The Gem That Literally Fell From the Sky
Peridot is one of the most extraordinary gemstones in the world — not because of its rarity on Earth (it is fairly common), but because it is one of the very few gems found in meteorites. Stony-iron meteorites called pallasites occasionally contain large, gem-quality peridot crystals — meaning some peridot jewellery contains material that is billions of years old and has travelled through space. At Corelune Jewellery, we find that almost impossibly wonderful.
The Colour of Peridot
Peridot comes in shades of yellow-green, olive green, and the most prized vivid lime-green. Its colour comes from traces of iron within its crystal structure — unusually, iron is intrinsic to the gem's chemistry, not just a trace element, meaning peridot always occurs in green tones. The finest peridots display a pure, vivid lime-green with no brownish or yellowish overtone.
Peridot Through History
Peridot has been prized for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians mined it on the island of Zabargad (now St John's Island) in the Red Sea — they called it the "gem of the sun" and believed it had the power to ward off evil spirits and night terrors. Cleopatra's famous emerald collection is now believed by some historians to have actually been peridot. In medieval Europe, peridot was worn by clergy and featured in church decorations.
Peridot Quality
As with most coloured gemstones, colour is the primary quality factor. The finest peridot is a vivid, pure lime-green. Clarity is also important — most fine peridot is eye-clean. Larger stones (5ct+) with strong saturation are rare and command significant premiums. Major sources include Arizona (USA), Pakistan, Myanmar, and Egypt.
Wearing Peridot
Peridot's vivid lime-green looks spectacular in yellow gold settings and pairs beautifully with diamonds. It makes a joyful, uplifting choice for rings, earrings, and pendants. As the August birthstone, it is a wonderful birthday gift for those born in summer.
Explore our peridot jewellery at Corelune Jewellery and own a piece of the universe.