Peridot

Peridot: Cut gemstones, rough from San Carlos, AZ and a custom peridot ring
Peridot: Cut gemstones, rough from San Carlos, AZ and a custom peridot ring

Overview

Peridot is relatively well-known as a gemstone, particularly since its the birthstone for August.   Peridot is relatively hard, with a rating of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale.  While there can be some small inclusions or veils of bubbles, the best gems are flawless and a pure bright light green to a light yellowish-green.

Named Species/Varieties

There are no named varieties or species of peridot.

Where is it found

Peridot is found in a number of localities in the world.  However, the most well-known deposits mined today are in Arizona, Burma, China and Pakistan.  The Burmese peridot are prized for their bright rich green colors, while the Pakistani peridot is known for producing very large clean gems.  The peridot deposit in Arizona is on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, and produces large quantities of smaller stones of fine quality.

Treatments

Peridot is typically not subjected to any treatment.

Use in jewelry

The hardness of peridot makes it suitable for a wide range of jewelry uses.  It’s commonly used in rings, earrings and pendants.

Buy Peridot

You can look at my current inventory of loose gemstones online here: https://earthstreasury.com/product-category/gemstones/peridot/