August birthstone: Peridot
Peridot illustration
August’s signature stone is peridot: lime to olive green with a sunny edge that photographs well in late-summer light.
What peridot is
Peridot is gem olivine. The color comes from iron, not from dyeing. Larger clean stones exist, though fine vivid greens still command attention.
Alternates: spinel and sardonyx
Spinel covers a rainbow of colors (red spinel is a classic look-alike for ruby). Sardonyx is a banded chalcedony with reddish and white layers. Both show up as August alternates when someone wants a different personality than peridot.
How August got these stones
Older lists leaned on sardonyx; later editions featured peridot more and added spinel. Birthstone charts evolve with fashion and supply.
Birth month vs zodiac gems
Leo and Virgo share August. Month stone and sign lore remain two menus, not one merged chart.
Find your weekday
Check the birthday calculator for your August weekday and age facts.
Common questions
What is the August birthstone?
Peridot is the primary August stone. Spinel and sardonyx appear as alternates on many modern lists.
Is peridot the same as olivine?
Gem-quality olivine is sold as peridot. Same mineral family, jewelry-store name for the nicer pieces.
Where does peridot form?
It forms in the Earth’s mantle and shows up in lava and, occasionally, in meteorites. That cosmic footnote is real and delightful.