The gemstone associated with the month of August is peridot. While the provided sources are limited in scope, primarily focusing on retail offerings and birthstone lists, they establish peridot as a recognized and commercially available birthstone. This article will compile the available information regarding this gemstone, as presented in the provided materials.
History and Lore
The sources do not offer detailed historical information regarding peridot. They simply identify it as the birthstone for August. Therefore, a comprehensive historical account cannot be constructed from the provided data. The sources focus on its modern role as a gemstone for jewelry, particularly as featured in retail offerings from stores like Anthropologie, Amazon, and Zales.
Geological Formation and Sources
The provided sources do not contain any information regarding the geological formation of peridot or its mining locations. No details are given about the conditions under which it forms, the types of rock formations in which it is found, or the countries from which it is sourced.
Gemological Properties
The sources do not provide any gemological properties of peridot, such as its chemical composition, hardness, refractive index, or typical clarity grades. They do not describe its color variations or typical cut styles. The only information relating to physical characteristics is its presence in jewelry items, such as bracelets and necklaces, alongside other gemstones like sapphire and diamonds.
Symbolism and Metaphysical Beliefs
The provided sources do not offer any information regarding the symbolism or metaphysical beliefs associated with peridot. There are no mentions of traditional meanings, healing properties, or cultural significance. The focus remains solely on its status as a birthstone and its availability for purchase as jewelry.
Retail Availability and Pricing
The sources highlight the availability of peridot jewelry through various retailers. Anthropologie offers a multi-color semi-precious beaded stretch bracelet that includes peridot. Amazon Essentials features a sterling silver necklace with a created blue sapphire, alongside peridot as a birthstone option. Zales also lists peridot as an August birthstone.
Pricing information, where available, indicates a range depending on the piece and retailer:
- Anthropologie Multi-Color Semi-Precious Beaded Stretch Bracelet: $28
- Amazon Essentials Sterling Silver Created Blue Sapphire Necklace: $19.90 - $20.90
- KAY Jewelers does not list peridot pricing directly, but offers garnet and amethyst jewelry in a similar price range ($99.99 - $5347.50).
Peridot in Comparison to Other Birthstones
The sources list other birthstones alongside peridot, allowing for a basic comparison of availability and retail presence. Garnet is listed as the January birthstone, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, diamond for April, emerald for May, pearl for June, ruby for July, sapphire for September, opal for October, topaz for November, and turquoise for December. The consistent listing of these gemstones alongside peridot suggests a similar level of commercial recognition and consumer demand.
Care and Cleaning
The sources do not provide any information regarding the care and cleaning of peridot. Without knowledge of its hardness or other physical properties, specific cleaning recommendations cannot be derived from the provided materials.
Summary of Birthstone Offerings
The following table summarizes the birthstone offerings as listed in the provided sources:
| Month | Birthstone |
|---|---|
| January | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine |
| April | Diamond |
| May | Emerald |
| June | Pearl |
| July | Ruby |
| August | Peridot |
| September | Sapphire |
| October | Opal |
| November | Topaz |
| December | Turquoise |
Limitations of the Sources
The provided sources are extremely limited in scope. They consist primarily of promotional material from retail websites and a simple list of birthstones. As a result, a comprehensive article on peridot, covering its history, geology, gemological properties, symbolism, and care, cannot be written based solely on this information. The article is largely descriptive, outlining what is stated about peridot in the sources, rather than providing in-depth knowledge about the gemstone itself. The lack of scientific or historical data significantly restricts the depth and breadth of the analysis.
Conclusion
Based on the provided sources, peridot is established as the birthstone for August and is commercially available through retailers such as Anthropologie, Amazon, and Zales. The sources do not offer any detailed information regarding its geological formation, gemological properties, historical significance, or metaphysical beliefs. The available information is limited to its retail presence and listing as a birthstone. Further research using more comprehensive sources is necessary to provide a complete and accurate overview of this gemstone.