August’s birthstone, peridot, is a relatively inexpensive, beautiful gem with a pedigree dating back as far as early Egyptians. Among its accolades, peridot can count being a favorite among royals and clergy, used to adorn everything from a queen’s crown to a knight’s sword. Peridot jewels were actually among Cleopatra’s beloved treasures, though she believed them to be emeralds, as gems were then classified solely by color. Prized for its all natural, unenhanced range of colors, peridot is the gem variety of olivine and exhibits colors ranging from golden lime greens to rich grass greens.


Peridot, sometimes called chrysolite, is gem-quality olivine and a silicate mineral with the formula of (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄. As peridot is a magnesium-rich variety of olivine, the formula approaches Mg₂SiO₄. Its green color is dependent on the iron contents within the structure of the gem.
Color: Green, Yellow
Luster: Vitreous
Birthstone zodiac sign: Leo
Associated month: August
Crystal system: Orthorhombic crystal system
Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄
Hardness (Mohs hardness scale): 6.5 – 7