August Birthstone: Peridot

Peridot the birthstone for August and the traditional gemstone gifted for 16 years of marriage. Peridot is a word that comes from the Arabic ‘faridat’ which means ‘gem’. Well known for being formed under extreme conditions. It can be found in hardened larva that carried it from deep within the earths mantle as well as in meteorites that travelled from space. We don’t think that there could possibly be a more extreme way of forming a beautiful gemstone. Peridot is generally a green to yellowish green gem; however, the finest colour is green without any hint of yellow or brown. Throughout history this stunning stone was something confused with the likes of topaz and emerald. So much so, that The Shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral is decorated with 200 carats of gems that were believed to be emeralds but are actually Peridot.

 

Green Pear Shaped Peridot

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LET’S TALK SCIENCE

Gem quality specimen of the mineral Olivine are called Peridot. Peridot’s chemical composition is a Magnesium Iron Silicate, but instead of Iron being the colour causing mineral, it is part of its chemical composition and forming in the Orthorhombic crystal structure. Meaning Peridot is a Silicate of Iron and Magnesium. Often forming in volcanic rocks called basalt, miners find it as irregular nodules in some lava flows in the US, China, & Vietnam where crystals are very rarely more than 1ct in weight. It is also one of the only gems found in the world which has originated from outer space, in the form of a meteorite that fell to the ground in the US state of Kentucky. These extra-terrestrial stones are extremely rare, and you’re not likely to see it in a retail store. These often-become mineralogists collector stones.

 

PROTECT YOUR PERIDOTS

PROTECT YOUR PERIDOTS

Peridot is a softer gemstone than many others, achieving only a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on Mohs hardness scale. So, care should be taken when wearing such a gem in rings, also it does not cope well with rapid temperature change, extreme hot to cold which might happen during repairs with a flame torch.

Please ensure that you take your Peridot jewellery to a professional and experienced jewellers for any repairs. Steam cleaners also are not recommended for cleaning, merely warm water with a mild detergent. This gemstone is better suited for wearing as pendants & earrings. In addition, Peridot is one of very few gems on the market that can boast its lack of heat treatment.

 

 

HISTORY & MINING

HISTORY & MINING

Peridot has always been associated with light, Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun”. Some believe it protects the wearer from “terrors of the night” especially when set in yellow gold. From earliest times Peridot has been mined in Egypt, in fact the crusaders brought it back to Europe in the Middle Ages where it had been mined on an island in the Red Sea called Topazios now known as St. John’s for over 3,500 years.

Most commercial quality gems come from Arizona in the US & China. Commercial quality stones typically have a predominant yellow tone or patches/tones of brown and can be quite included, however normally transparent. The finer quality stones often come from Myanmar formerly Burma and more recently from a source high in the Himalayas of Pakistan. These are often much larger stones and are virtually transparent, described as “a cutters dream”.

 

 

COLOURFUL

COLOURFUL

Peridot can be found in jewellery, often combined with other gems of contrasting colours - Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet to name a few. So whether on its own, with diamonds or mixed with complimentary colours, enjoy this stone and may it give you calm night’s sleep and bring “light into your life”.

 

 

INTRESTING NOTES

We have found some information on Peridot that you may find interesting...

Peridot Vs Emerald

Peridot Vs Emerald

Throughout history, peridot has been wrongly classified as emerald numerous times. Legend has it that Cleopatra’s famous collection of emerald jewels were in fact peridots, while the 200 carats of green gems gracing the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, which were for centuries believed to be emeralds, are, in fact, peridots.

The Edwardian Era

The Edwardian Era

The popularity of Peridots peaked in the Victorian and Edwardian eras when bright and colourful gemstones were the fashionable choice. Edward VII of England, after whom the Edwardian era was named, loved Peridots so much that he declared they were his favourite gemstone.

Habsburg Peridot Parure

Habsburg Peridot Parure

The most famous collection of Peridot jewellery belonged to the Austrian Grand Duchess Isabella. The Habsburg Peridot Parure features a tiara, necklace and earrings. In 2001, this regal suite of peridot jewels was sold by Sotheby’s London to the New York antique jewellery specialist Fred Leighton.