Peridot (pronounced pair-a-doe) is the modern birthstone for August. We have a huge range of  August birthstone jewelry at great prices. This particular stone is a variety of olivine which is a combination of two minerals forsterite and foylite. It is still quite unclear where the word Peridot originates from, whether it is derived from the French word peritot which means unclear or the Arabic word faridat, meaning gem. Whatever the case may be the French were the first to call this unique greenish-yellow stone peridot around the 18^th century. Before then the Peridot gem was simply known as topaz.

For four thousand years Peridot has been mined as a gemstone and is even mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name of pitdah. Peridot is the national gem of Egypt and was used by the Egyptians as early as 1500 B.C. It was called the “gem of the sun” because early miners held that it shone with a light that made the crystal easy to find.  This gem is becoming wildly popular because of the historical legend denoting it as Cleopatra’s  favorite gemstone.

Description of the Peridot Gemstone

Throughout time and years this precious August gem has been often mistaken for other gemstones. The Peridot can be described as a light olive green opposite to the dark green of emerald, with a hint of yellow. The most commonly know gems confused with the Peridot are emeralds, apatite, garnets and zircon, although these rarely possess the pretty tint of yellow that compliments the peridot’s green color.

The Quality of Peridot Gems

Peridots that contain iron percentage of less than 16% and trace elements of nickel and chromium are those of best quality. Peridot comes from an island in the Red sea called Zebirget , Pakistan Minas Gerais, Chihuahua, Mexico, Brazil, Eifel, Kohistan, Germany, Ethiopia, Australia, Peridot Mesa, Gila County, USA, Arizona and Salt Lake Crater . Historically the finest quality Peridot comes from Egypt however some remarkable specimens have been found in Pakistan that are challenging this claim. The gems derived from Arizona are of lesser quality because it is more abundant therefore it is much more affordable for many people. Approximately 85 – 95% of all world production of peridot comes from Arizona. The Myanmar, Pakistani and Egyptian gems are far rarer and of better quality and thus are quite valuable.

August 10 Karat White Gold Peridot Leverback Gem Earrings
List Price:$43.50
Celebrate your birthday each and every day with this lovely pair of birthstone earrings. Polished white gold designed in a lever back fashion cradles a 4mm central stone, nestled within a 4 prong setting allowing the replicated Peridot stone to display its brilliance. Usually ships within 1-2 business days.

Click here for more information on the August 10 Karat White Gold Peridot Leverback Gem Earrings

Mystical Powers of the Peridot

This August birthstone symbolizes dignity and success and it is also considered a shield for the whole body as it protects the wearer from negativity. It is associated with stress reduction and relaxation. The Egyptians also used this gem to clean and heal the heart. Some sickness such as asthma and fever were cured by placing powdered peridot under the tongue. There is also a belief that setting this stone in gold will amplify its powers.

August Birthstone Jewelry

Peridot is a beautiful gemstone in its own right and is becoming widely popular. It’s popularity is increasing yearly because of new discoveries of other crystallized specimens. Peridot  gems can become a fun item to collect for years to come and make lovely August birthstone jewelry gifts.

Opal and Tourmaline are the birtrhstones for October. We have a huge range of October birthstone jewelry using these lovely gemstones. Opals are chemically silica with around 13% water and, unlike most other gemstones have no crystalline structure. They are essentially ’solidified jellies’ and are transparent or translucent with a pearly or milky opalescence. Colors can be imparted to opals by impurities such as black from traces of magnesium oxide and red and yellow from oxides of iron. Minute cracks and other imperfections in the opal cause the colors to shine or flash when it viewed from different angles.

Legends About Opals

In the Australian myths the creator of the universe came to earth on a rainbow. As his foot touched the earth the stones that he touched sparkled with the colors of the rainbow. Thus the opal was created. The opal has a long history of bringing bad luck with many tales of harm coming to wearers of this lovely gem. In medieval Europe it was associated with the Evil Eye as it resembles the eye of creatures such as cats and snakes associated with witches. In fact witches were supposed to use black opals in their spells and as a means to increase their powers. It was even believed that opals could be so filled with evil that they could kill or seriously maim anyone wearing them. In later times diamond traders were also responsible for encouraging these beliefs.

The Romans, on the other hand, believed that opals brought good luck and the word ‘opal’ is derived from the Latin opalus meaning precious stone. They carried opals as amulets or talismans and thought that they protected them from disease, imparted the gift of prophecy and alerted them to the presence of poison.

Sources of Opals

Before the Romans the gem was largely unknown and and no examples of jewelry containing opals have been found before the time of the Romans. It is thought that opals were originally traded in the first century C.E. and are thought to have come from the Carpathian Mountains which are in the country now known as Slovakia. The gems were carried down the Danube and found their way to Rome. Nowadays most of these lovely gemstones are mined in Southern Australia which produces over 90% of all opals. Other sources of opal are found in mexico, Brazil, Czechoslovakia and in the US in Idaho and Nevada. Fire opal is found in Mexico and Honduras and White opal in japan.

Types of Opals

Common opal is often colored and is often used with more precious types of opals. It can be found in white, green, pink, blue, yellow and grey.

Fire opal has a fiery red color altjough it may also be orange or yellow. It does not ‘flash’ and is not expensive as the oplas that ‘flash’ with color are more desirable.

Precious Opal ‘flashes’ with color and can be found in pale blue or white, the most common colors, but also in red, orange, violet, blue and green. The rarest kind is black opal which has a high value, particularly if it also flashes with orange or red. It can be as expensive as emeralds, diamonds or rubies.

Looking After Your Opal

Opals are relatively soft so should not be worn in situations where they can be damaged such as gardening. They can be cleaned with soapy, warm water and a soft cloth. Always avoid household chemicals and bleach. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner as the vibrations can cause the stone to crack. If the stone loses its lustre from wear it can be re-polished by a professional opal cutter.

Fire Opal Gemstone and Diamond Ring 1.33 Carat (ctw) in 14K Yellow Gold
List Price: $199.00
Depend on this special item to ignite your fashion sense in a quickie. A lone impressive fire opal blazes at the fore front of this 14 karat yellow gold ring, while eight additional diamonds support the prime showpiece along the sides.

Click here for more information on the Fire Opal Gemstone and Diamond Ring 1.33 Carat (ctw) in 14K Yellow Gold

October Birthstone Jewelry

Opals are beautiful gemstones for gold and silver October birthstone jewelry and are prized for their lovely colors and their appearance of holding a rainbow inside them. If you have a loved one with an October birthday earrings, necklaces, pendants or bracelets set with opals make wonderful birthday gifts and will be appreciated for many years to come.

The gemstone used in our lovely December birthstone jewelry is the turquoise and we have a huge range of jewelry  using this lovely gemstone. It is a bluish green mineral that is a phosphate of copper and aluminum. It is a rare gemstone that has been used in decorative work and jewelry for thousands of years and was used from around 6000 B.C. by the Egyptians. It was a prized gemstone worn by the kings of the Aztecs and the Pharaohs. It was has also been used in beautiful decorative and ornamental pieces by the Persians and Native Americans. Most specimens found are very small, often so small that they can only be seen using a microscope. Gem stone quality turquoise is found in Iran, Australia, Afghanistan, Arizona, New Mexico and in the South West regions of the US.

The original turquoise jewelry made by Native Americans included turquoise beads, mosaics and carvings and only from around 1880 was the distinctive silver jewelry made. Navajo craftsmen began making this style of jewelry from silver coins for trade.

The name turquoise is thought to come from the French word meaning Turkey as it was mistakenly believed that the gemstones originated in that country as they were traded in the bazaars to European merchants. In fact they probably came from the Sinai Peninsula or from the Alimersai Mountains which are now in Iran. It may also have arisen from the French word for dark blue stone, pierre turquin. It is often found in deposits of copper usually in very dry, arid conditions.

Before turquoise was found in the US the finest quality stones, with an intense blue color, came from Persia and ‘Persian Turquoise’ is still used today to denote the best quality stones. In the latter part of the nineteenth century turquoise was found in the US with deposits that rivaled the quality of the Persian stones. Nowadays the US is the largest producer of this lovely gemstone.

14kt. White Gold Neolite Turquoise Earrings
List Price: $403.00
14kt. White Gold Neolite Turquoise Earrings Inexpensively Priced
Click here for more details of  our White Gold Neolite Turquoise Earrings

Care of Turquoise

Turquoise is fairly soft and needs to be looked after carefully to avoid being scratched. It can lose it’s lustre if exposed to heat, sunlight or weak acids so you should take care to remove any turquoise jewelry before using household chemicals or hot water.

Use of Turquoise by the Aztecs

The Aztecs used turquoise extensively, inlaid with gold and other minerals such as jade, quartz, jet and malachite as well as shells and corals. They used it in mosaics, masks, shields and knives. Some superb examples of mosaics from this time survived destruction by the Spanisg Invaders and can be seen at the British Museum.

Use of Turquoise by Native Americans

The Navajo, Pueblo and Apache tribes used turquoise as an amulet often believing it had powers to perfect the aim of archers. The original turquoise jewelry made by Native Americans included turquoise beads, mosaics and carvings and only from around 1880 was the distinctive silver jewelry made. Navajo craftsmen began making this style of jewelry from silver coins for trade.

December Birthstone Jewelry

Turquoise is the gemstone for December in the modern birthstone systems. In traditional sytems the birthstones are zircon and ruby. Jewelry set with turquoise makes a lovely gift whether set in earrings, necklaces, pendants or rings.