August Birthstone Jewelry – Peridot

Peridot (pronounced pair-a-doe) is the modern birthstone for August. We have a huge range of August birthstone jewelry at great prices. This particular stone is a variety of olivine which is a combination of two minerals forsterite and foylite. It is still quite unclear where the word Peridot originates from, whether it is derived from the French word peritot which means unclear or the Arabic word faridat, meaning gem. Whatever the case may be the French were the first to call this unique greenish-yellow stone peridot around the 18^th century. Before then the Peridot gem was simply known as topaz.

august birthstone peridot For four thousand years Peridot has been mined as a gemstone and is even mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name of pitdah. Peridot is the national gem of Egypt and was used by the Egyptians as early as 1500 B.C. It was called the “gem of the sun” because early miners held that it shone with a light that made the crystal easy to find. This gem is becoming wildly popular because of the historical legend denoting it as Cleopatra’s favorite gemstone.

Description of the Peridot Gemstone

Throughout time and years this precious August gem has been often mistaken for other gemstones. The Peridot can be described as a light olive green opposite to the dark green of emerald, with a hint of yellow. The most commonly know gems confused with the Peridot are emeralds, apatite, garnets and zircon, although these rarely possess the pretty tint of yellow that compliments the peridot’s green color.

The Quality of Peridot Gems

Peridots that contain iron percentage of less than 16% and trace elements of nickel and chromium are those of best quality. Peridot comes from an island in the Red sea called Zebirget , Pakistan Minas Gerais, Chihuahua, Mexico, Brazil, Eifel, Kohistan, Germany, Ethiopia, Australia, Peridot Mesa, Gila County, USA, Arizona and Salt Lake Crater . Historically the finest quality Peridot comes from Egypt however some remarkable specimens have been found in Pakistan that are challenging this claim. The gems derived from Arizona are of lesser quality because it is more abundant therefore it is much more affordable for many people. Approximately 85 – 95% of all world production of peridot comes from Arizona. The Myanmar, Pakistani and Egyptian gems are far rarer and of better quality and thus are quite valuable.

August 10 Karat White Gold Peridot Leverback Gem Earrings
List Price:$43.50
Celebrate your birthday each and every day with this lovely pair of birthstone earrings. Polished white gold designed in a lever back fashion cradles a 4mm central stone, nestled within a 4 prong setting allowing the replicated Peridot stone to display its brilliance. Usually ships within 1-2 business days.

Click here for more information on the August 10 Karat White Gold Peridot Leverback Gem Earrings

Mystical Powers of the Peridot

This August birthstone symbolizes dignity and success and it is also considered a shield for the whole body as it protects the wearer from negativity. It is associated with stress reduction and relaxation. The Egyptians also used this gem to clean and heal the heart. Some sickness such as asthma and fever were cured by placing powdered peridot under the tongue. There is also a belief that setting this stone in gold will amplify its powers.