Peridot for August

Peridot is the official gemstone for August. It’s beautiful yellow-green hues are the perfect compliment for the lush green foliage of summer. I thought I would share a little bit about this beautiful gem. In the past, peridot was commonly referred to in mineralogy as olivine, due to it’s olive-green color. Peridot was brought to Central Europe by the crusaders in the Middle Ages and was often used for religious purposes. The largest cut peridot weighs 319 carats and was found on the island Zabargad. It is currently located at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Peridot has a Moh’s hardness of 6 1/2-7, which makes it a great gemstone for jewelry. However, the gemstone can be brittle, much like Zircon, so care should be used when wearing, especially in a ring or bracelet setting.