Bright green peridot is a summery addition to any jewelry collection, and you don’t need to have an August birthday to enjoy it. Here’s 10 facts about this candy-colored gem.
- No one really knows where peridot gets its name. It’s either from the Arabic “faridat”, meaning “gem", or the Greek “peridona” which means “giving plenty”.
- Peridot has always been associated with wealth and prosperity, and believed to attract good fortune with money.
- Unlike many other gemstones, peridot only comes in shades of green. This is because its color comes from the composition of the mineral itself, rather than various inclusions and/or the heat conditions while it was formed.
- It’s rare, but peridot can be found inside meteorites!
- Arizona is the main producer of peridot in the United States, with many coming from mines on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.
- Peridot is the traditional gemstone for 15th wedding anniversary gifts.
- In medieval Europe, peridot was believed to ward off evil spirits and night terrors.
- Peridot is found in lava flows in Hawaii, and are traditionally thought to be the goddess Pele’s tears.
- The largest peridot found so far weighs 319 carats, and is on display in the Smithsonian Museum.
- Peridot has been mined in Egypt for almost 2,500 years, and the country still produces top-quality, highly-prized gems.
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