Peridot
Name
It is not very clear where the name comes from. Some suggestions are that is comes from the arabic word "faridat" (gemstone), the Middle English word "peridote" (bright spot or button) or the word „peridona“ (to give abundantly). In some other countries peridot had originally the greek name „chrysolite“ (goldstein), however, the name peridot prevailed.
Colour
The peridot is one of few gems that exists in only one color - green. The green palette ranges from bright green, pistachio or olive-like yellowish green – which occur most frequently – to a green with a slightly brownish tone. The pure grass-green peridot is the most valuable one.
Cut
The peridot is usually cut in a faceted form ranging from oval, emerald to cushion cut.
Cabochon cut: This shape is an unfaceted, round or oval cut, in which the underside is flat and the top is arched outwards. The cabochon cut accentuates and enhances the shimmer inherent in the stone's structure. Those shimmers are especially vivid in cat's eye quartz, falcon and tiger's eye, moonstone and opals.
Faceted cut: There is wide variety of faceted cuts - some of them are displayed in the picture to your right.
Mineral group
The peridot belongs to the group of silicates and occurs only in shades of green which he receives from the element iron. The trace elements chromium or nickel can make the color appear even more intense.
Locations
Most of the peridots can be found in Egypt and Tanzania. Other locations where the gemstone can be found are China, Myanmar, Pakistan, United States and Vietnam.
Mohs scale
The Mohs hardness describes the hardness of a mineral on a scale of 1 to 10 and is named after its inventor, the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs (1773 - 1839). It is the basis of the hardness test. Friedrich Mohs scored various minerals against each other and arranged them according to their hardness. The scale consists of a series of 10 minerals, each of which "scratches" all standing in front of him. Diamonds have a Mohs hardness of 10 and are therefore the hardest minerals.
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1 + 2 can be scratched with the bare fingernail
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1 - 5 can be scratched with the knife
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6 - 10 can be scratched with pane
The amethyst has hardness 6.5-7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Care
Please be aware that most gemstones should not be exposed to direct sunlight for too long since they will gradually bleach and loose their vibrant color. Also the peridot should not be exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations since it can lead to damages in the stone. The best way to care for an peridot is to clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth.
Not recommended: Ultrasonic and steam cleaning and subject to heat.
Power
The peridot is said to promote friendship, freeing from the spirit of resentment and conferring a higher level of eloquence. It has also been associated with light.
Birthstone
The peridot is the birthstone of August. With its different shades of green the peridot looks like a lush green summer meadow.
Combination
The peridot is best combined with a nice yellow gold or rosé gold tone.