Peridot Rings and Jewelry
Peridot History
Peridot is a transparent stone that's most popular in green. Popular
shades of peridot
jewelry range from yellowish-green to greenish-yellow. In its
long history, the peridot was thought to ward off evil spirits and
has always been associated with light. Now, peridot is found in Arizona's
San Carlos Indian Reservation, Australia, Brazil, Burma, China, Colorado,
Egypt, Hawaii, New Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The gem
is relatively inexpensive and not hard to find. It can normally be
found up to 5 carats and large peridot stones are readily available.
Peridot ranks 6.5 to 7 on Mohs scale of hardness with toughness
from fair to good. The stone is rarely treated and is stable. If
the peridot is treated, it is treated with oils, waxes and resins.
The peridot is the birthstone for August and is recommended for
the 16th wedding anniversary.
How to Buy
When looking for a peridot, look for even color throughout the stone.
The most popular peridots are bright lime-green with no overtones.
Some questions to ask when purchasing peridots are:
- Has the peridot been treated?
- Is the stone natural or synthetic?
- Are there any noticeable scratches, chips or inclusions?
- Is the color even throughout the peridot?
- How good is the color?
As with all purchases, comparison-shop and see how much different
retailers are selling the same item. Research information on them
to make sure you get the best value for your purchase.
Peridot Care
Clean peridot
rings with warm, soapy water and avoid steam and sonic cleaners.
Protect the stone from hard knocks and scratches. Do not put peridots
in sudden temperature changes because it can damage or crack the
peridot.
Keep peridot
rings and jewelry in a fabric-lined box and to keep other accessories
from scratching it.
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