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Peridot Gemstones:

peridot is found in a wide range of blue shades, from light sky blue to deep ocean blue and for the obvious, the peridot is associated with the oceans of the world. Appropriately named peridot, it is derived from the Latin words "aqua” meaning water, and "mare” meaning sea. According to legend, peridot stones were the prized possession of mermaids; which lead to sailor’s beliefs of ancient times that peridot brought good luck and held the powers to protect them from the dangers of the seas. It was common for sailors to wear peridot while at sea. Other ancient traditions advocate gifting peridot to newly weds, as insurance of a happy marriage, while others believed peridot gave its owner joy and wealth.

Typically transparent, Peridot is found in an attractive range of colors, from brownish and yellowish green to greenish yellow. Peridot is one of the birthstone for August and is the astrological birthstone for the sun sign Libra. It is no surprise that this vibrant, sparkling green gemstone with shimmering rays og gold, is the perfect complement to a light summertime outfit.

Peridot is also known as, Chrysolith (derived from the Greek word “goldstone”) and Olivin, because Peridot is the gemstone variety of the Olivin mineral, it is generally called Peridot, a name derived from the Greek “peridona”, meaning something like “giving plenty”. Most Peridot formed well below the earth and was forced up through the crust of the earth by volcanoes. Significant deposits of Peridot are found in Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, and the United States. There are rare incidences of extraterrestrial Peridot delivered by meteorites. The Peridot found in meteorites contain iron, nickel traces which adds to the depth of green.

Some of the most beautiful stones come from Myanmar and China. Peridot is also mined in the state of Arizona, where it has always been popular in Native Indian jewelry.

Peridot is rich in inclusions and is cut according to its crystal structure, regularly in classic table and facetted cuts, round, octagonal an oval shapes. Smaller crystals are cut as calibrated stones, larger ones are shaped by gemstone designers to fancy unique specimen stones.

Egyptians called this favorite gemstone of Cleopatra the gem of the sun. Because of its golden glow many cultures associated Peridot with the powers of the sun. The Peridot that was brought as gifts to Cleopatra were excavated from a little volcanic island in the Red Sea, about 70 km off the Egyptian coast, which was rediscovered only around 1900 and has been completely exploited since. The Romans named Peridot as the evening Emerald. Many believed that it protected its owner from terrors of the night.