August Birthstones: Peridot & Spinel — Meaning, Colours, Value & How to Choose

August is one of the few months blessed with more than one beautiful birthstone. Peridot and spinel offer two very different expressions of colour, personality and style, making August an especially interesting month for gemstone lovers.

From the fresh, vibrant green of peridot to the remarkable spectrum of spinel — including red, pink, purple, blue and grey — August birthstones provide something for almost every jewellery style.

Whether you are choosing a meaningful birthday gift, creating a bespoke jewellery piece or simply adding a beautiful coloured gemstone to your collection, understanding these two gemstones can help you find the perfect one.

What Are the Birthstones for August?

The best-known August birthstones today are:

• Peridot
• Spinel
• Sardonyx

Among these, peridot and spinel are particularly popular in modern fine jewellery because of their beautiful colours and versatility.

While both are natural gemstones, they are completely different minerals with their own characteristics, histories and appeal.

Peridot: August's Signature Green Gemstone

Peridot is instantly recognisable for its distinctive green colour.

Unlike gemstones such as sapphire or spinel that occur in numerous colours, peridot is always green. Its colour can range from a lighter yellowish green to a richer olive or vivid grass green.

One of the most fascinating things about peridot is that its green colour comes naturally from the mineral's chemical composition rather than from trace elements introduced into the crystal.

What Colour Peridot Is Most Desirable?

Generally, collectors favour peridot with a:

• Rich, lively green
• Strong saturation
• Minimal brown or yellow undertones
• Bright and attractive appearance

However, beauty remains subjective. Some people prefer a lighter, refreshing lime green while others are drawn to deeper green stones.

When selecting a peridot, it is important to look at the gemstone in person and under different lighting conditions whenever possible.

A gemstone should not simply look attractive on a certificate or photograph — it should appeal to you when you actually wear it.

The Meaning of Peridot

Peridot has been treasured for centuries and is often associated with:

Happiness, positivity, prosperity and renewal.

Its fresh green colour makes it particularly suitable for jewellery inspired by nature.

For an August birthday, a peridot piece can also become a highly personal gift because it connects the jewellery directly to the wearer's birth month.

Peridot is equally beautiful in yellow, white or rose gold, although yellow gold can complement its warm green tones especially well.

Spinel: One of the Gem World's Most Underrated Treasures

For many years, spinel was less understood than ruby or sapphire.

Historically, some famous red gemstones believed to be rubies were eventually discovered to be spinels because early gemologists did not have today's advanced methods of gemstone identification.

Today, spinel is recognised as an important natural gemstone in its own right — and collectors increasingly appreciate its beautiful colours, brilliance and rarity.

One reason spinel is so fascinating is its extraordinary colour variety.

Natural spinel may occur in:

• Vivid red
• Hot pink
• Pastel pink
• Lavender
• Purple
• Violet
• Blue
• Grey
• Orange-red

This makes spinel one of the most versatile coloured gemstones for bespoke jewellery.

Why Is Natural Spinel Becoming More Popular?

Spinel has received increasing attention from gemstone collectors because exceptional specimens can combine several desirable qualities:

Beautiful Natural Colour

Fine spinel can display vivid colour without appearing overly dark.

Bright reds and saturated pinks are particularly admired, while lavender, purple and grey spinels have become popular for more contemporary jewellery designs.

Excellent Brilliance

A well-cut spinel can have impressive sparkle and liveliness.

Because colour, proportions and cutting all influence the gemstone's appearance, two spinels with similar specifications can look very different when placed next to each other.

Individuality

While ruby and sapphire are familiar to most jewellery buyers, spinel offers something a little less expected.

For someone seeking a gemstone that feels distinctive without being overly unconventional, spinel can be an excellent choice.

Spinel vs Ruby: What's the Difference?

Red spinel can sometimes resemble ruby visually, but they are completely different gemstones.

Ruby belongs to the corundum mineral family, while spinel has its own mineral composition and crystal structure.

Historically, this similarity resulted in several famous spinels being mistaken for rubies.

One celebrated example is the Black Prince's Ruby in the British Imperial State Crown, which is actually a red spinel.

Today, modern gemological testing allows specialists to distinguish between ruby and spinel accurately.

Rather than viewing spinel as an alternative to ruby, collectors increasingly appreciate it as a gemstone with its own history, beauty and character.

Peridot vs Spinel: Which August Birthstone Should You Choose?

There is no single correct choice.

Choose peridot if you love:

• Fresh green gemstones
• Nature-inspired jewellery
• Bright, cheerful colours
• A distinctive gemstone strongly associated with August

Choose spinel if you prefer:

• A wider variety of colours
• Pink, red, purple, blue or grey gemstones
• Something unusual and collectible
• A gemstone suited to both classic and contemporary jewellery designs

For a highly personalised birthstone jewellery piece, you can even incorporate both gemstones into one bespoke design.

Beautiful Peridot

 

Stunning Pink Spinel

How to Choose a Fine Coloured Gemstone

Whether you are purchasing peridot, spinel or another coloured gemstone, there are several important factors to consider.

1. Colour Comes First

For coloured gemstones, colour is often the first characteristic your eye notices.

Look at:

• Hue
• Tone
• Saturation
• Colour distribution

The most important question is ultimately simple:

Do you love the colour?

Gemstone appreciation should not be based solely on technical descriptions.

2. Examine the Gemstone in Person

Photographs and videos are useful, but they cannot always reproduce colour accurately.

Lighting, camera settings and screens can change how a gemstone appears.

Whenever possible, view the gemstone under different lighting environments and compare several stones side by side.

You may discover that the gemstone you prefer is very different from the one you originally expected to choose.

3. Look at the Cut

A beautifully cut gemstone should complement the natural crystal while producing attractive brilliance and proportions.

Cut can influence:

• Sparkle
• Colour intensity
• Symmetry
• Overall appearance

With coloured gemstones, the goal is not simply to achieve predetermined proportions but to reveal the best possible beauty from each individual stone.

4. Understand Treatments

Treatments are an important part of gemstone buying.

Different gemstone varieties may undergo different types of treatment, and buyers should understand what they are purchasing.

Ask your jeweller whether a gemstone has been treated and whether a recognised independent gemological laboratory report accompanies significant or valuable stones.

Transparency is especially important when purchasing rare coloured gemstones.

Creating Bespoke August Birthstone Jewellery

One of the advantages of choosing a loose gemstone is the ability to design the jewellery around the stone rather than selecting only from finished pieces.

At Benny's Gems Creations, customers can explore a large selection of loose coloured gemstones before working with our team to create a personalised piece of jewellery.

An August birthstone could become:

• A bespoke engagement ring
• An anniversary ring
• A pendant
• A pair of earrings
• A statement cocktail ring
• A meaningful birthday gift
• A future family heirloom

The design can then be tailored around the gemstone's colour, shape and proportions.

Birthstone Jewellery as a Meaningful Gift

Birthstone jewellery has an emotional connection that goes beyond fashion.

It can celebrate:

• A birthday
• A new baby
• An anniversary
• A graduation
• A milestone
• A family member's birth month

Some clients also combine several family birthstones into one jewellery design, creating a piece that represents parents, children or generations of a family.

This is where bespoke jewellery becomes especially meaningful.

Instead of simply purchasing another piece of jewellery, you are creating something connected to a personal story.

Discover Peridot & Spinel at Benny's Gems Creations

With decades of experience in coloured gemstones and bespoke jewellery, Benny's Gems Creations helps clients discover gemstones based not only on certificates and specifications, but also on their individual beauty.

Our collection includes an extensive selection of natural coloured gemstones, from sapphire and ruby to spinel, peridot, emerald, Paraiba tourmaline and other rare gems.

If you are searching for an August birthstone, visit us to compare gemstones in person and discover which colour speaks to you.

Our team can also work with you to transform your chosen gemstone into a bespoke piece designed especially for you.

Benny's Gems Creations
Delfi Orchard
402 Orchard Road, #01-10/11
Singapore 238876

Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 11:00am – 6:30pm
Closed Sundays & Public Holidays

Explore our gemstone collection at bennysgems.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About August Birthstones

What is the main birthstone for August?

Peridot is traditionally the gemstone most strongly associated with August, while spinel is also recognised as an official modern August birthstone.

Is spinel a natural gemstone?

Yes. Natural spinel is a separate mineral species and occurs naturally in several colours including red, pink, purple, blue and grey.

Is spinel the same as ruby?

No. Ruby and spinel are completely different gemstones, although fine red spinel can sometimes resemble ruby.

What colour is peridot?

Natural peridot ranges from yellowish green and lime green to richer olive and grass-green shades.

Can I use an August birthstone for an engagement ring?

Yes, although the design and setting should take the characteristics of the gemstone into consideration. A professional jeweller can recommend an appropriate setting for everyday wear.

Can I customise jewellery using my own gemstone?

Yes. Bespoke jewellery can often be designed around a client's existing gemstone, depending on its condition, dimensions and suitability for the intended design.

Should I buy a gemstone based only on its certificate?

No. A laboratory report provides valuable gemological information, but it cannot tell you whether you personally find a gemstone beautiful. Whenever possible, examine and compare the gemstones themselves before deciding.