Peridot is August's Birthstone Written by Sam Serio If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it. August Birthstone: Peridot Birthstone Properties: Illumination Alternative Birthstone: Sardonyx Peridot is birthstone for August and 16th anniversary gemstone. Its name comes from Arabic word "faridat," meaning gem. Peridot is sometimes referred to as an “Evening Emerald” because under artificial light it glows as a brilliant green. Peridot is transparent with subtle color in a variety of greens, ranging from light yellowish green to a dark olive. The purer green a peridot is, higher value. Any tinge of brown greatly diminishes value of a peridot, as well as visible flaws. Ancient History Found in both early Greek and early Roman jewelry, peridot has been popular since 1500 BC when Egyptians started mining it. The Egyptians called lustrous stone "gem of sun" and believed it had power to ward off anxiety, enhance speech, and foster success in relationships and marriage. Peridot crystals are sometimes combed from black sands of Hawaii where gemstone is abundant and available in larger sizes. Hawaiians believe that peridot is tears shed by Pele, volcano goddess. Pele must have traveled extensively, however, because peridot is also mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, Congo, and in Arizona. Pearl is June's Birthstone Written by Sam Serio If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it. June's Birthstone: Pearl Birthstone Properties: Truth and beauty Alternative Birthstones: Moonstone and Alexandrite Pearl is official birthstone of month of June. It is also accepted anniversary gemstone for 3rd and 30th years of marriage. Pearls have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra, yet there are perfectly suited to young girls and are a popular gift for first communion. Pearls come in a wide range of colors from delicate rose white to black. The higher luster or “orient,” more valuable specimen. Greeks believed that pearls were hardened tears of joy that Love Goddess shook from her eyes as she was born from sea. In Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from depths of ocean by beautiful moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops. Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated from brains of dragons. Whatever their origins, pearls are magnificent! Round Pearl…and Her Shapely Sisters It's hard to believe that coveted pearl comes naturally from one of humblest of life forms -- mollusk. Divers find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in waters off Japan, South Pacific Islands off northern Australia, and coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and California. Cont'd on page 2 ==>   ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005 Terms of Use