The Birthstone Bulletin: August's Perfect Peridot

Peridot is the only gemstone to be found in...METEORITES! When a 925-pound meteorite landed in China in the year 2000, it was found to be an extremely rare pallasite – a type of stony-iron meteorite – that contained a great deposit of olivine or peridot in a honeycomb of nickel-iron. That's why you August babies are out-of-this-world! (I couldn't resist!)

Peridot has simply fascinated people for centuries with its gorgeous bright green color and rich history.

In ancient times, Egypt was the primary source of peridot, and was worn by the jewel-loving Queen Cleopatra. In fact, it's believed she wore peridot and not emeralds! The Egyptians loved peridot and called it the "Gem of the Sun" and made them into talismans to ward off evil. The ancient Romans called it the "Evening Emerald." It is believed to bring its wearer magical powers and protection against nightmares. It is also said to instill power and influence when wearing it!

In Hawaii, the stone is part of the ancient folklore and is said to represent the tears of the Goddess Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and fire.

Peridot is formed in the deep mantle region of the earth's crust. Peridot crystals are brought to the surface by tectonic or volcanic activity, and like I mentioned earlier, have been known to be collected from meteorites!

Today this green gem can be mined in many places in America and around the world. American peridot mines can be found in Arkansas, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii.

With it's eye-catching lime green color, peridot is one of the few gemstones that exists in only one color, making it a very special birthstone. The shade of green in a peridot depends on how much iron it contains, so the color can vary from yellow to olive to brownish-green.  The most valuable peridots are sparkling lime-green without brown or yellow hues.

One of the most famous peridots is a 46.16 karat monster stone that was found in Pakistan and is on display today at the Smithsonian Museum. This museum houses another peridot beauty as well: an incredible 34.65 karat peridot necklace found in Arizona!

Here's some beautiful out-of-this-world birthstone jewelry from our collection!

Peridot Birthstone Rings

Peridot Birthstone Earrings

Peridot Birthstone Matching Set

Happy Birthday, August babies! 

We're honored that Mullen Bros. Jewelers ranks #1 in overall customer ratings among all jewelry stores in Southeastern Massachusetts and we will continue to take care of our neighbors and friends, one jewel at a time.