August Birthstone: Peridot
Peridot is one of the few gems that comes in exactly one color: green, shaded by more or less yellow. The ancient Egyptians mined it on a Red Sea island and called it the gem of the sun; some scholars think Cleopatra's famous emeralds were actually peridot.
It is also the rare gem with extraterrestrial credentials: peridot crystals arrive inside some meteorites, and a handful of pieces have been faceted from them.
Judging peridot
The finest peridot is a saturated grass green with minimal brown; most commercial stones lean yellow-green, which is the color people know and love. Larger stones show deeper color, and unlike most gems, peridot stays affordable even at ten carats and beyond.
Peridot is generally eye-clean in jewelry sizes. Tiny disc-shaped inclusions called lily pads are characteristic; visible ones should discount the price.
Durability and care
At 6.5 to 7 hardness, peridot handles pendants, earrings, and bracelets easily and works in rings with a little consideration: a protective setting helps, and it will pick up scratches over years of hard wear.
It is sensitive to acids and rapid temperature change, so keep it out of ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Warm soapy water and a soft brush are all it needs.
Buying notes
- Peridot is untreated as a rule, a stone with nothing to disclose, which is genuinely refreshing.
- Prefer stones with pure green over strongly brownish ones; the price difference is small, the visual difference is not.
- Its price makes bold sizes realistic: a substantial peridot cocktail ring costs what a small stone would in most other gems.
- Peridot pairs beautifully with yellow gold, which flatters its warmth.
Common questions
Peridot versus emerald?
Emerald is a deeper, bluer green and a much more expensive gem. Peridot is brighter, yellower, and a fraction of the price. They read as different colors side by side, and August gets the sunnier one.
Does peridot fade?
No. Its color comes from iron in the crystal structure itself, not from treatment, so it is stable for good. Scratches from careless wear are the only aging it does, and we can polish those out.
