The name of the gemstone is believed to come from either the Arabic word faridat meaning "gem" or the French word peritot meaning "unclear." Peridot is one of the few gemstones that comes in only one color. The depth of green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, and varies from yellow-green to olive to brownish green. Peridot is also often referred to as "poor man's emerald". Olivine is a very abundant mineral, but gem-quality peridot is rather rare. Peridot crystals have been collected from iron-nickel meteorites.
Gem quality peridot comes from Arizona, Burma, Norway, islands in the Red Sea, Hawaii and is sometimes found in meteorites. Peridot is the gem variety of olivine and ranges between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Peridot is the official birthstone for the month of August as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the stone for the Zodiac sign of Libra.
According to folklore, the peridot will bring its wearer success, peace, and good luck. Peridot has been found in Egyptian jewelry from the early second millennium BCE and was mined from the volcanic island of Zebirget, or St. John's Island, in the Red Sea.
Two thousand years ago, in the Roman empire, peridot was called olivine." Italian peridot is olive in color. American peridot is a light yellow-green.
Legend says that peridot was one of the favorite gemstones of Cleopatra and that some of the "emeralds" worn by her were actually peridot. Anciently, large chunks of peridot were found in Hawaii. These large pieces found their way around to the Egyptians, who made small drinking vessels out of them. They were used in rituals, and the priests would drink soma from them. The soma would put them in touch with the nature goddess, Isis.
Peridot has been mined as a gemstone for thousands of years, and is mentioned in the Bible under the name of Chrysolite. The breast plates of Solomon and the High Priest Aaron were said to carry them among them 12 stones to protect them from wounds and death in battle. These 12 stones were credited with the showing of true spiritual teaching by creating miracles of healing performed by the high priests.
Legend has it that King Solomon traded many cedar trees from Lebanon for 12 soma drinking cups and 144 liters of soma. The Egyptians made this trade for ramp logs to build their pyramids at Gisa. King Solomon was said to have been made wise and enlightened by the drinking of soma from the peridot cups.
Peridot emits a warm and friendly energy and be used to magnify the inner aspects of any situation. It helps one to understand ones own inner life changes. Peridot, further, helps to heal a bruised ego by assisting in the lessening of jealousy, anger and fear, by inspiring happiness with oneself and delight in ones own nature.
Peridot is is said to have been one of the stones used in the Breastplate of Aaron, the High Priest. It is used to stimulate the heart and solar plexus chakras allowing openness and acceptance in the intellectual pursuit of matters of the heart.
(Astrological Signs of Virgo, Leo, Scorpio & Sagittarius)
Vibrates to the numbers 5, 6, & 7
Peridot is an excellent healing stone, acting as a "tonic" to both strengthen and regenerate the body. It is also used to strengthen eyesight and provide relief from stomach disorders.
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