Peridot - August's Birthstone

The beautiful green colour of peridot, with hint of gold, is the ideal birthstone for the month of August.

Peridot is a very old gemstone, and one which has become very popular again today. It is so ancient that it can be found in Egyptian jewellery from the early 2nd millennium B.C. Historical legend has it that peridot was the favourite gemstone of Cleopatra. The stones used at that time came from a deposit on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea, which was not rediscovered until about 1900.

Peridot is also found in Europe in medieval churches, where it adorns many treasures and shrines. During the baroque period, the rich green gemstone once again enjoyed great popularity.

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color, an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green depends on how much iron is contained in the internal crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow- to olive- to brownish-green. The most valued color is a dark olive-green and was nicknamed “the emerald of the evening” by the ancient Romans. Peridot in general is a very abundant mineral, but gem quality peridot is rather rare. This makes the mineral precious.

Another interesting fact is that Peridot can be also found in meteorites.

For more information on this beautiful stone, or to have your very own peridot jewellery piece designed, feel free to contact us HERE.

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