With August comes the celebration of the gemstone Peridot! Peridot is August’s birthstone. It’s been nicknamed the “evening emerald” for its light green, sometimes yellowish color, which is a fun, tropical hue for these hot summer days!

Ancient History

Peridot was discovered in 1500 B.C. and is one of the world’s oldest gemstones used in jewelry. It’s even the national gem of Egypt where ancient Egyptians called it “the gem of the sun.” There are still preserved Peridot jewelry pieces that date all the way back to the Pharaohs in Egypt that can be seen in museums.

Should you be jetting off to the Hawaiian Islands for summer vacation, it may also interest you to know that Peridot crystals found in volcanic ash were once believed to be the tears of the volcano goddess, Pele. You can see for yourself by visiting Peridot Beach, Hawaii, where the sands are said to shimmer with luminous green color.

Peaceful Peridot

The metaphysical powers of Peridot have been written about for centuries. Wearing Peridot is thought to bring peace to relationships by balancing the mind and emotions, promoting restful sleep, and bringing about good cheer. It brings harmony and compassion to family dynamics by opening up the heart chakra.

Given its bright green color, it’s also considered a very helpful stone for attracting abundance, fortune, and good luck.

Peridot’s Color Properties

Peridot is in the gem variety of the mineral Olivine, which makes a vibrant light green to olive-green stone. However, pure green stones are rare. Most are more of a yellow-green color. Lower-quality stones can even be slightly brown. Because Peridot can easily be found all over the world, it’s as affordable as it is beautiful compared to other gemstones with similar in energetic properties.

 Depending on the setting, it’s an extremely affordable gemstone that you can enjoy for a lifetime or more, just like the ancient Egyptians!

Where Peridot Can Be Found

Peridot can be found all over the world in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. It’s even been found in meteorites. However, if you want the highest quality Peridot you can get, you'll want one mined in Myanmar or Pakistan where the most vibrant green colored gems are usually found.

Making Sure Your Stone Is Authentic

Peridot is a stone made of iron, so it's attracted to magnets. If you want to test the authenticity of your stone and do a little science experiment, you can sway a magnet over your stone. If the stone gets attracted to the magnet and moves, even in the slightest, you’ve got yourself a real Peridot. Fake Peridot, made of glass, will never be attracted to a magnet.

Alternatively, you can look through the stone towards a light source, like a bright window or lightbulb. A double ray of light within the stone means the stone has double refraction and is a true gem. A single ray means there is no double refraction, showing that your stone is glass.

Peridot is a fun, helpful stone that brings about peace, harmony, and strength. If you’re looking to add a happy gemstone to your jewelry collection, there’s no better place to start than with a top-quality Peridot. It’s an affordable and beautiful way to celebrate