Stop into our store to view our selection of Peridot.

"Wear a peridot or for thee,
No conjugal fidelity,
The August born without this stone,
'Tis said, must live unloved alone."

Read more below about peridot.

Peridot

Peridot (pronounced pair-a-dot or pair-uh-doe) is a transparent yellowish-green magnesium-iron silicate and is the gem-quality transparent variety of forsteritic olivine. Olivine, which is actually not an official mineral, is composed of two minerals: fayalite and forsterite.

Peridot is the modern August birthstone and the gem designated for the 16th wedding anniversary. The color of olivine ranges from olive to lime green, sometimes with a brownish tinge. The green color is due to the presence of iron, while the brownish tinge indicates a higher iron content. Because of the way peridot splits and bends the rays of light passing through it, it has a velvety appearance, a rich glow, and a slightly greasy luster. The purer green a peridot is the higher the value. Any tinges of brown or visible flaws greatly diminish the price.

It is not clear whether the word peridot comes from the Arabic word faridat, which means gem or if it is derived from the French word peritot which means unclear, probably due to the inclusions and cloudy nature of large stones. The French were the first to call this yellow-green stone peridot in the 18th century. Before then, peridot was known as topaz.

Peridot has been mined as a gemstone for an estimated four thousand years and is mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name of pitdah. It was used by the Egyptians as early as 1500 BC and was regarded as the "Gem of the Sun." The Greeks believed that it brought royal dignity upon its wearer. During the Middle Ages, Peridot was pierced, then strung on the hair of a donkey and attached to the left arm to ward off evil spirits. The Crusaders thought that Peridot were emeralds, and brought them back to Europe where they were featured as ornaments in churches. Peridot gems along with other gems were probably used in the fabled Breastplates of the Jewish High Priest, artifacts that have never been found. The Greeks and Romans referred to peridot as topazion and topazius respectively and this name was later given to topaz, to end the confusion with the two gem. Historical legend says that peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra, although at the time they were called emeralds.

Zabargad island in the Red Sea, formerly Saint John's Island or the Isle of Serpents, has been mined for Peridot since 1500 B.C.. It is a small desolate island -- nothing grows, there is no fresh water, and it is hot all year round except the middle of winter. In some locations on the island, fissures are lined with gem crystals ranging from millimeters to several centimeters. Beaches near the deposits have a greenish hue due to tiny green Peridot crystals.

Most of the world production of peridot comes from the San Carlos Native American Reservation in Arizona where there is an abundant source of lessor quality material while peridot from Myanmar, Pakistan and Egypt is more rare and finer quality. Price for stones from these areas will be higher and similar to prices for other top quality colored gems. Other sources include China, Brazil, and Pakistan.

Throughout time, peridot has been confused with many other gemstones, even emerald. Many "emeralds" of royal treasures have turned out to be peridots! And although peridot is distinctly a different shade of green, many jewelers refer to peridot as "evening emerald" or "poor man's emerald."

Peridot does not react well to heat. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Peridot should never be cleaned with a steam cleaner or an ultrasonic cleaning machine. Peridot can be cleaned with most any commercial jewelry cleaner or mild soap and lukewarm water using a soft brush. Be sure to rinse and dry your jewelry thoroughly after cleaning.

For more information check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peridot