Peridot’s sunny yellow-green hue makes it the perfect stone for August birthdays!
Once seen as a herald of light and a protector against the dark, peridot has been a valued gemstone for millennia. Many ancient traditions saw it as a ward against evil if worn close to the skin, and it was cherished by the Ancient Egyptians and wealthy medieval Europeans, both in jewellery and to decorate buildings as a sign of great wealth.
Peridot is most often formed in lava flows in the United States, China, and Vietnam, and is sometimes found as large crystals in veins or pockets in solidified molten rock. Some peridot even has extraterrestrial origins, landing on earth via meteorites from space!
Peridot is a softer gemstone on the Mohs scale of hardness, rating a 6.5-7 (where diamond is 10). Because of this, it is not often recommended in rings for daily wear, nor is it often included in jewellery pieces with harder gemstones, as this luminescent gem scratches more easily. Peridot can also be damaged by some acids, and so carefully cleaning your peridot jewellery is a delicate process. As with most jewellery, mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush is the best way to keep your beautiful green gems sparkling at their best!
Happy birthday, August babies: celebrate you with the bright summer-green peridot!
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