All about Peridots

The Evening Emerald

First mined by the Egyptians and popular with the Romans, Peridot is a gemstone that has rather fallen out of favour in recent times. With its unusual muted olive green colour, it is a perennial favourite whenever fashion trends swing to the exotic or unusual. Increased supply of gemstone quality Peridot from Pakistan has also set off something of a renaissance in this often overlooked gemstone. Peridot jewellery is now making something of a comeback in the shops and on the catwalk.

What is Peridot?

Peridot is the gemstone form of the mineral Olivine. The green colour comes from traces of iron deposited with the crystal lattice.

What makes a good Peridot? Back to top

Although Olivine is one of the most common minerals on earth, it is very rare for it to form gemstone quality deposits. Crystals are frequently marred by inclusions, cracks or other flaws rendering it opaque rather than transparent. The main thing to look for in a peridot gemstone therefore is its clarity and transparency. Colour can also affect the value, with the richer, stronger colours fetching higher prices. Peridot is also quite a fragile gemstone and difficult to cut as it can easily crack if due care is not taken. Once it has been cut into shape though, and all the weaknesses excised it becomes a perfectly durable gemstone. Because of the frequent inclusions and the difficulty in working them, although smaller peridots are relatively inexpensive, large, perfectly clear ones increase rapidly in price the larger they are.

How to care for PeridotsBack to top

Peridots are one of the softer gemstones and due care should be taken not to knock it or scratch it on hard surfaces. It is often set in earrings and necklaces, where the risk of a bump is much less than rings or bracelets for this reason. When kept away it should ideally not be kept with other harder gemstones such as amethysts, quartz or diamonds as these may scratch or chip the peridot if they rub against it. It should be kept away from chemical cleaners, but use of an ultrasonic cleaner will normally be safe.

Famous PeridotsBack to top

The largest cut peridot gemstone on display weighs 310 carats and can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. Another famous peridot adorns the shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

Myths and legendsBack to top

In medieval times Peridots were believed to ward off evil spirits and nightmares. The fullest potency was only realised if the peridot was set in gold and, according to some authorities, worn on the right arm. It has also been associated with healing, particularly of diseases thought to be brought about by cold winds, such as asthma and tuberculosis. Peridot is also known as the "evening emerald" as it was thought to glow brightest at night

Peridot is the birthstone for August and also the traditional gemstone for a 16th wedding anniversary.

Place of originBack to top

Peridot is mined in many places in the US as well as other major gemstone producing countries such as Australia, Brazil, Mexico and Myanmar (Burma). A new deposit discovered in Pakistan in the 1990s has yielded some of the best gemstones ever seen so is becoming a major new source as it is developed.

Technical information Back to top