Taking its name from the Arabic "faridat", meaning gem, Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August.

Yellowish green to greenish yellow in colour, and a variety of the mineral olivine, throughout history Peridot has often been confused with other gems such as topaz and emerald - with some historians even speculating that Cleopatra's famous emerald collection may actually have been comprised of Peridot.

Used for centuries as a protective talisman, shielding the owner from evil spirits and "terrors of the night", the August birthstone was valued in many ancient and medieval cultures and appeared in priests' jewellery as early as the second century BCE.

Where Is Peridot Found?

Although most of the Peridot found in jewellery today comes from sources including China, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam and the USA, some peridot gems journied to Earth on meteorites, while others are found in exotic locations such as Peridot Beach in Hawaii, where the sands shimmer a luminous green.

With the oldest recorded source of Peridot being the Egyptian island of Zabargad (the name now given to Topazios) with mining there said to have begun around 340 - 279 BCE, the island produced highly desirable gems even in its harsh conditions.

Myanmar (previously Burma) is also an important source of Peridot. On the northern slope of Kyaukpon, a mountainous region near the gem city of Mogok, loose peridot crystals can sometimes be found in crevices, with the finest quality Peridot from this location being deep in colour with superby transparency.

Specifications

• Mineral: Olivine
• Chemistry: (MgFe)₂SiO₄
• Colour: Yellowish green
• Refractive Index: 1.65 to 1.69
• Birefringence: 0.035 to 0.038
• Specific gravity: 3.34
• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 to 7

Also given as a gift for the 16th wedding anniversary, at W.Bruford, we hold in stock a stunning selection of Peridot jewellery perfect for those August birthdays. 

Shop Peridot, The August Birthstone, Online HERE

Information Taken From The GIA (Gemological Institute of America)