From the Blog…

All About August’s Birthstones: Peridot & Spinel

July 29, 2021

We love the tradition of celebrating each month with a different gemstone (or two!)—August is no different. With both peridot and spinel to choose from, the design options are endless. Scroll through to see why we're in love with these birthstones.

Peridot: The Green of Our Dreams

Peridot, the stone most commonly known as August’s birthstone, is a limey-green gem variety of the mineral Olivine. It’s actually one of the few gem species that comes in just one color!

Made up primarily of iron and magnesium, the element iron is the main reason for her signature yellowish-green hue. The finest gem-quality peridot may resemble the color of bright spring grass with the most common resembling the garnish of your extra dirty martini.

Peridot Designs

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Not only is the gem formed deep within the earth and brought up to the surface with the help of volcanic eruptions (super similar to diamonds), but she’s got some extraterrestrial experience on her resume as well!

In 2005, Peridot was found in the comet dust of the Stardust robotic space probe. And so far, she’s still the only gem that has been discovered inside meteorites that have fallen to Earth. Peridot is truly out of this world! At 6.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, she’s one of the softer beauties in the gemstone game. We recommend bezel setting her if you’re going to set it & forget it. Or simply think twice about wearing her for certain outings and activities, if prongs speak more to your style.

Facts About Peridot:

the name "peridot" comes from the Arabic word “faridat,” meaning “gem.”
Peridot is sourced from the United States, China, Vietnam, Finland, Pakistan, Myanmar, and the island of Zabargad.
The sands of Peridot Beach in Hawaii sparkle a glorious green.
Ancient Egyptians mined peridot along the Red Sea Island of Zabargard and it’s believed that Cleopatra’s famous collection of emeralds were more likely peridots instead.
Peridots even have their own signature inclusions called lily pads.

Spinel: The Gem of all Colors

The second birthstone for August is a new Marrow Fine fave to work with: Spinel. Unlike Peridot, she comes in a bunch of different colors.

From poppy pinks, reds, and oranges to more moody and mysterious blues, greys and purples, you can sprinkle spinel in almost any colorstory.

Spinels are rad and highly underrated across the industry. While we may love them, many of our babes don’t even know that they exist! Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Spinel Designs

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For centuries some of the world’s most famous red spinels were initially thought to be rubies. It wasn’t until 1783 that a mineralogist named Jean Baptiste Louis Rome de Lisle finally separated the two. Not only do they have the same cubic crystal structure as diamonds and garnets, but as an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, Spinels are another solid option for everyday wear.

Facts about Spinel

Spinels are nicknamed “The Great Imposter” because of how often they were mistaken by royalty for rubies.
The 170ct Black Prince’s Ruby, set in Great Britain’s Imperial State Crown, is actually a red Spinel. Peter of Castille used the gemstone as payment to Edward, Prince of Wales for helping him win a battle in 1367.
Spinel can be found in Afghanistan, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Kenya, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnamwith the majority of highly coveted pinks and red being found in Myanmar.
In 2016, the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America added spinel to August’s birthstone line up.