August Birthstone Guide


Oval Peridot Gemstone	Round Brilliant Peridot Gemstone	Fancy Cut Peridot Gemstone

Pronunciation: Peridot = PAIR-EE-DOH. Think Prairie Dough. (The T at the end is silent)

Whether you love to wear Peridot jewelry, or just keep loose Peridot gemstones in areas of your home, there is no question about the fantastic look of these gemstones! Peridot gold rings, Peridot gold pendants, Peridot gold earrings...ALL give a great green glow and luster! Peridot is one of the very few jewels that come in only one color: a bright lime-green. It is the anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of marriage. Commonly known as the August birthstone, Peridot is linked to two zodiac signs: Leo and Libra.

Peridot Gemstone Variations

History/Lore of Peridot Gemstone

This lime-green gem has been mined in the Red Sea for over 3,500 years. This favorite jewel of Cleopatra’s was mistaken for the Emerald. In fact, she had quite a collection of Peridot jewels, but thought they were Emeralds! Legend speaks of pirates favoring Peridot as protection against evil spirits; and when Peridot is set in gold, such as in a Peridot gold pendant, it was said to protect the wearer against night terrors. A mystical property of this jewel is its ability to help dreams become a reality. Peridot is also believed to protect your wealth, and even enhance it!

Science/Chemical

The technical name for Peridot is forsterite-olivine. Colored by iron, Peridot is idiochromatic, meaning that its color is an essential part of its composition. This is different from gems such as Rubies or Sapphires, which are colored by trace impurities. On the Mohs scale, Peridot is rated around 6.5-7 for hardness. (The Mohs scale of mineral hardness was devised by German mineralogist Frederich Mohs in 1812. He selected ten minerals because they were common or readily available and rated them. The scale is not linear, but arbitrary.)

Peridot Gemstone Care and Cleaning

The best way to clean any jewel is warm, soapy water. Steam cleaners will work great with these gemstones, as will ultrasonic cleaners.

Peridot Gemstone Fame

The most unusual Peridot comes from meteorites called pallasites. Some have even been faceted and set in jewelry...this is one of the few extraterrestrial gemstones known to man!