Birthstone of the Month: August

It is time to celebrate the birthstone of the month, which for August is peridot. A beautiful yellowish green gemstone which has been used in jewellery since antiquity, peridot was called 'the gem of the sun' by the ancient Egyptians.

Gold Ring with Peridot Gemstones, Handcrafted by Buck & Co Goldsmith

​Composed of magnesium iron silicate, peridot is formed in the upper mantle of the earth and is raised to the surface by the movement of plate tectonics and/or volcanic activity. Peridot has also been found in meteorites, formed in extra terrestrial conditions a few million years after the formation of the solar system.

A bespoke remodelling piece which left our Goldsmith's bench recently featured three beautiful oval peridots. Our client had inherited rings from both her beloved Grandmothers and honoured them both by having the gold combined together, and the peridots remounted. After going through the design process with us, our client settled on a contemporary design with the beautiful peridots centre stage, set between two hearts to symbolise the sentiment behind the ring. The peridots were mounted into bezel settings, which are idea for protecting this gemstone which at 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale can be prone to damage.

Entirely handmade by our Goldsmith at our shop in Bodmin, this piece was completed by full hallmarking at Birmingham Assay Office, officially marking the new chapter in the life of these cherished precious metals and gems.