All About the August Birthstone: Peridot

Posted by Mark Nielsen on

The shimmering green gemstone called peridot is the birthstone for those born in August. Also called the “Evening Emerald” due to its fascinating ability to glitter and sparkle enticingly even at night, peridot comes in a stunning variety of shades ranging from dark green or olive up to a bright and citrusy yellow-green hue. Peridot has an intriguing history dating all the way back to ancient Egyptian times, where it was revered and coveted by all. However, it’s becoming a sought-after selection for buyers looking for a unique piece of jewelry.

Peridot jewelry also makes the perfect gift for birthdays, Christmas, or Mother’s Day. We can incorporate peridot into any style of jewelry, no matter if it’s earrings, rings, necklaces, or bracelets that can be custom designed to the buyer’s specification. Peridot is said to bestow it’s beneficial properties to the wearer by bringing spiritual health and happiness. It was even a sought-after choice in ancient times due to the innate healing properties it contains.

The Museum of Jewelry: Over Five Decades of Hand-Crafting Fine Jewelry Inspired by Ancient History

Here at The Museum of Jewelry, we have expert artisans and jewelers who have studied for years to improve their craft to a master level. Our company was started over 55 years ago by a desk agent for Eastern Airlines named Shashi. He brought his comprehensive knowledge of antiques, gemstones, and traveling together to create The Museum of Jewelry. We lovingly create all of our wares using inspiration from ancient jewelry and by incorporating historical design elements in our intricately detailed pieces. Our master jewelers utilize passion and patience to hand-craft our fine jewelry, all of which reflect our ultimate philosophy of imagination fueling our hands to craft stunning, artistic, and extraordinary creations for all of our clients.

Peridot Origins and Lore—A History of Fire

Peridot’s ancient beginnings are steeped in mystery and lore. The earliest instance of mining peridot occurred on the Island of Zebargad in the Red Sea and was recorded on ancient Egyptian papyrus over 3500 years ago, as early as1500 BC. The Egyptians revered the beautiful green stone, calling it “The Gem of the Sun,” and were fiercely protective over their mines, jealously guarding the locations.

Zebargad was lost to civilization until 1905 due to the island being almost entirely shrouded in a mysterious and thick fog. The Egyptian miners and slaves would spend all day and night harvesting the precious gemstones for the personal treasury of the ruling Pharaoh’s tomb. It wasn’t just used by the Egyptians, though. In the middle ages, English crusaders brought back Peridot to their homeland to decorate churches, cathedrals, and fine clothing.

Peridot: Born in Volcanic Fire

Peridot is the only other gemstone besides diamonds formed deep in the Earth’s mantle, anywhere from 20 to 50 miles down. Since they’re created so deep in the Earth's crust, the only way to harvest them is when tectonic plate activity brings them closer to the surface. They're also found in volcanoes, formed in molten rock, and can even be found in comet dust and meteors! Although, any peridot that has extraterrestrial origins is usually too small to be made into jewelry. The striking green gemstone is more commonly found in Egypt, Mexico, the U.S., Vietnam, and Pakistan.

 The Natural Qualities of Peridot

Peridot’s hardness rates a 6.5 to 7 on Moh’s scale, a universally used hardness scale invaluable for identifying minerals and gems. It’s a relatively soft stone, which means that it’s ideal for pendants, earrings, and pins, but the versatile gem can be cut into almost any style a customer wants and usually comes with multiple facets.

The gem has experienced an enormous resurgence in popularity in recent years. Purchasing a matching set of pieces, such as a pendant necklace and earrings, is one of the most popular choices for buyers looking for unique pieces. The warmth and hypnotizing hues of peridot look like shimmering, yellow-green fire when set against a soft yellow gold, and they also contrast beautifully against crisp sterling silver.

Ancient Historical Properties of Peridot

Peridot has a history of beneficial properties going back to ancient times. The stone is believed to be a talisman for warding off night terrors and bad dreams, but only when set in pure gold. It’s said to bring spiritual health, happiness, strength, and balance to the wearer. Peridot also improves health and well-being. In ancient times, people who could afford it took any liquid medicines in cups made of peridot because of its inherent ability to increase the effectiveness of medications.

Peridot Promotes Physical and Spiritual Health and Wellness 

Peridot isn’t just a magnificent green gem, though. It also has many mystical healing properties and can aid in recovering from both physical and psychological afflictions. As with other gemstones, the stone's color is directly related to the specific parts of the body it remedies. It can promote liver and digestive health and is often used to aid stomach, gallbladder, or kidney problems. Peridot is even placed on the abdomen during labor to lessen pain while assisting with stronger contractions.

The properties of peridot also make it ideal for helping with mental health and addictions. Its properties foster harmony between mind and body, allowing them to work in tune with each other to eliminate bad energy and boost mood. The glimmering green gem's ability to counteract negative emotions make it ideal for those suffering from depression, primarily since the stone has always been associated with light energies. Even in Roman times, people wore peridot rings to battle depression and mood swings, and it also promotes more restful sleep.

Peridot Has a Rich History and Makes a One-Of-A-Kind Gift

Peridot has a long and ancient history dating back to 1500 BC and can be found deep in the Earth’s mantle, in molten rock formed by volcanoes, or even in meteors. Whether you are looking for a unique statement piece of jewelry, a matching set of necklace and earrings, or a beautiful ring, The Museum of Jewelry has a hand-crafted, historically inspired piece of jewelry set with exceptional quality peridot that you will absolutely love.

Our master artisans and jewelers will help you harness the mystical and beneficial properties of peridot, and we will place it into any custom jewelry design you want. If you don't have a specific idea in mind, maybe one of our pre-made pieces will catch your eye. Peridot looks magnificent set in either silver or gold, allowing for endless possibilities. Fine jewelry set with peridot will help improve your spiritual health and well-being, so take advantage of the numerous beneficial properties it contains. Let us create a piece of jewelry that you will genuinely love! 

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