Leos, you either love them or you want to be them. And honestly? Every gemstone probably feels the same about the peridot. This gem doesn’t just shine, it radiates a sublime glow, as if it’s holding the very soul of the Earth. Think a tangible embodiment of Mother Nature herself, or peak era 90’s Nickelodeon slime, or better yet, the album cover of your favorite brat summer jam. Whatever comes to mind, that’s peridot. Wild, rich and full of life; like sinking into a lush, untouched field of clovers or taking the first refreshing, crisp sip of peppermint tea on a sunny afternoon. Peridot is more than just August’s pretty birthstone, it’s a deep breath that touches the very roots of your essence. Ready to learn more about the magic of Leo's birthstone peridot? Let’s dive in!

BUT FIRST, LET’S TALK LEOS

Depicted as a lion, Leos are known for their courage, confidence, inner strength, and undeniable charisma. They don’t just walk into a room, they illuminate it (ust like the leo birthstone, peridot). All the while, they radiate enough warmth to make everyone around them feel seen and celebrated.

Ruled by the sun, this fiery star sign loves to take the lead. Whether it be a group project at work or making evening plans for the club, whatever they do, it comes from the heart with the greatest intention. Beneath their confidence lies a tender pride that locks up their deep insecurities. Think: the lockbox in Titanic that held the Heart of The Ocean tight (yeah, that tight). This can cause a Leo to be stubborn, sensitive and reluctant to ask for help. However, with their fierce loyalty, Leo's will stand up for those they love in the face of injustice.

But let's say you cross a Leo? Yikes. They may forgive, but they likely won’t forget because this August zodiac may even try to reclaim control of future situations. Leo’s bright flame longs for admiration and connection, but once their egos are bruised, they can distance themselves from whomever they hold dear. 

Some of the world’s most iconic Leos have lit up stages, screens and even the political world. Some you might have expected, while others may even surprise you. Barack Obama, Sandra Bullock, and Madonna are just a few Leo legends that sport the leo birthstone that we hold close to our hearts. Crazy, right?

WHAT IS THE LEO BIRTHSTONE?

 

 

Leo's birthstone, peridot, is primarily composed of the mineral olivine, found in Earth’s upper mantle, which explains why this luscious, little birthstone for Leo sports its signature Earthy, green hue. But don't let its freshness deceive you, this stone is old, technically, 4.5 billion years old. This shiny little green devil can be found in pallasite meteorites which are remnants of the solar system’s birth-that’s why this specimen is totally out of this world! (Get it?) And before we get your head into a little Space Jam, most peridot actually comes from the center of the Earth and is delivered to the surface by, you guessed it, volcanos. Que Paris Hilton, ‘that’s hot’. Yes, yes it is. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LEO STAR SIGN, PERIDOT

 

 

The word ‘peridot’ is derived from the Arabic word “fardiat”, which means “gem”. Pretty straightforward, right? But, the birthstone for Leo, peridot, itself truly isn’t that straightforward at all. In fact, it can be traced from all over.

While the stone itself is linked to Ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, and even to the Romans or Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, we see various cultures and time periods equally oohing and aahing over this juicy, viridescent mineral. And honestly? As they, respectfully, should. Even today, Leo's birthstone is honored by marking the 15th year wedding anniversary for couples still swoonworthily in love.

ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE FIRST MENTION OF PERIDOT

The earliest records tell us the story of how the ancient Egyptians discovered a magnificent green specimen somewhere between 340-279 BCE. Regionally now known as St. John’s or Zabargad, this island in the Red Sea was the hotspot for this old shamrock shake-esque looking mineral at the time.

When we peek back into the history books, ancient Egyptians often referred to peridot as the “gem of the sun” and was often associated with light, which makes perfect sense when we consider this from a spiritual standpoint. In this era, ancient juju was a thing, so they would string peridot onto donkey hair to be worn as a bracelet to try to scare off evil spirits, but if they tried to do that in any of the Scary Movie’s do we think this would work? No, I think not. Others, at the time, would simply just cast peridot in gold to protect from “terrors of the night”. Whatever helps you sleep at night.

Funny enough, Cleopatra aka the certified emerald lover, may or may not have been mixing up peridot for emerald in her own well known collection. Oopsie. But if you were the pharaoh-ist of them all with access to your own infested island of glimmering green stones, who cares about confusing fabulous specimens with even more fabulous specimens?

ANCIENT GREEK, ROMAN, AND MIDDLE AGE BELIEFS ABOUT PERIDOT

The Ancient Egyptians might have started one of the first Mr Worldwide trends when it came to the peridot. We see ancient cultures spanning from Greece to Rome, exploding with a deep admiration and devotion to the lavish stone, especially when it comes to the spiritual elements. Greek men and women believed that the wearer would gain nobility. Where do I sign up? Both the Greeks and Romans were in agreement that the peridot was sacred and came from their main deities: Zeus (for the Greeks) and Jupiter (for the Romans).

In the middle ages, people attributed metaphysical and spiritual properties to stones, and the peridot was no exception. Peridot was hailed as the healing stone which caused many individuals to specifically seek out this *cue Gollum’s voice* my precious stone when needing treatment for illnesses or diseases for the eye, such as glaucoma. Peridot was extremely popular throughout the middle ages. Believed to be the stone of St. John, peridot was used as an amulet of protection against sadness, prevention of nightmares and even thought to ward off evil spirits.

HOW THE BIRTHSTONE OF LEO HELPS THEM STAY FIERCE

 

 

Leo’s birthstone, peridot, is celebrated today as a stone for emotional renewal, energetic cleansing, and heart-centered growth. This stone encourages the wearer to release any negative or stagnant emotions like guilt, jealousy or past emotional burdens. While the peridot is often best known to be used in healing or manifestation practices, it can also promote inner peace, abundance, or better yet align the wearer with their highest potential. And who doesn’t want that?

The birthstone for Leo encourages their fiery nature by grounding them within their confidence in their very soul rather than pushing validation to their ego. This magical stone helps Leos understand the difference between performance and authenticity. By aligning Leo with their natural generosity and thoughtfulness, peridot promotes their warmth by keeping their light radiant, genuine, and empowering to others. If Peridot isn’t Leo's biggest supporter, then we don’t know who (or what) else is.

NOT A LEO? YOU CAN STILL BENEFIT FROM PERIDOT

 

 

Peridot is not just good for Leos, they are great for everyone! Think back to ancient Egyptian, Greecian, Roman or the medieval times. The Leo’s birthstone rubs its luck off onto its owner and is known as a heart-centered chakra stone. While this promotes emotional healing, it can also remove emotional blockages that may be stunting your growth. Peridot may also bring lightness and positivity from negativity and good fortune or abundance in all things life. Whatever it is that you seek, it seems the birthstone for Leo is a universal stone that suits many needs and helps you shine with the light of your own spirit. Giving you your own personal little lucky charm to put in your back pocket for safe keeping.

FAQS

 

 

WHAT BIRTHSTONE IS A LEO?

Leos don’t have one birthstone, they’re lucky enough to have three: peridot, sardonyx, and spinel. Sardonyx was actually the original birthstone. Sadly it lost its crown snagged, but let's bookmark that beef and rewind for a second. With a history dating 4,000 years ago, sardonyx comes in rich variants of red, brown, orange, white and even black.

Sardonyx represents strength, courage, happiness and communication. Spinel, on the other hand, is a more modern treasure that was discovered in Sri Lanka. Although it’s been around for ages, it was recently that spinel was identified as its own distinct mineral. Varying in shades ranging from blue, pink and even purple, it has been dubbed as the “poor man’s ruby”. But don’t let that fool you, this gem isn’t second best. Spinel represents revitalization, boosts physical strength and even helps align thoughts with purpose. Now that’s what we call a Leo worthy lineup!

WHAT COLOR IS LEO’S BIRTHSTONE?

The lucky Leo has a gradient of green to choose from when it comes to the peridot. And while it’s common to find this gem in a four leaf clover shade, this stunner thankfully won’t send you off with an Irish goodbye. Peridot is very demure, very mindful. If you’re hungry, and need to feed that appetite, then look no further! This precious jewel can be found in the most delicious deep olive tones to the glorious chartreuse yellow/green hues. I wouldn’t recommend sticking it into a martini glass, though, because you’d look more like a tasty little snack with that peridot on your neckline. Whatever your flavor, you can gladly find an arrangement of succulent shades to wear anywhere. Peridot is also pear-able, so pair a bracelet, necklace, or ring, and you’re bound to make any friend go green with envy.

WHAT OTHER GEMSTONES ARE GOOD FOR LEOS TO HAVE?

Besides the main three birthstones, there are many other gems that boost the fiery Leo. Take the sunstone, citrine or carnelian for example. They radiate warmth and represent heat, and for all you little pyros out there who like to play with fire (yes, we're talking to you), this is your perfect trifecta. chefs kiss With sunstone, it encourages the wearer to step into leadership roles, while pushing the ego onto the backburner. The sunkissed citrine manifests Leo’s ultimate goals while pushing towards an uplifting mindset. Carnelian, on the other hand, stimulates Leos inner drive to create something from themselves, and for those they care about. Any of these summery stones will fan the Leo’s inner flames, igniting a whirlwind of positivity and resilience. Together, they are a powerful force to be reckoned with, like a fortified barrier against negative energy, all thanks to the magic of mother nature herself.

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF PERIDOT?

With a level of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, peridot needs to take it easy, unlike that last text message you sent to your ex, so avoid anything too acidic on the pH scale. Yes, that means to lay off the cutesy ‘girl summer’ pics by the pool, suntan lotion, chlorine and all. Peridot may be ancient, but you still need to respect your elders. Hasn’t your mother taught you anything? If cleaned, it should be treated with the utmost care, like the baby birds in the dawn dish soap commercials. All you need is a soft-bristle toothbrush, mild dish soap, some patience and Pink Pony Club blasting in the background. While keeping an eye out for Selener, avoid all ultrasonic cleaners, irritants and hard wear. If you’re a rough girly like me, you’d better opt to store your peridot jewelry somewhere safe to avoid inevitable scratching. That way, you can preserve your precious peridot for generations to come.

HONOR THE LEO IN YOUR LIFE WITH A PERIDOT RING FROM OLIVIA EWING JEWELRY

 

 

Whether you are seeking a peridot for its physical properties or for an engagement piece to stick on that gorgeous ring finger of yours, there are many opportunities that await at Olivia Ewing Jewelry. Not adding this succulent stunner to your collection would come with infinite regrets. Let us help guide you into creating your custom dream ring or navigate your own unique journey of purchasing a truly one of a kind piece. Celebrate the Leo in your life with an exquisite ring featuring the Leo birthstone, peridot. You can also check out our Rough Montana Sapphire Gemstones for another stunning and unique option. What are you waiting for?

  

Meet the Author: Olivia Ewing