Peridot is a well-known and ancient gemstone, with jewelry pieces dating all the way back to the Pharaohs in Egypt. Zabargad Island, also known as St. John’s Island, located in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, is believed to be the earliest known source for peridot. Workers were forced to mine the gems for the Pharaoh’s treasury day and night and legend has it that trespassers were put to death.
Called the ‘Gem of the Sun', the Egyptians were fascinated with peridot, and made them into Talisman to ward off evil. It is believed that many of Cleopatra’s emeralds, her favorite gemstone, were in fact, peridot. Travelers at the time were not yet familiar with the rare stone and it is believed that they mistook it for the darker green gemstone they already knew. With it’s rich history, it’s no wonder that Egypt’s national gem is Peridot.
THE COLOR
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: olive green. The intensity and tint of the green however depends on the percentage of iron contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual Peridot gems can vary from yellowish green and olive, and even to a brownish green but the vibrant chartreuse green stones are the most popular.
INSPIRATION
I love how the colors of gemstones are echoed in other colors in nature. Peridot is one of my favorite gems for this exact reason. It reminds me of Spring, fresh green grass and brightly colored leaves. Nowhere is the landscape more rich in shades of green than in Tuscany. With it’s unmistakable rolling hills, majestic Cypress trees and olive groves, this famed region in Italy offers a visual feast of green and it a constant source of inspiration for me.
FINDING IT
Peridot can be found in many places including Hawaii, Australia, Brazil and Myanmar just to name a few. However, there are two places from which the most beautiful peridot stones are found: the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as the Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona, where the largest volume of quality peridot is found.
DID YOU KNOW?
On the Big Island of Hawaii's southernmost point, is Papakolea Beach or Mahana Beach, one of only three green sand beaches in the world. The beach sand on the undeveloped southern tip is rich in the mineral olivine and gem-quality olivine is what we know as peridot.
MEANING
Peridot is the birthstone for August as well as the 16th wedding anniversary gift.
It is a gem with friendly, happy energy, traits that help in all relationships - both friends and intimate partners. It cleanses the mind and soul of jealousy and anger, bringing a sense of calm and peace. Peridot is also said to increase confidence, patience and assertiveness.
Although I always recommend that you wear the gems that appeal to you, either color or setting, if you are looking for a gift for someone, birthstones are a great starting point, showing that you are looking for something personal and special. And if you're looking for something to add some peace and calm in your life, peridot might be just the perfect addition to your gemstone collection.