The peridot is a lovely green gemstone that comes in a variety of
hues and has a long and beloved history. Often pronounced per'i doh it
is correctly pronounced per'i-dot and is sometimes known as the 'evening
emerald'. It is August's birthstone and many of the emeralds of
Cleopatra are believed to have actually been peridot. It is found in a
wide variety of locations making it a plentiful gemstone that is more
affordable than most precious stones and easy to find in many attractive
settings.
The Deep Value
The average peridot is a light
lime green color but rare occasions find this beautiful gem in deep,
rich green that rivals that of the emerald and is easily mistaken for
the more expensive stone. The main difference between emeralds and
peridot is the shine. Emeralds have a crystal like shine that sparkles
where peridot should have a smooth, silky, velvet appearance. The most
sought after color is a grass green stone with no yellow undertones.
Caution for Care
The
peridot is a relatively fragile gemstone that is given a hardness value
of 6.5 on a scale of 1-10. This makes it hardy enough for careful wear
but should always be shielded from bumps, and rough wear. Remove all
peridot jewelry before heavy work or rough play. Like many precious gems
long term exposure to bright light or direct heat can cause fading.
Proper storage can prevent many of the problems of fading in peridot
jewelry.
Due to its softer nature peridot jewelry should be
wrapped or kept separate from other jewelry when placed in a box or
other storage container so that other stones do not mar its surface.
Peridots should never be cleaned in ultrasonic cleaners or steam
cleaners often used in either commercial or home jewelry care.
The Peridot Mystique
Through
the years man has believed peridot to have the ability to bring the
wearer good luck, peace, and prosperity. Who doesn't want those? It is a
popular gemstone for the believed aspects of luck as much as it is for
its inordinate beauty. Peridot is also thought to calm anger, sooth
jagged nerves, and rid the wearer of negativity while attracting love.
At one time it was thought that ingesting ground peridot would cure
asthma.
Quality
Judged on clarity and color the deeper green
the better with peridot jewelry. The next deciding factor in value for
this gemstone is clarity. Close examination for blurry appearance, dark
spots, cuts, or scratches. It is also important to check for a uniform
'clean' color.
Ask the seller if the gem has been treated as many
peridots are coated with oils, wax, or other substances to smooth the
surface and enhance or even out the color. These coatings are likely to
wear over time reducing the value of the gemstone.
Typical
inclusions (mars to the quality) of peridot are ribbon-like veils of
milky white color like veins running through the stone, specks caused by
biotite deposits, and 'lili-pads' that look like fried eggs, or shaped
like spaceships inside the gem caused by liquid gas trapped inside. It
is virtually impossible to find a peridot without any imperfection but
the least amounts visible to the naked eye are more valuable stones.
Mars
in a peridot appearance will be magnified greatly by its birefringence.
Birefringence creates a mirroring of the cuts of the stone when looked
through and will also double or magnify the appearance of cuts and
scratches inside as well as other inclusions.
Any cracks,
scratches, or cuts inside the gem that appear to come near the surface
should be strictly avoided as they are likely to spread and cause cracks
and chips on the outer surface over time.
Intrinsic Value
Peridot
like any other gemstone has great sentimental and intrinsic value.
While it is less rare than many precious gems a good quality stone that
is properly cared for will continue to appreciate over time while
providing a beautiful piece of jewelry to wear and show off.
