The color of a perfectly ripe pear or the yellowish green of moss, Peridot has enchanted people since the Egyptians began mining it on an island in the Red Sea. The name Peridot comes from the Arabic word “faridat” which means gem, and has always been associated with light. The Egyptians even referred to is as the gem of the sun! In my blog last week, I talked about Spinel as being a new birthstone for August www.angelacisneros.com/post/new-birthstone-alert , and today, I’d like to talk about the traditional birthstone for August, Peridot.
Peridot belongs to the mineral family Olivine, and is formed in the earth’s upper mantle to be brought to the surface due to volcanic activity. Interestingly, the chemical make-up of Peridot makes the color exclusively green to yellow green with no other colors possible. Top quality Peridot is pure grass green which is why it is suspected that some of Cleopatra’s Emeralds were actually Peridot! Most peridot in the market is yellowish green or brown green which is why I think it looks best in a yellow gold setting. A nice quality Peridot has a bright yellowish green color with no inclusions. It pairs well with Blue Zircon, Blue Topaz, and of course, diamond. Today, Peridot is mined in the United States, China, Vietnam, Finland, Pakistan, Myanmar, and the island of Zabargad (in the Red Sea).
Peridot Mesa, located in the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona is where a large portion of the world’s supply of Peridot is mined. Up until the 20th century, the Apache Indians mined and traded Peridot amongst the tribe only. According to tribal law, anyone of the tribe can mine the Peridot, but there are only a few families that have claimed areas of land to mine. The Peridot is sold and distributed through The Apache Nations Peridot Enterprise, as well as, another trading post just off the reservation.
I would love to help you explore Peridot with your special purchase or custom design! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:
One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)
Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)
Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 24 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)
Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.angelacisneros.com/book-appointment
Photo credit: @giagram