What is the August birthstone?

Two modern stones, peridot and spinel, with sardonyx as the traditional one. Spinel was added by Jewelers of America and the American Gem Trade Association in 2016. Every stone in this collection is natural and assessed in-house by our FGAA-qualified gemmologist.

Which August birthstone should go in a ring?

Spinel. At 8 on the Mohs scale it is thoroughly durable, and it is very rarely treated. Peridot at 6.5 to 7 is not recommended for daily ring wear, so we set it in earrings and pendants where it lasts.

Is spinel a real gemstone or a substitute?

A real gemstone in its own right, and an old one: the Black Prince's Ruby in Britain's Imperial State Crown is a spinel. It was only separated from ruby chemically in the eighteenth century. Natural spinel is one of the best value propositions in coloured stones precisely because it is so seldom treated.

Can you source a particular spinel colour for an August gift?

Yes. Red, pink, blue, lavender and grey spinel all come through the house's Ceylon network, and Ratnapura has produced spinel for centuries. Tell us the colour, size and budget; we source, assess in-house and quote in writing.

August Birthstone — Peridot & Spinel

August has two modern birthstones, peridot and spinel, with sardonyx as the traditional stone. Peridot, the long-standing primary and the gemstone of the sixteenth anniversary, is a beautiful stone for earrings and pendants. Spinel, added to the list in 2016 and the gemstone of the twenty-second, is the wearable August: 8 on the Mohs scale, very rarely treated, and the stone the Black Prince's Ruby in the Imperial State Crown turned out to be. Every stone here is natural and assessed in-house by our FGAA-qualified gemmologist.

August birthstones

Peridot, Spinel · traditional: Sardonyx

Strength and good fortune

Anniversary stone

16th (peridot), 22nd (spinel)

Mohs 6.5 to 7 (peridot), 8 (spinel)

Wear

Peridot for earrings and pendants; spinel is thoroughly durable in a ring

Care

Spinel: warm soapy water, usually safe in an ultrasonic. Peridot: lukewarm water only, never ultrasonic or steam, and keep it from acids.

Why ours. Ratnapura has produced spinel for centuries, and the house works that ground directly. Spinel is very rarely treated; untreated is the norm. Peridot is generally untreated. Sardonyx is commonly dyed.

By pieceRings (size guide)

By budget$500 to $2,500 (1)$2,500 to $6,000 (4)Signature, $6,000 and above (1)

Sourced to order: Peridot, Sardonyx. Tell us the stone, size and budget; we source through our own Ceylon and Australian trade network, assess in-house and quote in writing, usually within a week.

Ask our gemmologist Email a request

If the August gift is a ring, choose spinel. GIA itself does not recommend peridot for daily ring wear, because at 6.5 to 7 it cannot take hard knocks and is vulnerable to acids. Spinel in red, pink, blue and lavender is thoroughly durable, almost never treated, and Sri Lanka's Ratnapura district, the house's own ground, has produced it for centuries. Peridot we set in earrings and pendants, where it lasts, and source to order in the colour and size you want.

Learn first: The Spinel Handbook · Peridot: August's birthstone · Design a birthstone piece

Bespoke · Designed Around Your Stone

Not quite what you pictured? Design it around your stone.

Choose the sapphire first, then the piece, with our FGAA-qualified gemmologist at your side. Most commissions leave our Pitt Street workshop in two to four weeks.

Design Your Jewellery Book Consultation · Pitt St Showroom

CLIENT WORDS

In the Words of Our Clients

5.0 out of 5 on Google

Ministry of Gems® holds a rating of 5.0 out of 5 on Google. Five of those reviews are reproduced in full here — covering bespoke ring commissions, loose sapphire purchases and trade supply — and every one can be verified independently on Google, where reviews cannot be edited or deleted by the business they describe.

“Went to their website & made an appointment… Sasha took me through the steps and fine tuned the design with a video call. 2 weeks later got the ring delivered. Prices are amazing and what a lovely team. Highly recommend!”

5 out of 5 · Andy M. · verified Google review

“Got a really nice unheated pink sapphire for my girlfriend… made it so easy and cost effective. I learnt so much about the industry and now go to them for all professional opinions on gems and jewels! Could not give a higher recommendation.”

5 out of 5 · Charles R. · verified Google review

“Spoke with the team for my custom ring and the whole process was smooth… Very happy with the beautiful diamond ring and will definitely return for future purchases.”

5 out of 5 · Imendra F. · verified Google review

“I was really happy with the quality of gem stones as well as the services provided. Ministry of Gems exceeded my expectations, will definitely be buying more!”

5 out of 5 · Vishwa P. · verified Google review