As of 2016, August joined December and June as the only three months to have 3 birthstones. Unlike the other two, you’ve likely never heard of any of the three unless you’re a geologist or have some experience with gemstones. Infact, humans can’t even trace where the first one’s name came from.
Some people believe the first gemstone’s name is Greek for “giving plenty” which is why this gemstone is often associated with luck, fortune and prosperity. The first gemstone is none other than:
Peridot
Peridot is often known as the “Evening Emerald” due to it’s light green color and is the only gemstone whose default color is lime green. Perhaps the best part of Peridot, and a reason why people choose it for jewelry, is that it looks good throughout the day. Due to it’s light color, it looks excellent in darker environments, but it’s translucency allows for light to pass through it and enhance it quite well.
The negatives of Peridot? Well, for one it’s incredibly easy to crack, particularly during cutting. This makes it a less popular option amongst jewelers, though we are consistently improving in that department. Another downside to the gemstone is that it only comes in one color. If you get peridot, you’re getting either a lime green gemstone or a fairly unaesthetic yellow/brown hue. There really aren’t many other options like there are with rubies or diamonds.
What Peridot Looks Like
Sardonyx
While the name sounds like a prescription drug, it’s actually just two gemstones combined: Sard and Onyx. They “layer” together to create an alternating mineral with zebra-striped aesthetics. If you haven’t heard of Sardonyx (or Sard, or Onyx) then you’ve likely heard of Carnelian, which looks very similar. So similar, in fact, that the two are often mistaken for each other despite having no direct connection mineral-wise.
Sardonyx is generall found in India, Eastern Europe or Madagascar, but is also mined directly in the US. Infact, there’s a Sardonyx mine just north of our office in Denver. The others are west of Phoenix, North Alabama and around Pennsylvania. Very random locations, I know.
What Sardonyx Looks Like
Spinel
A favorite amongst women and a hidden gemstone in it’s own right, Spinel produces a magnificent pink/purple color, so much so that it’s often mistaken for pink sapphires or rubies. As with many gemstones, there have been some hilarious cases of world-famous “rubies” turning out to just be variations of Spinel.
While Pink Spinel is very aesthetically pleasing, a lot of people look for Spinel that is red, light cobalt blue or bright orange. As you can guess, Spinel is very versatile.
A downside of Spinel is that flaws are generally easier to notice, so make sure your jeweler is knowledgeable.
What Spinel Looks Like
Looking for the right gemstone? Give us a call at (720) 560-3548 or book an appointment!