Peridot: meaning, symbolic properties, history and care

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Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, in colours from olive green to bright yellow-green. The August birthstone, known since antiquity, it is beautiful but sensitive to knocks.

Key points

Colour	Olive green to yellow-green or apple green, vitreous lustre
Mineral family	Magnesium and iron silicate, gem variety of olivine (forsterite)
Mohs hardness	6.5 to 7
Deposits	Arizona (San Carlos), Pakistan, Burma, China, Egypt (Zabargad, now abandoned)
Other names	Gem olivine, the former “chrysolite”
Distinctive feature	The green comes from the iron in its composition, not from a dye
Traditional association	August birthstone; heart chakra
Care	Lukewarm water, soft cloth; sensitive to knocks and acids

What is peridot?

Peridot is the gem-quality variety of olivine, a magnesium and iron silicate with the general formula (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. Olivine forms a continuous series between two end members, forsterite (rich in magnesium) and fayalite (rich in iron); jewellery peridots lie on the forsterite side. Its colour, from olive green to yellow-green, comes from the iron present in the very composition of the stone: it is one of the rare gems whose colour needs no impurities. Its hardness is 6.5 to 7.

Olivine is a very common mineral in the Earth's mantle and in volcanic rocks such as basalt. Crystals of gem quality are rarer: they are sometimes found in volcanic bombs or in mantle rocks brought to the surface. The ancient deposit of the island of Zabargad (St John's Island), in the Red Sea, was probably mined as early as the first millennium BCE, and is now abandoned. Today, the San Carlos reservation in Arizona is a major source, along with Pakistan, Burma, China and other countries.

The origin of the word “peridot” is debated: an Arabic origin, faridat (“gem”), has been proposed, which the Oxford English Dictionary considers without solid foundation, or a word derived from Greek. Pliny the Elder already praised its brilliance, and it was often confused with emeralds in antiquity.

Traditional symbolism

The bright green of peridot, the colour of young leaves, has always linked it to light, joy and renewal. Tradition attributes to it a connection with prosperity and human warmth, and presents it as a stone of good spirits and clarity.

A widely told legend holds that some of the “emeralds” of Queen Cleopatra were in fact peridots: the idea is appealing but not demonstrated. More striking, olivine crystals have been found in certain meteorites, the pallasites: this is a scientific fact that feeds the image of a stone “from elsewhere”. These stories are cultural narratives, not properties of the stone.

Traditional correspondences

Area	Association cited	Note
Month	August	Birthstone in most lists; see August
Chakra	Heart, sometimes solar plexus	Depending on the authors; see the heart chakra
Element	Earth or fire	The authors differ
Sign	Leo, Virgo, Libra	Depending on the authors

How to use it

As jewellery: rings, earrings, pendants. Its brilliant colour suits daily wear, provided the stone is protected from knocks.
As a rough or tumbled stone: for collectors, small pieces of Arizona peridot make a lovely curiosity to keep in a dish.
As an August gift: a classic for a birth or a birthday.
In meditation: observe the colour in daylight, as a visual pause.

It pairs well with citrine for sunny tones, or green aventurine for a more accessible green.

Care and cleansing

Peridot is hard enough for regular wear, but it is only moderately resistant: it can chip under a sharp knock and dull through wear.

Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap, soft brush, then drying. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners if the stone shows cracks.
Acids: avoid acidic products and vinegar, to which olivine is sensitive.
Heat: avoid sudden changes in temperature.
Storage: keep it apart from harder stones (ruby, sapphire, quartz) so it is not scratched.

Symbolic cleansing: moonlight, gentle smoke, selenite. See our guide.

Recognising real peridot

Natural: olive green to yellow, a greasy vitreous lustre, and often small inclusions shaped like a water-lily leaf (“lily pads”) visible under a loupe. A slight difference in appearance between facets is normal (double refraction).
Green glass: perfectly clean, without inclusions, sometimes with round bubbles.
Other green stones: green tourmaline, demantoid garnet or chrysoberyl are told apart by their colour and hardness. Peridot is rarely treated.
Synthetic: very rare in the peridot trade.

How to choose

The value of a peridot depends above all on its colour: a clear green, slightly yellow, vivid and even, is the most sought after. Tones that are too yellow or brownish are less prized. Size matters little for the price up to a certain limit; large, clean stones do exist, notably from Pakistan or Burma.

Prefer a carefully set piece for protection. For similar green tones, see prehnite or idocrase.

Frequently asked questions

Peridot and olivine: are they the same thing?

Yes: peridot is the gem-quality variety of olivine, a very common mineral. The word “peridot” refers to the stone cut or polished for jewellery.

Is peridot fragile?

It is quite hard (6.5 to 7), but it can chip under a knock and is sensitive to acids. For a ring worn every day, a protective setting is advised.

What is the August birthstone?

In most modern lists, peridot is the August birthstone. Other lists also cite sardonyx or spinel.

Does peridot come from space?

Some peridots have been found in meteorites called pallasites, but the great majority of jewellery peridot comes from the Earth: volcanic rocks and mantle material brought to the surface.

Is peridot treated?

Rarely. It is one of the gems most often sold without treatment, though it is still worth asking the seller.