Learn About Peridot
Unlike most gemstones that come in different colors, peridot is found only in olive green. It's a special gem, for sure!
Peridot
- Olivine
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Leo Virgo
- Prosperity, Good fortune
- August Birthstone
Round
Pear
Oval
Round
Pear 
OvalOverview
Peridot, the mesmerizing birthstone of August, has been admired for its splendor since the ancient times. This gem is a variety of the mineral olivine and is formed deep within the mantle of the earth. It is brought to the surface by volcanic activity.
There are many folklores attached to the captivating peridot. One of these includes a story about Egyptian sailors who made their way to a deserted island. On the island, they found olive colored stones scattered on the ground.
1. Key Origin
- Peridot is mined in various areas of Burma, Norway, Arizona, Hawaii and the islands of the Red Sea, among others.
- A discovery of the finest peridot stone made in Pakistan, in the early 1990s.
- These lustrous stones were then carried back to Egypt where they were cut, polished and exhibited by the royalty
2. Associations
- The ancient Egyptians bestowed upon pridot the title “gem of the sun”
- This gem was also believed to have several other properties that provided a number of benefits, including good health, relief from anxiety and abundance of wealth.
- Legends claimed that peridot promoted happiness and self-esteem
Properties
Rated 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
01Hardness & Strength
Peridots have been rated 6.5 to 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness. They may not be extremely durable in comparison to many other gems, but peridot stones are still widely used in almost all types of jewelry, including everyday-wear pieces. A peridot is not particularly sensitive to acid, but it is prone to scratches.
02Treatment
This gem is hardly ever subjected to treatments. In rare cases, however, peridots are enhanced with colorless oils or resins to reduce the visibility of inclusions and to improve the overall clarity. Pale colored stones may be coated with green foil to give them a deeper hue. Synthetic peridots are also produced but are not common.
Know About Other Gems
Peridot
"Unlike most gemstones that come in different colors, peridot is found only in olive green. It's a special gem, for sure!”
- Olivine
- Yellowish green, Deep dark olive, Yellow-green
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Leo Virgo
- Prosperity, Good fortune
- August
- Round
Pear
Oval
Know About Other Gems
Garnet
Don't garnets remind you of pomegranate seeds? Well, turns out their name actually comes from a Latin word that means pomegranate!
- Silicate
- Primarily red
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Capricorn Aquarius
- Love, Friendship, Passion
- January
Amethyst
Amethyst is love in a gem! St. Valentine too is believed to have worn an amethyst ring with Cupid’s image.
- Quartz
- Purple, Pale lilac, Deep reddish purple
- 7 Mohs
-
Aquarius Pisces
- Wisdom, Peace, Good fortune
- February
Citrine
In the middle ages, citrine was also called the ‘merchant's stone’ as it was believed to bring success and prosperity.
- Quartz
- Yellow-orange, Pale yellow
- 7 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Positivity, Optimism
- November
Aquamarine
From its hue to its name, everything about aquamarine swirls around water. No wonder the mermaids called it their own!
- Beryl
- Pale blue, Greenish blue, Pastel blue
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Aries Pisces
- Serenity, Clarity, Harmony
- March
Ruby
Did you know ruby and sapphire are cousins? They come from the same mineral family, which is corundum!
- Corundum
- Red
- 9 Mohs
-
Cancer Leo
- Love, Power, Passion
- July
Moonstone
Moonstone was declared the state gem of Florida in 1970 to honor NASA’s lunar landing and the Kennedy Space Center.
- Feldspar
- Colorless, White
- 6 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Gemini Cancer
- Good fortune, Luck
- June
Morganite
Morganites were named after J.P. Morgan, who wasn't just a genius in all things finance, but a gem enthusiast too.
- Beryl
- Pale pink, Peach
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Romance, Love, Harmony
Onyx
Many cultures believed onyx could absorb negativity. In fact, the more negativity it absorbed, the darker it became!
- Silicate
- Primarily black
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Courage, Power, Good fortune
Opal
Ancient legends suggest opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. That probably explains why this gem is so magical!
- Hydrated Silica
- All colors
- 5 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Hope, Purity, Truth
- October
Emerald
Cleopatra was crazy about emeralds! She even took over a few Greek mines, hoping to keep all the jewels for herself.
- Beryl
- Green, Bluish green, Deep green
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Taurus Gemini
- Good fortune, Balance, Growth
- May
Rhodolite
Rhodolite gets its name from the Greek word ‘rhodon’ which means ‘rose.’ Such an apt name for this pretty stone!
- Garnet group of minerals
- Rose pink - deep purple
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
- Positivity
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz isn't just a pretty gem. It's believed to attract love and bring in peace and tenderness to your life.
- Quartz
- Shades of pink
- 7 Mohs
- Love, Harmony
Sapphire
The most obsessed-over sapphire in the world is the 12-carat stunner on Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.
- Corundum
- Every color but red
- 9 Mohs
-
Libra Virgo
- Truth, Sincerity, Loyalty
- September
Swiss Blue Topaz
Wear a topaz and it could make you invisible in times of emergency. Farfetched? Well, that's what the Ancient Greeks believed!
- Silicate
- Yellow, Orange, Brown
- 8 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Love, Loyalty
- November
Tanzanite
Though a new discovery, tanzanites could quickly become extinct! It's because they're mined in only one place on Earth.
- Zoisite
- Violet purple, Bluish violet
- 6 to 7 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Abundance, New beginnings
- December
Tourmaline
Self-love is the best kind of love and tourmaline is considered to be the best gem to help you in this journey.
- Silicate
- All colors
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Friendship, Compassion
- October
Tsavorite
Tsavorites may look like emeralds, but in reality, they are roughly 200 times rarer than emeralds.
- Garnet group of minerals
- Green
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Strength, Vitality, Positivity
Turquoise
Would you believe us if we told you that the gorgeous turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in the world?
- Turquoise
- Blue, Greenish blue
- 5 to 6 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Positivity, Happiness
- December
The 4C’s
The below-mentioned factors help determine a peridot’s true value:
- Color
- Carat
- Clarity
- Cuts
01Color
- Peridot has a really narrow color spectrum that ranges from a deep dark olive to a lighter yellow-green color.
- Light toned peridots are understandably more affordable than stones with a vivid saturated green.
- Real peridots display the same color during the day and night, and even under artificial lighting.
02Carat
- This vivacious gemstone is relatively inexpensive in smaller sizes, but there is a notable rise in the worth of a stone weighing over 10 carats.
- Fine quality peridots weighing more than 50 carats, though rare, are also available.
- The largest cut peridot weighs 319 carats and can be found at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
03Clarity
- Most high-quality peridots are eye-clean i.e. they do not have any inclusions visible to the naked eye.
- Reflective, disk-like inclusions called "lily pads" are another type of inclusion that can be seen in peridots.
- Peridot gems with good clarity are not rare, and therefore blurry or cloudy versions of this gemstone must be avoided.
04Cuts
- A good quality cut significantly elevates the beauty and brilliance of a peridot.
- It is usually available in an assortment of shapes and cuts, such as round, oval, pear, cushion, triangle, and marquise, among others.
- Step cuts like square or rectangular emerald are also very popular.
Quality & Grading
Even though there is no standardized scale to rank peridots, they can be graded into the following categories of quality
| Gem Quality | Color | Clarity | Brilliance | Rareness | Shop Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heirloom (AAAA) |  Green | Eye Clean | Very High | Top 1% |
Classic Prong-Set Round Peridot Solitaire Pendant$969 |
| Best (AAA) |  Yellowish Green | Eye Clean | High | Top 10% |
V-Bale Pear-Shaped Peridot Solitaire Pendant$799 |
| Better (AA) |  Medium Yellowish Green | Slightly Included | Medium | Top 33% |
Thin Shank Cushion Cut Peridot Ring With Diamond Accents$1539 |
| Good (A) |  Light Yellowish Green | Slightly Included | Low | Top 75% |
Bezel-Set Round Peridot Solitaire Pendant$509 |
Latest Pick from Peridot Jewelry
Rings
Earrings
Bracelets
Necklaces
Half Eternity Seven Stone Peridot Wedding Ring
$1329
Solitaire Peridot Infinity Knot Ring
$1279
Vintage Style Cushion Peridot Solitaire Ring
$1369
Three Stone Round Peridot Ring with Diamond Accents
$1569
Peridot and Diamond Twisted Vine Ring
$2159
Care Instructions
The peridot is an exceptionally beautiful gemstone, and with a little extra care will remain lustrous for years to come. Here are a few tips that will help it stay spotless.
FAQs
1. Is peridot a natural gemstone?
Yes, peridot is a natural gemstone formed deep within the Earth’s mantle and brought to the surface through volcanic activity. It has also been found in meteorites, making it one of the few gemstones with extraterrestrial origins.
2. What gives peridot its green color?
The green color of peridot comes from the iron content within its chemical structure. Unlike many gemstones, its color is intrinsic to its composition and not caused by impurities.
3. Is peridot always green?
Yes, peridot is always green due to its iron content, which gives it its characteristic color. However, the shades can range from yellow-green to olive green, depending on the amount of iron present.
4. What makes peridot different from other green gemstones?
Peridot is unique because its green color is due to its natural chemical composition, unlike green gemstones such as emeralds or tourmalines, which owe their colors to impurities.
5. Does peridot have inclusions?
Most peridots have some inclusions, often in the form of tiny black spots or disk-shaped inclusions known as ‘lily pads.’ High-quality peridots may appear clearer to the naked eye.
