PERIDOT: THE AUGUST BIRTHSTONE

Peridot is among the oldest gemstones and has been much valued because of its appearance. The name given to this gemstone given the emblematical meaning thereof may well have been derived from the Arabic “faridat” implying “gem”.

The ancient Egyptians, who considered Peridot to be the ‘gem of the sun,’ began mining this stone as early as 1500 BC on the island of Zabargad (St. John’s Island) in the Red Sea. It was in great demand in Egypt as it was believed to be a protective gemstone, shielding one from nightmares in particular; accordingly, it was incorporated into several pieces of jewelry as a symbol of this notion to be given to the Egyptian priests.

Peridot was also greatly esteemed by the Romans, who referred to it as the ‘evening emerald.’ The use of stone in medieval Europe in embellishing religious items also has its attributed power of fighting evil.

Thus, regardless of whether it will be set on adornment or used in an amulet, Peridot is the gemstone that illuminates the life of the owner and shelters from negativity. But if well managed this ‘jewel of the sun’ will continue to glow for the next 50-100 years.

Because of its color, peridot is known as ‘the even green gem,’ with shades that may vary from yellowish-green to olive or even brownish-green depending on the content of iron in the chemical structure. 

Different from many other gems that acquire their color from chemical inclusions, the peridot is chemically green through and through – meaning that the color comes from the fundamental molecular composition of the material.

• Color Range: The gemstone peridot is typically green in color but this varies from yellow-green to olive green.
• Clarity: As mentioned earlier, peridot is transparent, and the gems are good quality, that is, peridot without inclusion. Still, some of the Peridots may be characterized by the presence of small black speckles, which are inclusions.
• Cut: To exhibit its fire to the best extent possible, Peridot is best cut having faceted shapes such as oval, round, or emerald cuts. Other common styles of cutting include cabochon cuts, under which the surface of the gemstone is polished has no facets, and is larger.

Luster: Peridot has a vitreous which means that it is transparent and has a shiny and polished look on it.

Peridot possesses several distinctive characteristics that make it unique among gemstones:

• Hardness: It has a Mohs hardness of 6 and the density of the mineral is 4. It is fairly robust, yet not so hard; a hard material such as quartz may scratch Peridot.
• Transparency: Peridot is normally translucent to transparent, meaning that it will let light through to give it that lively look.
• Birefringence: Peridot also displayed high birefringent quality which permits second rays of light to enter the stone and therefore facets viewed through the stone appear double.
• Specific Gravity: The density or specific gravity of peridot varies between 3. 2 to 3. 4 which makes it one of the moderately dense gemstones.
• Formation: Peridot exists in the earth’s mantle, transported closer to the surface through vulcanology, and is associated with the lavas and meteorites.

Peridot is available in different places across the globe and based on its availability it has a little variation in shades. Perhaps the most renowned and oldest of sources of Peridot is Zabargad Island in Egypt wherein Peridot was discovered and mined more than 3500 years back.

• Egypt: Zabargad island is still to this day probably one of the major producers of Peridot although the output has reduced considerably.
• United States: Arizona is today one of the largest producers of Peridot, but the world’s finest Peridots that are mined today are those found in the San Carlos Apache Reservation where the natives have been mining the stone for generations.
• China: China has in recent years emerged as a major source of peridot especially in the Lane province of Hebei from which ones are found to be of a more olive green tint.
• Pakistan: There is also the Peridot found in the mountainous region of the country, especially in the part of Kashmir and it is much better as it has a slightly greenish-black shade to it.
• Myanmar (Burma): Other sources of the peridot include Myanmar, which normally has the stone mined alongside ruby as well as sapphire.

Peridot is the gemstone linked with Leo the lion zodiac and is known to be hugest between the dates of July 23 through August 22. Leos are self-oriented and authoritative and hence peridot is considered to enhance its customers these characteristics since it is believed to encourage courage, vigor, and strength. 

The stone is considered to be stimulating the positive qualities in Leo people, assisting them to cope with obstacles and succeed in the pursuits that are significant to them.

But there is hope for Leos and those who believe in Peridot’s influence; it is also believed to affect the rest of the Zodiac signs; it is believed to promote order and safeguard the wearer’s emotions.

In the years that followed, people came to associate peridot with even more curative abilities in the physical and the metaphysical. These qualities have placed it in high demand for one cannot talk of a gemstone of beauty without mentioning one that gives power and fortune.

Emotional Healing

• Peridot especially has the meaning of being a stone of compassion due to the ability to share the feelings of compassion with it. 
• It is said to assist in letting go of negative energies, which may include jealousy, resentment, anger, bitterness, and the like, and embrace positive energies, and peace. 
• It is said that when one wears this stone, then happiness, self-esteem, and a better perspective on life issues will be accorded to the wearer.

Physical Healing

• Some healing properties associated with peridot include asserting that peridot can purge the body of toxins specifically affecting the liver, gallbladder, and digestive system. 
• It’s also used to improve the immune system and general health or energy.

Spiritual Healing 

• In the spiritual realm, Peridot is believed to resist evil and other negative forces. 
• Based on the same perception, it is used in rites that are meant to purify the mind, sharpen the instincts, and polish the spirit by letting the soul open to the clear horizons of any other ways of thinking.

Peridot is a relatively delicate gemstone and it is rather crucial to care for it appropriately since it is not one of the ‘tough’ gems as might be a diamond or sapphire. Nonetheless, if proper care as well as attention is accorded; Peridot can as well remain shining for quite some years for it not to lose its shine.

• Cleaning: This jewelry should be washed with warm water mixed with soap and it also should be gently brushed. Do not clean the stone using ultrasonic or steam cleaners; they cause vibrations and heat that harm the stone. When washing the stone, make sure that this is done thoroughly under clean water and then blot with a clean cloth.
• Storage: Peridot should not be mixed with other gems because they might scratch the jewelry; it should be stored separately. Thus, the stone should be packed in a soft pocket or a jewelry box with different sections to protect it from coming into contact with a rough surface.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: One should however avoid exposing the stone to high acid or any hard blasting solution used in cleaning the house or perfumes and hairsprays. Never wear ornaments with peridot when you are swimming or doing work that deals with chemicals in any form.
• Temperature Changes: The peridot can be sensitive to heat and cold and therefore perusing heat or cold sources should be avoided as much as possible. For example, if you are handling fire or engaging in activities that require extremity, do not wear Peridot rings.

If proper care measures are followed, your Peridot jewelry is certainly going to be safe from discoloring and is surely going to glitter for many years to come.

What makes Peridot different from all the other green stones in the market?

Peridot is naturally green as far as its chemical makeup goes and Emerald gets its color from the presence of impurities. Peridot is usually an accommodating yellow-green, not the saturation dark green of Emeralds.

How do I know that my peridot is genuine?

Real peridot stone has a green color with a yellowish tinge and has the property of double refraction. An authenticator a gemologist can also be used to verify it.

Is Peridot hard-wearing that one can be used daily?

The last gemstone is peridot, which unfortunately is not as strong as emerald, but it is more resistant to scratches, and still, it cannot stand heat and chemical substances. But if properly handled, they can be worn frequently.