Peridot is one of the three birthstones for August, the other two being spinel and sardonyx. It is also the gem given to celebrate the sixteenth wedding anniversary.
Gemstone lovers associate this gemstone with light. Consequently, this gem is also called the jewel of light. And Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun.” For this reason, people believe that the gem can safeguard owners from “terrors of the night,” particularly so when you set it set in gold.
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Peridot is the greenish-yellow to a yellowish-green variety of gemstone-grade mineral olivine. Non-gem-quality olivine is known as forsterite. Peridots must have a high clarity rating to be considered gem-quality. Earlier, people confused this gem with emerald or topaz because of its color.
Some scholars suspect that the legendary emerald collection of queen Cleopatra may have included peridots too. Also, Germany’s Cologne Cathedral is home to The Shrine of the Three Holy Kings. Two hundred carats of gems bejewel the shrine. For centuries together, people thought these gems to be emerald. But, they are, in fact, peridots.
The Arabic word faridat means a gem. It is also the etymological root of the name of our gemstone peridot.
This gemstone was sacred to many ancient cultures. Priests performing religious ceremonies as early as the second century BCE wore this gem on their jewelry. Later, the churches of medieval Europe studded this stone onto their chalices to keep them close to holy water.
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Where Do You Find Peridot? |
Geziret El Zabargad, also known as St. John’s Island, is a small island in Foul Bay, Egypt. Ancient people called it Topazios island. It is the oldest known source of Peridot on record. Despite yielding high-quality premium gemstone material, the island earned nicknames such as “The Island of Death” and “Snake Island.” Savage conditions and snake infestation gave the island this moniker.
The United-states, Vietnam, Tanzania, Pakistan, Myanmar, and China supply a significant chunk of gemstone grade peridot. We also find Peridot amidst the luminous green grains of sand on Peridot beach, Hawaii.
One of the world’s most prolific suppliers of peridot is the Pyaung-Gaung region in Mogok, Burma (now known as Myanmar). Peridot from Pyaung-Gaung is typically yellowish-green. However, the highest-quality specimens here are rich olive green and come in large sizes (above 10 carats).
The stone also exists on meteorites. It hitchhiked a ride to our planet when the meteorites fell on earth. But such extraterrestrial minerals are scarce and valuable. So you will seldom see them on jewelry.
Kyaukpon is a mountainous region near the famous gem city of Mogok in Burma. The rock crevices on the Northern slopes of the mountains stash away pockets of loose peridot crystals. Gem quality peridot found here displays deep color and excellent transparency.
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The Southwestern state of Arizona is the foremost supplier of Peridot in the United States. The San Carlos Apache Reservation area is also flush with olivine-rich rocks. Successive generations of local Apache families have been mining here for many years.
Most connoisseurs concur that peridots from Egypt and Burma are a cut above peridots from Arizona in color. Also, supply from the former regions is scarce. As such, they command higher prices. Fine gemstone material from Pakistan also enjoys premium prices.ncur that peridots from Egypt and Burma are a cut above peridots from Arizona in color. Also, supply from the former regions is scarce. As such, they command higher prices. Fine gemstone material from Pakistan also enjoys premium prices.
Umpteen numbers of olivine-bearing meteorites continue to strike the earth from time to time. But only some of them carry gemstone-quality Peridot. So some of the peridot gemstones have extraterrestrial origins.
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Chromophore or Coloring Agent in Peridot? |
Peridot is a gem-quality form of the mineral Olivine or Chrysolite. Its chemical formula is (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. The proportion of Magnesium to Iron in the crystalline structure varies greatly. For example, forsterites are Crystals with higher content of Magnesium. On the other hand, we call the crystals with higher iron content (Ferum) Fayalite.
Trace minerals color virtually all gems. These are present as impurities in the gem’s crystalline structure. However, constituent elements themselves color the gem in a few exceptional cases. Such self-colored gems are known as idiochromatic gems. Peridot is one such idiochromatic gem. It is colored olive-green by iron, an integral constituent of its molecule. For this same reason, Peridot exists only in green color. However, it may exist in different shades of green.
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Peridot in Jewelry? |
Humans have used Peridot in jewelry since ancient times. Throughout history, the Egyptians, the Victorians, and royalty have used it in jewelry as an emblem of affluence.
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Caring For & Cleaning Gemstone For This Gemstone |
Peridot scores 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. It denotes that the stone is on the softer side. The stone is not able to withstand accidental hard knocks. Therefore, it is not advisable to use them on rings or bracelets where they are prone to unintentional thumps. Peridot is more suitable for pendants and brooches.
The acid in your sweat can also mar the stone. So clean it regularly but delicately. Never try to clean it with steam or inside an ultrasonic cleaner. Instead, use a very soft brush to wash it with warm water and mild dishwashing soap.
Also, like all other gemstones, store your Peridot too with care. Prevent any rubbing and friction with other gems and jewelry metals in storage.
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The Four Cs of Peridot Buying |
Peridots occur in only one color, which is green. Yet, they can occur in many different shades of green. However, a pure green hue in moderately strong saturation is the most desirable hue for this gemstone.
A moderately saturated yellowish-green hue is the most desired color for this gemstone. As a result, connoisseurs pay the highest dollars for gems displaying this color.
Nevertheless, if your favorite color is a particular shade of green, you will find Peridot that matches your choice. Peridots are known on the one hand for their deep, emerald-like colors and, on the other hand, for their almost neon brightness. In addition, gems from different geographical origins show varying shades of green.
A gem’s transparency and factors affecting the transmission of light through its body determine the clarity attribute.
Peridots are typically eye-clean. In other words, they don’t have inclusions visible to your naked eye. Even so, we can see inclusions in most peridots under magnification. An inclusion typical to Peridots is the reflective, disk-shaped inclusion known as “lily pads.”
More prominent eye-visible inclusions mar the value of Peridot. So, do the presence of too many inclusions, which render the stone cloudy. Also, they weaken the gem’s structural integrity, making it liable to break.
Peridots can be difficult to cut due to their lily pad inclusions. Moreover, they are difficult to detect while faceting and often behave like cleavage planes. Therefore, you should get an expert to analyze a rough material if you fancy buying it.
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Peridots are tricky to cut. Yet, lapidaries cut them in a wide variety of shapes and cutting styles. Gem production ranges from traditional standard cuts to more experimental designs. Cutters shape the gem into forms like round, oval, pear, cushion, triangle, and marquise, among others.
Gem-carvers also fashion this gemstone with various cutting styles. Step-cuts with parallel facets in concentric rows, Brilliant cuts consisting of triangular & kite-shaped facets, and mixed cuts usually consisting of brilliant-cut crowns and step-cut pavilions are all suitable and used for this gemstone. Gemsmiths also create designer cuts by hand or by machines. Cabochons, beads, and carvings are also well-loved.
Checkerboard cuts camouflage inclusions effectively in unclear peridots, while cornered cut is well suited with clear ones.
Peridot exhibits the property of dual refractive indices known as Birefringence. This optical property affects the movement of light and can make the gemstone appear fuzzy. Therefore, cutters must skillfully orient the stone to focus the reflections appearing through the table facets.
Another beguiling property of Peridot is the optical phenomenon called pleochroism. Pleochroic gems display different colors when viewed from different angles. A weak pleochroism effect manifests itself in a few peridots. When you see such gems from different viewing angles, you see green or yellow-green colors. Skillful cutters can enhance the Pleochroic effect by applying optimal orientation to the crystal axis.
Non-faceted cabochons cut peridots may exhibit the rare cat’s eye and star stone effects. The lensing effect of the convex gem shape causes this phenomenon.
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Peridot is a relatively affordable stone in sizes under one carat. Stones above 3 carats are rare and valuable. Furthermore, the value rises rapidly over 10 carats.
Peridot measures 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It represents a fair to a good level of toughness and means that the gem is durable enough for many types of jewelry. Nevertheless, some precautions are necessary. A sharp blow may split this gem due to the inherent cleavage planes.
Also, their relatively low hardness means that they can be scratched & chipped easily. Consequently, you have to choose a protective setting to safeguard the gem. The bezel is an intelligent choice because it insulates and protects the jewel from all sides with metal. As opposed to this, never place peridots in tension settings. The gem might not be able to take the pressure and split.
Peridots are sensitive to acids and heat. Therefore, do not clean them with cleaning agents as they might be acidic. Also, steer clear of sudden temperature changes. For example, don’t take your ringed hand straight from a refrigerator into an oven. It could shatter the stone.
Please don’t wear them for a long time at a stretch. Prolonged contact with the skin may decolor the stone.
Further, don’t use steaming, boiling, or mechanical ultrasound for cleaning—instead, clean Peridots with a soft brush, mild detergent, and lukewarm water only.
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