GEMSTONES

PERIDOT

Birthstone of August
Peridot is a gem-quality transparent variety of olivine. The color of olivine ranges from olive to lime green, some with a brownish tinge.

On a small desolate island in the Red Sea -- named Zabargad, which means olivine in Arabic – peridot has been mined since ancient times. In Zabargad, nothing grows and there is  no fresh water; it is scorching hot all year except for winter. In some locations, fissures are lined with gem crystals and beaches have a greenish hue due to tiny crystals.

Also found in Burma, Norway, Brazil, China, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Australia and Mexico. The U.S. has small stones mined in Arizona.


Among the oldest known gemstones, the "topaz" on the breastplate of Aaron, High Priest of the Hebrews in the Old Testament, was believed to actually be peridot. Ancient Egyptians, around 1580 B.C. to 1350 B.C., created beads from peridot. For Greek and Romans, peridot was in popular use as intaglios, rings, inlays and pendants.


A prized gem late in the Ottoman empire (1300-1918). Turkish Sultans collected the world's largest collection. The gold throne in Istanbul's Topkapi museum is decorated with 955 peridot cabochons, and also used on turbans and boxes. The largest stone is believed to be a 310 carat gem that is in the Smithsonian. A fine 192 carat stone is part of the Russian crown jewels in the Kremlin.

 Special care instructions:  normal care