Peridot Birthstone for August and Libra

Called the ‘evening emerald’ by the Romans, peridot varies in shade from a pretty and delicate light green to a rich and lustrous olive – the shade being determined by how much iron is in the stone’s chemical make up. Long associated with success, power, influence, peace and luck, peridot has been found in both ancient Egyptian and Greek jewellery. In the past, peridot was believed to possess special healing powers, as well as the ability to ward off evil spirits, particularly when set in gold. Peridot is also abundant on some beaches in Hawaii, although the pieces are too small to set in jewellery, and the gem famously symbolises the Hawaiian goddess Pele’s tears. Peridot is sometimes associated with the 16th wedding anniversary and with the star signs Leo and Libra. Extraterrestrial peridot has even been found in meteors and set into jewellery.