100% recycled and solid gold, giving you a unique piece that you can pass down for generations to come. Contact our founder and designer Corrine to discuss your August birthstone jewellery ideas. 

Both Sardonyx and Peridot are 6.5 to 7 for hardness on the mohs scale. This means they are resistant to most household scratches but do require some extra care. In 2016 the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America added Spinel to the list of August birthstones to offer people more choice of colour and celebrate a stone with a rich and royal history. It also rates 8 on the moh scale making it very safe as everyday jewellery. Spinel comes in brilliant shades of red, pink, purple, blue and orange. Its red gemstones have even been mistaken for rubies. One famous Spinel is set into the cross pattee in the Imperial State Crown in the British Crown Jewels. 

All of the August birthstone choices set beautifully in gold jewellery and at Lulu and Boo we create both 9ct gold jewellery and 18ct gold jewellery. Always 100% recycled, we strive to be as eco conscious as possible and continue our sustainable journey, learning and adapting as we go and actively questioning how we can go further in areas like traceability and ethical sourcing.