Peridot Elegance

The ancient Egyptians called peridot "the gem of the sun". August's lush birthstone has a rich history: some historians even think that Cleopatra's famed emerald collection may have been primarily peridot. Sought after for its restful, bright-green hue with hints of yellow, peridots are universally appealing. Read on to learn more about this gorgeous gemstone!

Peridots are sought after for their grassy green color. Peridot colors will range from green with hints of yellow to yellow with hints of green, olive green, and even brownish green. Often, the larger peridots have the purest green tone. 

Peridot is mined in its rough crystalline form from nodules in igneous rocks. Found in areas as close as Arizona, the primary location for mining peridot is in Vietnam. Wonderful peridot can also be found in Italy, as well as areas such as Myanmar, Finland, and Pakistan. Some peridot has even been found in meteorites. 

Peridot of the highest quality have a vivid, rich green color with no hints of yellow. The quality of the peridot moves down if the stone has hints of yellow, or if the color is too brown. A perfect peridot is a pure, grassy green. Like diamonds, many peridots have inclusions. The value of the stones fluctuates depending on how visible these imperfections are. 

When buying a peridot, consider the four following things: cut, color, clarity, and carat. Simply put, what shape and size would you like your new stone to be? When you know this, it's a fun and exciting process to choose the stone that best meets your budget. The cost will differ depending on the color and clarity of your stone. 

Peridot is the birthstone of August. Vivid in color, this bright stone is an elegant contrast to the heavy warmth of late summer, and is as precious as it is lovely. Contact me today to begin your own project featuring peridot! 

Photo credit for the loose stones and research information: Gemological Institute of America