August babies, listen up: your birthstone is out of this world. We mean that literally -- peridot crystals can be found in meteorites and comets. This yellow-green gem has crystals that might be more than 4.5 billion years old, but one of the splashier peridot discoveries came in 2005 when peridot was found on comet particles brought back to Earth by the Stardust robot probe. How’s that for rare?!
Because peridot has been around for so long, there’s lots of mythology attached to it. Ancient Egyptians considered it to be the “gem of the sun,” and some historians think the emeralds Cleopatra is reported to have worn might actually have been peridot.
Peridot forms underground and is pushed above by volcanoes. That’s why ancient Hawaiians believed peridot symbolized the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.
While peridot has worldwide (and, some might say, interstellar!) fame, it’s actually mainly produced in the United States. Arizona is home to some of the world’s largest peridot deposits, and the San Carlos Indian Reservation produces about 90 percent of all peridot.
This gorgeous stone is perfect on its own or with some support from jewelry MVPs like diamonds, as shown in this drop-dead-gorgeous pendant. Peridot also plays well with others, and its signature yellow-green color is perfectly complemented by other gems. Try pairing peridot with amethyst or sapphire to really bring out the colorful nature of this gem.
Want to learn even more about gems like peridot? Join us for one of our Gems From Every Corner Of The World events! Become an expert (and stock up on your favorites) in Prince Frederick on August 24 or in Dunkirk on August 25.