Green the Color of Life!

Since it is the month of August I figured I would touch on the birthstone peridot for my blog article. Peridot is olive green in color and can vary from yellow to brownish-green. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that only comes in one color.

Green is the color of life, renewal, nature, energy, safety and fertility. It is the color of healing and is understood as being the most restful and relaxing color for the eye to view. You will find three-carats and smaller in jewelry on the market today. A fine eight-carat stone is extremely rare and beyond eight carats would be collectors or museum pieces.

Below are some fabulous green including peridot gemstones by Jordan Alexander. Theresa Harper Bruno is the designer behind the brand, her style challenges the norm of classic jewelry and she brings something a little less ordinary to what are certain to be future heirlooms!

Please do not hesitate to contact me about this brand or finding the perfect peridot for your special someone born in the month of August.

Peridot the gemstone associated with prosperity & good fortune.....

The gemstone peridot is associated with prosperity and good fortune. Who doesn't want a little bit of that in their life? Yes, I am an August baby and love my birthstone for it's unique rich color and interesting character. All of which are typical of the Leo's themselves.....

Peridot is the rare gem-quality variety of the common mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the earth's upper mantle, then brought to the surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii, the gemstone symbolizes the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava.

The gemstone has always been associated with light. In the Egyptian times they called the gemstone the "gem of the sun". Although the finest peridot is a pure grass green, most peridot is yellowish-green. Lower quality is brownish in color. Peridot is cut in a variety of shapes and sizes, from oval, emerald as well as cushion.

Fine peridot is eye clean, yet under magnification one might see tiny black spots, which are tiny minute mineral crystals. My favorite mineral inclusion that I loved finding when at GIA studying for my GG were the "lily pads". Lily pads are just that the shape of a lily pad inside the gemstone, which is a natural inclusion and beautiful in my eyes. See below a photograph of the "lily pad" discoids from the inside of a peridot gemstone. Please do come to see me at Provident Jewelry and I will show you this natural inclusion through the microscope, I would love to show you!

    MS Jewelry Design

Keeping with St. Patrick's Day.....the world of peridot!

I do love the color green, maybe because it's one of the colors of the Italian flag and it is the birthstone for August. Yes, I am Italian and my birthday is in August. Peridot has a fascinting history both in nature and culture. It is one of the oldest gemstones, ancient records document the mining of this beautiful gemstone as early as 1500 B.C. This gem is especially connected with ancient Egypt, some actually believe the famous emeralds of Cleopatra's were actually peridot, not emeralds. Most gems are formed in the earth's crust, yet the two exceptions are peridot and diamonds. Peridot forms in magma, which is approximately 20 to 55 miles deeper than the earth's crust. Then, brought to the surface by tectonic or volcanic activity. I think the entire gemstone growth process is absolutely fascinating.

Also, another thing that sets this gemstone apart from others is it's one of the few gemstones that forms in only one color an olive-green. The intensity and tint of the green, is determined by the amount of iron that is contained in the crystal structure. So, the color of individual peridot gems can differ from yellow, to olive, to brownish-green. In rare cases, peridot can occur in medium-dark tones, visually pure green with a secondary yellow hue or brown mask.

Truly a lovely stone for those who fancy the color green. Some yummy jewelry below; what is your favorite piece?

18K White Gold Round Martini Studs With 48 Diamonds=.18ctw GH-VS2/SI1 and Two 6.5mm Peridot=2.00ctw

"HENRY DUNAY" List price ~$32K D~4CTS 2P~6CTS

18K White Gold Ring with a Burmese Peridot=16.71ct and 68 Diamonds=.58ctw G-H/VS2-SI1

18k Yellow Gold Agate, Peridot & Diamond Pendant

* This is a pendant that I designed, thought you might like to see some of my work!