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Peridot: Extraterrestrial GemHistory & Interesting Facts:Peridot (pronounced pear-uh-dot) is a French word derived from the Arabic word "faridat" which means gem. This accepted August birthstone is also called olivine or chrysolite. As early as 1500 BC the Egyptians used peridot as a gem. In fact it is now believed that Cleopatra's emeralds were really fine, dark green peridots. Peridot was mined in ancient Egypt on an island called Zeberget. Mining was done at night because legend said that peridot could not be easily seen during the day. The island was infested with serpents who made peridot mining a very dangerous occupation until one Pharaoh finally had them all driven into the sea. 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, 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. Mythology & Lore:Peridot was believed to have the power to drive away evil spirits and the power was considered to be even more intense when the stone was set in gold. Peridot was also said to strengthen the power of any medicine drunk from goblets carved from the gemstone. It was once called the "gem of the sun" and was thought to have strong powers of protection from evils of the night, especially when set in gold. As a medical remedy, is was used for asthma and sinus problems. Even today peridot is treasured in Hawaii as the goddess Pele's tears. Mining Sources:Fine peridot is a rich and beautiful gemstone which is medium to dark green. Those born in August often suffer from "peridot prejudice" because they have never seen a fine stone. Today most peridot is mined by Native Americans in Arizona on the San Carlos Reservation. Fine large peridot are found in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and peridot is also mined in China and Sri Lanka. In 1994, an exciting new deposit of peridot was discovered in Pakistan that is among the finest ever seen. The new mine is located 15,000 feet above sea level in the Nanga Parbat region in the far west of the Himalayan Mountains in the Pakistanian part of Kashmir. Beautiful large crystals of peridot were found, some that cut magnificent large gemstones. One stone was more than 300 carats! This new discovery, combined with fashion's passion for lime green, has revived interest in peridot and increased the popularity of this gemstone. Many experts believe Egypt has the finest crystal specimens, and that Burma has the finest faceted gemstones. Specifications:Peridot is the gem form of the mineral olivine. Because the iron which creates the color is an integral part of its structure, it is found only in green, ranging from a summery light yellowish green to a 7-up bottle green.
Care & Maintenance:It is not recommended that peridot be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, or exposed to temperature extremes. For best care a mild solution of warm water and a very mild cleaner. If there is an excess buildup a very soft toothbrush can be used, however beware of scratching the setting. |
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