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August Birthstones – Peridot and Sardonyx

By on July 29, 2015
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by Judy Ellis, Wire-Sculpture.com

Daily Wire Jewelry Tip July 29th, 2015

August Birthstone – Peridot and Sardonyx

It’s starting to feel a bit like Fall is peaking around the corner, and even though I’m not ready to give up on my beach time, sunshine and B-B-Q’s  yet, today I thought we would look ahead to our August Birthstones – Peridot and Sardonyx.

They are both beautiful gemstones that remind me of the Summer colors moving into Fall!

Peridot:

18X13mm Rectangle Peridot CZ - Pack of 1

Rectangle Peridot CZ

Peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence, and a wonderful year.  As peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes, in Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.

Peridot from the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona.

Today, most of the peridot supply comes from Arizona; other sources are China, Myanmar, and Pakistan.  Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color, an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green, however, depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow—to olive—to brownish-green. The most valued color is a dark olive-green. Peridot, in smaller sizes, often is used in beaded necklaces and bracelets.

Tree of Life with Peridot gemstones

Olive Green Rectangle Peridot

Sardonyx:

Sardonyx  is a form of onyx and is recognized by its layers of reddish brown and white banding.  It was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans who carried into battle talismans of sardonyx engraved with images of heroes such as Mars or Hercules, believing that this would bring courage and victory.  Because of its attractive banding, sardonyx has long been used to fashion cameos (carved raised figures) and intaglios (the reverse of cameos).

Red Sardonyx

Sardonyx 18x25mm Rectangle Cabochon

Sardonyx Gemstone Cabochon

This gemstone is found throughout the world.  The most attractive specimens are found in India, but material also is mined in Czechoslovakia, Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, and in the United States.

Sard and Sardonyx have been used in every period of time when jewelry has been made. Victorian times saw its widespread use in fobs and cameos. Perthshire was a source for some material, so the revival of Scottish styles favored by Queen Victoria often featured varieties of it. Carved stone hearts have been carved, at least since this period, in colors that could best be described as Sardonyx, or Carnelian onyx.

These two stones are both beautiful in their own way!

Birthstones:

Why not pick up a few of our Peridot CZ’s today to get started on your own August Birthstone project?

 

Check out our Gemstones and CZ’s today!

Happy Wrapping!

One Comment

  1. avatar

    Sue Johnson

    July 30, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Thanks for these tidbits of information. I enjoy reading more than what’s listed in a book of rocks & minerals. My customers also enjoy learning something about the piece they’re buying.