Formula : (Mg, Fe)2SiO4
Birth stone: -
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Mineral hardness (Mohs)
Particular hardness: 6,5
Peridot can only be scratched by materials that are of equal or higher hardness. Garnet might scratch a peridot for example.
Peridot has an average to good toughness, which means it is susceptible to breaking. The amount of impurities in the peridot may contribute to the stone’s fragility. This is why at DiamondsByMe we make sure that our peridot is of appropriate quality for use in jewellery.
Colour
Peridot is well known for its intense olive-green shade. Peridot has been called the gem of the sun (not to be confused with sunstone). A peridot may occur in varying shades of olive green ranging from a pale-yellow green to darker green and even brown green or brown shades. The brown peridot is a rare example however.
Origin & History
Peridot is most commonly found in: China, Egypt, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan and the USA.
In ancient times magical healing powers were attributed to peridot, some would even grind down the stone and drink it for medicinal purposes. The stone was said to protect from nightmares and the evil eye, also it was supposed to help with asthma and fevers.
Care
Because of its average hardness and lower toughness we recommend being careful not to hit the stone against hard surfaces and to avoid wearing it on occasions where it might easily be damaged. Garden work is an example of outdoor activity that may lead to breaking the stone. Peridot is a sensitive material, we recommend against exposing the stone to products like perfume or hairspray.
Imitations
Imitation peridots are often manufactured from: glass, green sapphire, tourmaline, chrysoberyl and green garnet.
The most common peridot imitations are made from glass. Glass is easy to produce, cheap, and can be produced in many colours. The other imitations appear less frequent.
Cut
For peridot, larger stones are generally preferred. The reason for this is that cutting small peridot gems comes with a higher risk of breaking the stone.
The bigger sized stone also helps bring out the beauty of peridot’s colour. Peridot may appear in almost any type of cut.
Jewellery with peridot can be found here: