August's birthstone

Those born in August have the delicious Peridot as their birthstone.

The Peridot is said to help one to find happiness within one's self and to overcome anger and jealousy.

Truly out of this world, Peridot has been found in meteorites!

It is also the only gemstone to be found on Hawaii, formed within the lava that make up these beautiful islands and believed to be the goddess Pele's tears. On Oahu, beaches are made of olivine (Peridot) grains but they are too small to be cut for jewellery.

Peridot has been mined from St John's Island in the Red Sea for over 3,500 years.

At 6.5 on the Mohs' scale, many of the presumed Emeralds gracing ancient royal treasures have been found to be Peridot.

If you were born under the Zodiac sign of Leo (24 July - 23 August), the stone historically associated with your sign is the Onyx.

If you were born under the Zodiac sign of Virgo (24 August - 22 September), the stone historically associated with your sign is the Carnelian.

The custom of wearing birthstone jewellery gained momentum in 18th Century Poland and is thought to stem from an interest in the significance of the original twelve stones in the breastplate of the Jewish high priest, as highlighted by St Jerome in the 5th Century.

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