Peridot for August
Egyptians called peridot the “Gem of the Sun” for its electric yellowish green hues. Peridot (also called Olivine) has long been prized for its yellowish green color that comes from iron and magnesium impurities. The best peridot is a pure grass green in color.
Peridot crystals are often found in meteorites, but these crystals are usually not large enough to be made into jewelry. Most peridot for gem purposes is found as irregular nodules from lava flows in the United States, China and Vietnam.
Some historians believe that Cleopatra’s famous emerald collection might actually have been peridot. People in medieval times often confused peridot with emerald. For centuries, it was believed that the 200-ct. gems adorning the shrine of the Three Holy King’s in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral were emeralds, when in fact, they are peridot’s.
Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August and also represents the 15th Anniversary gemstone. It’s easy to see why it’s such a popular gem and surrounded by so much lore!
All the best!
Chrissi
*gemstone information source: GIA website.
Glamorous Emeralds For May
Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of mineral species called beryl, and is the most famous member of the beryl family, along with aquamarine. Emeralds rich green color is the perfect birthstone for the month of May, where it represents the rebirth of nature after the long winter.
Emerald is one of those gemstones that has fascinated and captivated people since the dawn of time. The first known emerald mines were in Egypt dating from at least 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra had a famous passion for emeralds and used them in her adornments.
Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when sixteenth-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spanish, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.
Emeralds, while still a relatively hard gem, is not particularly durable. Many emeralds contain fractures under the service and are prone to cracking during the lapidary process. In order to enhance the beauty of the stones, and minimize the appearance of fractures…emeralds will be treated with substances from essential oils to waxes or resins. These treatments have varying amounts of stability in a stone, so care should always be used with emeralds if the treatment is not known. Most qualified gemologists should be able to detect any treatments given to the gemstone.
***Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia.
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.
February Gemstone of the Month: Amethyst
With it’s deep purple to light, almost pinkish mauve shades, Amethyst has been a revered gemstone for centuries. This beautiful variation of quartz is the perfect gemstone for jewelry and other objects of worth because of it’s hardness and ability to take harder wear. Not to mention, it’s beautiful color.
Amethyst is most notably found in Brazil and Uruguay. Naturally colored crystals that exhibit both yellow and purple hues are called ametrine. Amethyst can be found in geodes as well as large crystal deposits.
Amethyst was once considered to be one of the most valuable gemstones next to diamonds. Large discoveries in South America have brought the price down considerably over the years. Amethyst is found in a variety of cuts to highlight this gemstone’s natural beauty. Most commonly, amethyst is cut in cabochons or in faceted forms depending on the quality of the stone. Amethyst is also the birthstone for the month of February.
Green Amethyst commonly called Prasiolite is usually heat-treated amethyst. The color ranges from a pale green to nearly light yellow, depending on the treatment.
Care considerations when wearing Amethyst include taking care not to hit the stone on hard objects that could cause the stone to chip or fracture along natural cleavage plains. Depending on the type of setting, you should avoid wearing all sterling silver jewelry in swimming pools. When cleaning, it’s best to use a mild detergent and soft brush to remove dirt and grime.
