Peridot

  

Peridot is a well-known and ancient gemstone, with jewelry pieces dating all the way back to the Pharaohs in Egypt. The gem variety of the mineral Olivine, it makes a lovely light green to olive-green gemstone. The intensity of color depends on the amount of iron present in a Peridot's chemical structure; the more iron it contains the deeper green it will be. The most desirable color of Peridot is deep olive-green with a slight yellowish tint. Deeper olive-green tones tend to be more valuable than lighter colored greens and yellowish-greens.

• Varieties: Peridot top grades: medium to dark, slightly yellowish-green. Chrysolite ? greenish-yellow, light to dark yellowish-green to brownish-green to almost brown.
• Sources: Sri Lanka, Island of Zeberget (Egypt), Burma, USA, Mexico.
• Toughness: Fair to good.
• Treatments: Peridot is not enhanced or heat-treated to improve its color. Occasionally, Peridot is treated with colorless oils, waxes, or resins to fill voids or surface fractures and to improve the gem's appearance or surface luster. Any enhancements to Peridot should be disclosed on the gemstone's bill of sale.
• History: The fabled origin of Peridot stretches back to Ancient Egypt, on the volcanic island of Zebargad in the Red Sea. Peridot was so treasured by the Ancient Egyptians that they kept the island's location a secret. With the fall of the Egyptian empire, the island became lost to antiquity, and was only rediscovered in 1906.
• Cuts & Uses: Those of us born in August know that we have a Peridot birthstone. Its green color is inspiring, evoking the color of summer foliage. But turning raw Peridot into jewelry requires a lot of delicate work. Peridot crystal comes out of the ground in rough shapes that need cutting and polishing to make it ready to become something special.