Peridot

Known as the “evening gemstone” because its color intensifies in the moonlight.

About Peridot

Known as the “evening gemstone” because its color intensifies in the moonlight. Peridot is most closely associated with exotic pale greens often with overtones of yellow. Olive greens with brownish overtones are also found and in exceedingly rare cases deep emerald green color are unearthed.

Peridot was first mentioned in writings dating to 300 B.C. and found by the Egyptians at Zabargad, a Red Sea island. Treasured by native Hawaiians whose ancient mythology termed these rarities, “Tears of the Goddess,” Pele. Volcanic eruptions have produced many Peridot large enough to be cut into gems.

Even the beaches of Oahu contain tiny grains of the pale green gem in their sands. Native American tribes of the San Carlos region in Arizona mine the majority of today’s Peridot, smaller than five carats. Larger sized stones are found at 15,000 feet above sea level in the Kashmir region of the Himalayas in Pakistan.

Look

Peridot is most closely associated with exotic pale greens often with overtones of yellow. Olive greens with brownish overtones are also found and in exceedingly rare cases deep emerald green color are unearthed.

Lore

Treasured by native Hawaiians whose ancient mythology termed these rarities, “Tears of the Goddess,” Pele. Volcanic eruptions have produced many Peridot large enough to be cut into gems. Even the beaches of Oahu contain tiny grains of the pale green gem in their sands.

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Tradition

MONTH: August

ANNIVERSARY: 16th

ZODIAC: Libra

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Chemistry

MINERAL: Olivine

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: (MgFe)2SiO4

COLOR: Pale Greens

REFRACTIVE INDEX: 1.65 to 1.69

SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 3.34

MOHS HARDNESS: 6.5 to 7

WHY WE LOVE PERIDOT

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Extraterrestrial

Peridot crystals are found in meteorites: some rare extraterrestrial crystals are even big enough to facet as cut gemstones.

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Iron Gem

Most gems are colored by impurities such as iron. Peridot's color is intrinsically yellow-green. Higher-quality stones have an intense color.

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Seeing Double

Peridot has extremely high double refraction: when you look closely through the gem, you can see two of each pavilion facet.

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