Peridot

Peridot – Birthstone of August

Peridot is the birthstone of August. Peridot and opal are the gemstones for the astrological sign of Libra (September 23 – October 22). Peridot is the 16^th anniversary wedding gemstone.

Peridot: Meaning and Symbolism

Peridot is said to help a person follow his or her passion; to be true to their own heart and desires.

It is a stone that will help you move forward and release the past. If you desire to move forward, you must let go of all negativity of the past.

This is the stone to wear to improve your chances of making your dreams a reality. It increases your willpower and makes you more aware of what you think about.

As we all know, our thoughts create our actions. It helps you take responsibility for your own life.

Find your perfect Peridot here

This gemstone is connected to the heart chakra.

This stone promotes increase. It is especially helpful for those who find it difficult to receive.

It is said to help the wearer receive more naturally and gratefully. This would be a good stone for those of us who find it easy to give but difficult to accept favors or gifts from others.

Peridot promotes fame. This is a perfect stone for all who desire to be in the spotlight of public attention.

Peridot symbolizes strength and energy as well. These are qualities any famous person will need.

Wearing a necklace with a peridot stone is believed to make the wearer happy and optimistic. Many claim this gemstone will dispel all kinds of jealousy and envy.

This gemstone is also rumored to keep nightmares away. In this case this gemstone must be kept on your nightstand.

You do not want the gemstone in your bed at night, but as close to your bed as possible. If nightmares are a real problem, many say that a dreamcatcher on the wall also may help.

Peridot Name Meaning

There is some uncertainty about the origins of the name. It may come from the Greek word “peridona” which means “to give riches”.

It could also come from the Arabic word “faridot” which simply means gem. The French word “peritot” means “unclear” and is not our favorite alternative.

The original name of peridot is Chrysolite. The name chrysolite comes from Ancient Greek and means “golden stone”.

They called it that because the gemstone seemed to have flashes of gold in it.

Peridot in Ancient Times

The Ancient Egyptians loved this stone and would often use it as amulets. In those cases, they would often engrave a message on the stone.

The Ancient Egyptians were known to call this stone the “Gem of the Sun”.

One legend says that peridot is the tears of the sun god, Ra. It is said that Ra wept tears of joy when he saw the beauty of the earth and the peridot was born from his tears.

Peridot is the national gemstone of Egypt.

A popular amulet in ancient times was a peridot stone with an illustration of a torch engraved in it. This particular amulet was believed to attract prosperity and riches.

The Ancient Romans called this gemstone “The Evening Emerald”.

The Goddess Pele

The peridot is sacred to the goddess Pele. The goddess Pele was a volcano and fire goddess in Hawaii. The goddess Pele is also the creator of the Hawaiian Islands, according to mythology.

There is actually a beach in Oahu which has green sand. It is covered with very tiny particles of olivine or peridot.

According to mythology, these grains of green sand are the tears of the goddess Pele.

Visitors beware: it is forbidden to remove any of this green sand from the beach.

Is peridot mentioned in the Bible?

Peridot is called by its original name chrysolite in the Bible. The foundations of the walls of the new world are described In Revelation 21:19-20. The seventh foundation is made of chrysolite.

Rabanus Maurus, the Archbishop of Mainz (786-856) had his own views on the meaning of gemstones:

In the chrysolite, indeed, is shown true spiritual preaching accompanied by miracles; in the beryl, the perfect operation of prophecy; in the topaz, the ardent contemplation of the prophecy.”

What is peridot?

Peridot is a mineral that is typically green in color, although it can also be yellow, brown, or olive green.

The green variety is the most popular and is what is most often used in jewelry. The yellow and brown varieties are less common, but are still used in jewelry and other decorative items.

It is found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, and is also a common component of meteorites.

Peridot comes in all shades of green. When looking at this gemstone from different angles, you may observe different shades of green. It also has needle-like insertions which are called “Ludwig needles”. It is a beautiful and extremely popular stone.

It is a member of the Olivine mineral family. These are minerals that are rich in magnesium silicate and contain various amounts of iron. Peridot is a relatively soft mineral, with a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7.0. It has a vitreous luster and is transparent to translucent.

Its chemical formula is (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. It is found in rocks of all ages, but is most commonly found in rocks that are between 2 and 4 billion years old.

Occurrence

Most of the peridot gemstones are mined in Arizona in the United States. This gemstone is also found in Australia, Brazil, Myanmar, China and Norway. The stone has also been found in remote places in Pakistan.

In 2003, scientists made an amazing discovery. Peridot was discovered on the planet Mars. That was quite a sensation!

How is it cut and polished?

The period is a relatively soft gemstone, so it can be cut and polished using standard gemstone-cutting techniques.

The most common way to cut peridot is using a brilliant cut, which consists of a series of triangular facets that create a sparkle effect when the stone is viewed from different angles.

To polish peridot, jewelers typically use a rotating wheel coated with diamond dust.

Is peridot expensive?

Find your perfect Peridot here

This is an affordable gem for most people, especially the yellow/green variant under 5 carats. Although the peridot does come in all price ranges. 

Dark green stones are less common and therefore more expensive. The reason some of these gems have a darker color is because they contain less iron.

All in all, this is a great gemstone with wonderful properties, no matter what shade of green you choose.