Natural Peridots Overview
 Peridot ranges in color from yellow green to olive green. It is typically not treated.
Peridot is not one of the hardest of gemstones and can be scratched if it is subjected to frequent impact and abrasion.
Although the peridot is the only gem quality olivine, it may come as a surprise to some that another variety is occasionally seen in nature.
Physical Properties
| Color |
Yellow Green to Green |
| Refractive Index |
1.65-1.70 |
| Pleochroism |
Very weak |
| Chemistry |
Magnesium Iron Silicate |
| Hardness |
6.5 |
| Density |
3.28-3.42 |
| Crystal Group |
Orthorhombic |
| Ocurrence |
Africa, Asia, Europe, United States |
Legend and Lore
Peridot was mined in ancient Egypt on an island called Zeberget. The mining was done at night because legend thought that Peridot could not be easily seen during the day. The Romans called Peridot "evening Emerald", since its green color did not darken at night but was still visible by lamplight.
Peridot later was also often used to decorate medieval churches and probably carried back to Europe by the Crusaders. Large Peridots, more than 200 carats in size, adorn the shrine of the three magi at the Cologne Cathedral. Peridot was said to have had the power to drive away evil spirits and the power was considered to be even more intense when the stone was set in gold.
Browse Peridots
The pictures above only represents the general appearance of the Peridot. Please note that the real Peridots in our stock will be of varied shapes, color and sizes.
|
