THE PERIDOT IS ONE OF ONLY A FEW GEMS found as a single basic color. Ranging from yellowish green to brown, peridot is most widely prized – and recognized – as a brilliant lime or olive green. Chemically, peridot is comprised of iron magnesium silicate; the amount of iron dictating intensity and hue, the purer and more popular greens having less than 15% iron and including traces of nickel and chromium. 
Also known as ‘chrysolite’, ‘gold stone’, and ‘olivine’, peridot’s most well known moniker is said to be derived from two sources: the Arabic ‘faridat’, which means “gem” and the Greek ‘peridona’ which, loosely translated, means “to give richness”.
Most peridot is formed deep within the earth and brought forth during volcanic activity. Thus the Hawaiian legend of the ‘Tears of Pele’. However, there is an exceptionally rare extraterrestrial form, deposited by meteorites, that you won’t find in any necklace or bracelet you buy in a department store. And while peridot can be found in Arizona, China, and Myanmar, the finest comes from a vast deposit unearthed in Pakistan in the mid-1990’s, now known as ‘Kashmir peridot’. The world’s largest cut peridot, at 319 carats, comes from Zagbargad, an island off the Egyptian Red Sea Coast. It now rests in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
Myths, superstitions, and folklore abound for every gem, and peridot is no exception. Said to be a cure-all tonic, the Egyptians believed it could cleanse and heal the heart. Ground into a fine powder, it was often employed in the ancient world to treat a host of asthma related illnesses. Peridot powder was even placed under the tongues of fevered patients to alleviate thirst. Believed by some to protect its wearer from “terrors of the night,” it was also strung on donkey hair and tied around the left arm to ward off evil spirits.
Historically, the peridot was associated with light and was highly prized in ancient Egypt where it was hailed as the “jewel of the sun”. Its unusual crystalline composition, which bends and refracts light to produce a dreamy, soft, glowing radiance (even under artificial illumination) likewise led the Romans to name it the “emerald of evening”. Adorning churches and treasures throughout the Middle Ages, favored during the Baroque and Victorian periods, and used unsparingly in Art Nouveau jewelry, peridot is a universally celebrated semi-precious stone.
For those of us who own peridot jewelry, or are thinking of purchasing peridot, it’s wise to know a little bit about how to properly care for and clean this particular gem. A relatively soft stone (it rates between 6.5 and 7 on Mohs hardness scale, diamonds being a 10) it needs protection from abrasions and buffeting that might scratch or chip its surface. This doesn’t just pertain to care while wearing it, even in a jewelry box it’s best to store your peridot in a soft pouch and away from heavier jewelry. Extreme temperature shifts can cause cracks and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may even fade your peridot. Avoid any chemical or abrasive cleaners as they will destroy the luster of the gem’s surface. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth for drying are all that peridot requires. Never steam clean, and use ultrasonic cleaners at your own risk. Lastly, don’t wear peridot during workouts; at least not every day, as perspiration can also cause damage.
SARDONYX IS CONSIDERED A TRADITIONAL BIRTHSTONE for August. Less flashy than peridot, perhaps, yet this agate has a quiet beauty and enchantment all its own. A variety of chalcedonic quartz, its basic chemical composition is silicon dioxide. Sounds simple, but the infinite spectrum of colors produced by the slightest presence of other trace minerals is astounding; the vibrant alternating bands of reddish-orange and white so characteristic of sardonyx being but a small slice of that spectrum.
