Beads & Baubles Cafe

Peridot is the Modern birthstone & Sardonyx is the Traditional birthstone for the monthe of August.
 
The Zodiac stones are:
 
Sardonyx – birthstone of Leo (Lion): July 23 – Aug 22
 
Carnielian – birthstone of Virgo (Virgin): August 23 – Setpember 22
 
Peridot – (pair-a-doe) is the gem variety of olivine.
 
Peridot is perhaps derived from the French word peritot which means unclear, probably due to the inclusions and cloudy nature of large stones. It could also be named from the Arabic word faridat which means gem. In either case, peridot has been mined as a gemstone for an estimated four thousand years or better, and is mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name of pitdah. Peridot gems along with other gems were probably used in the fabled Breastplates of the Jewish High Priest, artifacts that have never been found. The Greeks and Romans referred to peridot as topazion and topazius respectively and this name was later given to topaz, to end the confusion with the two gems. Historical legend has it that peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra. Pliny wrote about the green stone from Zagbargad Island in 1500 B.C.. Even until recently have jewelers used the term “chrysolite” (Latin for golden stone) in referring to peridot gems for some reason. This term has also been used to refer to other gemstones, of a more golden color.
 
Peridot is the best known gem variety of olivine, a species name for a series of magnesium-iron rich silicate minerals. Much of its recent popularity can be explained by its currently being recognized as the birthstone for the month of August, people wear the stone because it is supposed to bring the wearer success, peace, and good luck.
 
Peridot Mesa, located on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation east of Globe in Gila County, is the most productive locality for peridot in the world. A second Arizona location from which peridot is recovered is Buell Park Apache County, Arizona, about 16 kilometers north of Fort Defiance. However, it is estimated that 80% to 95% of the world’s production of peridot comes from the San Carlos Reservation.

Throughout time, peridot has been confused with many other gemstones, even emerald. Many “emeralds” of royal treasures have turned out to be peridots! And although peridot is distinctly a different shade of green, many jewelers refer to peridot as “evening emerald“. Emerald is a dark green as opposed to a yellow green and always contains inclusions. Other green gemstones confused with peridot include apatite (which is much softer); green garnets (have no double refraction), green tourmaline and green sinhalite (both of which are strongly pleochroic), moldavites (no double refraction) and green zircon (significantly heavier). All of these gemstones rarely have as nice a yellow component to their green color as does most peridot, but darker green peridot can be confusing when good crystal form is not discernible.
 
Sardonyx (sär-dŏn’ĭks, sär’dn-ĭks’)
 
The layers in these stones range from translucent to opaque. The stones vary in color, too. They may be white or gray, ranging to many colorful varieties. Sardonyx stones usually contain flat-banded, white and brownish-red bands. Onyx is a gemstone with alternating light and dark bands, which are colored in brown, red, black, white and gray.
 
The word Sardonyx is derived from the Greek, Sard meaning “reddish brown,” and onyx meaning “veined gem.” The name onyx was used by the Romans for a variety of stones including alabaster, chalcedony, and what is now known as onyx marble. Roman soldiers wore sardonyx talismans engraved with heroes such as Hercules or Mars, god of war. They believed that the stone would make the wearer as brave and daring as the figured carved on it. During the Renaissance, sardonyx was believed to bring eloquence upon the wearer and was regarded with great value by public speakers and orators.

Sardonyx at one time was more precious than gold, silver, or sapphire. Sardonyx is always widely used in cameos and intaglios.

In ancient times when stones were used for healing Onyx was used as a heart, kidney, nerve, capillary, hair, eye and nail strengthener. Onyx was said to help one sleep and was also said to help to eliminate apathy, stress and neurological disorders.  The ancients also believed this gemstone eliminated negative thinking, it was also believed to sharpen the wits of the wearer. Onyx was said to bring spiritual inspiration. It was a great assistance in holding emotions and passions under control. While Black Onyx was used to help one change habits.
 
Today most onyx is found in India and South America.

The traditional and modern birthstone for the month of July is Ruby.  The cabochon is Jasper.

The Zodiac stones are

Emerald – July 1^st through July 22^nd

Onyx     – July 23^rd through July 31^st

Ruby:
Pronounced: ru·by (rū‘bē)
A deep red, translucent variety of the mineral corundum, highly valued as a precious stone.

The finest ruby is the transparent type with a medium tone and a high intensity of slightly violet-red, which has been likened to the color of pigeon’s blood. Star rubies do not command comparable prices, but they, too, are in great demand. The ruby was among the first of the gemstones to be duplicated synthetically and the first to be used extensively in jewelry.
Rubies are mined in Africa, Asia, Australia, Greenland, Madagascar and North Carolina. They are most often found in Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Kenya, Madagascar, and Cambodia, but they have also been found in United State, in the states of Montana, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Mogok Valley in Upper Myanmar has produced some of the finest rubies in the  past, but in recent years very few good rubies have been found there. The unique color in Myanmar (Burmese) rubies is described as “pigeon’s blood”. They are known in the trade as “Mogok” rubies. In central Myanmar the area of Mong Hsu also produces rubies. The latest ruby deposit to be found in Myanmar is situated in Nam Ya. In 2002 rubies were found in the Waseges River area of Kenya. Sometimes spinels are found along with rubies in the same rocks and are mistaken for rubies. However, fine red spinels may approach the average ruby in value.
 
Rubies have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Among the natural gems only diamond is harder.
 
Rubies occasionally show an optical phenomenon called asterism(light forms a star pattern) when cut into a cabochon (A highly polished, convex-cut, unfaceted gem). These are called “star rubies” are valuable because asterism is rare. They also very rarely show color change and chatoyancy (Having a changeable luster. Pronounced, (shə-toi‘ənt).

Here are some jewlery items you might like if you are a July baby.  Click on the picture to go to our website to see larger pictures.