Peridot
Found in lava, meteorites, and deep in the earth's mantle, yellow-green peridot is the extreme gem
BUYER'S GUIDE
Connoisseurs seek out large well-cut intensely colored grass-green one-of-a-kind gems, but there’s a thriving market for smaller, pastel shades in standard sizes.
FIND A JEWELER
Submit your gemstone through your local jeweler.
FIND A REPORT
Verify the information on your report matches what is archived in the GIA report database.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
A PURE GRASS-GREEN COLOR FREE FROM BROWNISH TINTS IS BEST.
The most favored peridot color is a richly saturated pure grass green, which is usually only achieved in gems of 10-cts. or larger. Smaller examples tend to show yellowish-green hues and brown undertones lower the value of peridot.
CLARITY REFERS TO THE GEM’S INCLUSIONS.
The best-quality peridot has no eye-visible inclusions, with perhaps a few tiny black spots—actually minute mineral crystals—visible under magnification. Other inclusions common in peridot are reflective, disk-shaped inclusions called “lily pads.”
CUT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN APPEARANCE.
With skilled cutting maximizing its beautiful bodycolor, peridot can be a stunning gem. It’s available in a wide variety of shapes and cutting styles, including ovals, pears, rounds, emerald cuts, cushion cuts, triangle cuts, and marquise shapes.
CARAT WEIGHT ALLOWS FOR PRECISE MEASUREMENTS.
Although the finest gems are generally seen in sizes above 10-cts. and there are fine gems of more than 50-cts. on the market, smaller gems cut to standard sizes are affordable and readily available.
Peridot Quality Factors: The Comprehensive Guide
Questions & Answers
- Q
SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR A PERIDOT FROM MYANMAR, PAKISTAN, OR EGYPT?
AAlthough collectors enjoy knowing where their peridot was mined, fine peridot comes from many localities. Because Zabargad Island in the Red Sea is not currently commercially producing, gems that can be confirmed as coming from that source may command a slight premium due to their historic value.
- Q
WHAT IS AAA-QUALITY PERIDOT?
AAlthough individual companies might create their own quality descriptions, like AAA, AA and A, to denote the range of quality of their goods, no standard quality-grading scales exist for peridot.
- Q
I’VE SEEN PERIDOT MARKETED AS “UNHEATED.” DOES THAT MAKE IT MORE VALUABLE?
ANo peridot is known to be heated to improve its appearance. Although the claim is technically true, it’s misleading.
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CARING FOR YOUR PERIDOT
Keep your peridot beautiful by following simple care and cleaning guidelines.
DURABILITY
CARE & CLEANING
