August is one of only three months with three official birthstones. Most people born in August know about peridot, the vivid lime-green stone that has represented the month for centuries. Fewer know about spinel, a gem so historically misidentified that some of the world's most famous "rubies" turned out to be spinels. And sardonyx, the oldest of the three, has been carved into jewellery since ancient Rome.
Each stone is different. Each carries its own colour, its own history, and its own meaning. Understanding all three helps you choose the one that suits the person you are buying for, or the one that feels most personal if you are August-born yourself.
If you are looking for birthstone jewellery, our gemstone engagement rings collection at Manna Jewellers in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter includes coloured stone options in a range of settings. Our team can also create a bespoke piece around any of the three August birthstones.
August has three official birthstones: peridot, spinel and sardonyx.
The August birthstone colour depends on the stone: peridot is olive to lime green, spinel comes in every colour including red, pink and blue, and sardonyx is layered brown-red and white.
Peridot is the most recognised August birthstone in the UK and worldwide.
Spinel was only added to the official August birthstone list in 2016 by the American Gem Trade Association.
Sardonyx is the oldest August birthstone with a history stretching back over 4,000 years.
All three are suitable for jewellery, though each requires slightly different care.
Peridot symbolises strength and renewal. Spinel is associated with revitalisation and hope. Sardonyx represents courage and happiness.
The August birthstone in the UK is peridot, which has been officially associated with August for over a century. The National Association of Goldsmiths formalised its UK birthstone list in 1937, and peridot has held its place as the primary August stone on that list ever since.
Spinel was added internationally in 2016, and sardonyx has a historical connection to August dating back to ancient traditions. All three are recognised as August birthstones, though peridot remains the one most commonly given and worn in the UK for August birthdays.
The August birthstone colour most associated with peridot is a distinctive olive to lime green. Unlike most gemstones, peridot comes in only one colour family. The specific shade ranges from a yellowish-green through to a deeper, more saturated grass green, depending on the iron content within the stone. The highest-valued peridots show a rich, pure green with minimal yellow.
Peridot is one of very few gemstones formed not in the earth's crust but in the mantle, the layer beneath it. It is also found in meteorites. Specimens of extraterrestrial peridot have been set into jewellery, though these are rare and expensive.
The most significant modern source of peridot is the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona, USA, which produces a large proportion of the world's supply. Other sources include Pakistan, China, Myanmar, Egypt and Tanzania. The Egyptian island of Zabargad, also called St John's Island, was mined for peridot for over 3,500 years and was one of the earliest known gemstone sources in history.
Peridot has been associated with strength, protection and renewal across many cultures. Ancient Egyptians called it the gem of the sun and believed it protected its wearer from evil, particularly at night. It was often set in gold to enhance that protective quality.
In Hawaiian tradition, peridot crystals found in volcanic rock were believed to be the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. The Romans nicknamed it the evening emerald because its vivid colour remained visible in lamplight, unlike many other green stones.
In modern birthstone traditions, peridot is associated with clarity of thought, emotional calm and the ability to move forward. It suits people who value sincerity and openness.
Spinel is the most colour-versatile of the three August birthstones. It occurs naturally in red, pink, orange, purple, blue, violet, black and colourless. The most prized spinels are vivid red, sometimes called flame spinel, and bright cobalt blue. Pink and lavender spinels are also widely used in fine jewellery.
Because of its red varieties, spinel was historically confused with ruby. Some of the most famous gemstones in royal collections across Europe, once described as rubies, were later identified as spinels. The Black Prince's Ruby, set in the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom, is in fact a red spinel.
Spinel is associated with revitalisation, hope and new energy. Its historical misidentification as ruby gave it associations with passion and vitality that followed it into modern gemstone traditions. It is considered a stone that brings renewed enthusiasm and supports people through difficult transitions.
Spinel was added to the official August birthstone list in 2016 by the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America. It is not on Britain's National Association of Goldsmiths list from 1937, which predates its addition. However, it is widely recognised in the UK jewellery trade as an August stone, and many buyers now specifically seek it out as a more unusual alternative to peridot.
Sardonyx is a layered stone, a form of onyx in which bands of sard, a brownish-red variety of chalcedony, alternate with white or black layers. The effect is a striped or banded pattern in warm reddish-brown and white tones. It does not have the vivid colour of peridot or the broad colour range of spinel, but its natural patterning gives it a distinctly organic quality.
Sardonyx is the oldest of the three August birthstones by a significant margin. It was prized in ancient Rome and Greece, where it was carved into cameos and intaglios, relief carvings used as personal seals and decorative objects. Roman soldiers wore sardonyx engraved with images of Mars, the god of war, believing it would give them courage in battle.
The stone has been connected to August since ancient astrological and birthstone traditions long before the modern standardised lists were formalised in the 20th century.
Sardonyx is associated with courage, happiness in marriage, and clear communication. Ancient traditions credited it with the ability to strengthen relationships and bring good fortune to those who wore it. It was a common wedding gift in Roman culture, reflecting its connection to stability and mutual happiness.
|
Peridot |
Spinel |
Sardonyx |
|
|
Colour |
Olive to lime green |
Every colour, most prized in red and blue |
Banded reddish-brown and white |
|
Mohs hardness |
6.5-7 |
8 |
6.5-7 |
|
Origin |
Mantle rock, meteorites |
Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania |
India, Brazil, USA |
|
Symbolism |
Strength, renewal, clarity |
Revitalisation, hope, energy |
Courage, happiness, communication |
|
Added to UK list |
1937 (NAG) |
2016 (AGTA, not on NAG list) |
Historical association |
|
Price range |
Affordable to moderate |
Wide range, fine stones can be expensive |
Generally affordable |
|
Best suited to |
Pendants, earrings, rings |
All jewellery types |
Cameos, rings, pendants |
Each stone suits a different type of person and a different kind of gift.
Choose peridot if the person loves colour, wears green tones, or values a stone with deep historical roots in protection and clarity. It is the most traditional and widely recognised August birthstone and suits a wide range of jewellery styles from simple solitaires to detailed vintage settings.
Choose spinel if they want something rare and unusual, particularly if they are drawn to red, pink or blue tones. A fine red spinel alongside diamonds is one of the most elegant combinations in coloured stone jewellery, and the stone's royal history adds a layer of meaning that many wearers appreciate.
Choose sardonyx if they appreciate craft and history. Its banded patterning means no two stones look exactly alike, and its ancient connection to courage and happy marriages makes it a meaningful choice for a wedding anniversary or a milestone birthday.
At Manna Jewellers in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, we can source stones in all three varieties and create a piece designed around your choice. Speak to our team about a bespoke commission or browse ourstacking ring collection for ready-made options.
The August birthstone colour depends on which of the three stones you are referring to. Peridot, the primary August birthstone in the UK, is olive to lime green. Spinel, added to the list in 2016, comes in a wide range of colours including red, pink, blue and purple. Sardonyx, the oldest August birthstone, displays banded layers of reddish-brown and white. Of the three, peridot's vivid green is the most widely recognised as the colour associated with August.
The primary August birthstone in the UK is peridot, which has been on the National Association of Goldsmiths' official list since 1937. Spinel was added internationally in 2016 and is now widely recognised in the UK jewellery trade as an August stone, though it does not appear on the original British list. Sardonyx has a historical connection to August dating back to ancient traditions.
Peridot is associated with strength, protection and renewal. Ancient Egyptians believed it protected the wearer from evil and called it the gem of the sun. In modern birthstone traditions, it represents clarity of thought, emotional openness and the ability to move forward. It is considered a stone that suits honest, direct people who value sincerity in relationships.
Yes. Spinel was officially added to the August birthstone list in 2016 by the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America. It is now recognised internationally alongside peridot and sardonyx. The addition reflects growing appreciation for spinel's quality and rarity, particularly fine red and blue varieties that rival ruby and sapphire in appearance and value.
Fine quality spinel, particularly vivid red specimens from Myanmar or Sri Lanka, is currently the most valuable of the three August birthstones. Top-grade red spinels can command prices comparable to fine rubies. High-quality peridot from Pakistan or Myanmar is also valuable, though more affordable at most carat sizes. Sardonyx is generally the most accessible of the three in terms of price.
Manna Jewellers is a family jewellery business based in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, with over 40 years of experience in fine gemstone jewellery, engagement rings and bespoke design. We stock gemstone rings in a range of coloured stones and settings, and our on-site workshop can create a birthstone piece designed around any of the three August stones. Every piece we sell is hand-finished by our team before it leaves the building. We also offer jewellery repairs and a full aftercare service. Visit us in store orbook an appointment to discuss August birthstone jewellery in person.
June birthstone in the UK: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite explained - the same three-birthstone format for June, a useful companion to this guide
Complete UK gemstone chart and birthstones guide - all twelve months covered in one place, with style and gifting advice
A guide to precious and semi-precious gemstones - understanding how peridot, spinel and sardonyx sit within the broader gemstone classification system
