Peridot is the Gemstone for August
Find Out How to Purchase and Care for This Luminous Green Jewelry
Jul 19, 2008
Peridot occasionally is confused with emerald; however, peridot is an olive-hued, spring green while fine emerald is a rich deep green hue.
Look great when wearing yellow or orange? Peridot will be complementary as well. Its light yellow/greenish hue plays well against blond or red hair.
Price
Good news for green gemstone lovers: this translucent gemstone is inexpensive. Fine quality peridot is priced at under $150 per carat. The gemstone beads likewise are extremely easy on the budget.
Chip necklaces can be had for less than $10. However, this gemstone is so incredibly inexpensive, upgrading to a nice strand of faceted, oval or button beads should be less than $40.
Want to string the beads yourself? Online vendor Fire Mountain Gems has temporarily strung oval or button beads for less than $10.
Treatments
Peridot is normally not treated.
Presentation
Peridot is a lovely olive green-hued translucent gemstone. When a gemstone is classified as translucent, it means the gemstone allows light to shine through, making it quite luminous.
On the Mohs Scale of Hardness from 1 to 10 (with 10 being diamond hard), this gemstone comes in at 6.5 to 7. Its toughness is categorized as fair to good.
Good settings for peridot include earrings, necklaces and pendants. Peridot is not a great choice for setting in a ring that gets frequent or daily wear. However, if care is taken during wear and the gemstone doesn’t have fractures that were filled, this gemstone should be a good performer in a special occasion ring.
How to Care for Peridot
Like all translucent gemstones, peridot should not be sprayed with any hair care, makeup or scent product. Make putting on peridot jewelry on as one of the last steps in getting ready to walk out the door. Why is this important? Over time, cosmetic products can coat and dull the sheen of translucent gemstones. Depending on the ingredients used in the products, this alteration can be permanent.
Don’t place peridot jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner. Abrupt temperature changes – either hot or cold – can cause peridot to crack. After wearing rinse in room temperature soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. If your peridot is set in sterling silver, exercise care when polishing or removing tarnish from the silver. Consider storing the piece in a tarnish resistant bag.
Peridot in Myth and Legend
Peridot has been used as a talisman for protection, power and courage. Other uses have been to alleviate depression, anger, fear and jealousy. Peridot also protects it’s wearer from negativity. In ancient Roman times, those suffering from depression wore peridot rings to raise their spirits. Peridot was used by ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, and Incas to heal the physical heart.
The Peridot Image from Top to Bottom
- 4mm round gemstones
- Chip necklace
- Round 3mm beads
- Rondelle 4mm beads
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