The most precious member of the Olivine Family, the August Birthstone, and one of the most beautiful and attractive greens nature has ever produced. One of Cleopatra’s treasured gemstones, it was probably identified at that time as Emerald.

The oldest known mine for Peridot is the "Zabargad Island Mine" in the Red Sea, situated 34 miles off the Egyptian coast. Although this mine was explored for thousands of years, production has stopped, since government nationalized the mines after 1956. No official production resumed since then. This was the World Class Peridot that we see these days set in old pieces of Antique Jewelry.

Has its reputation for being a Peridot of Size and Quality, athough sometimes , it has a sleepy appearance that we call it "Velvety Appearance".

Since its discovery in the past 15 years is known to be the best peridot ever discovered, considering that Egyptian Peridot does not exist anymore. Its Fine Olive Green tone and unusual Brilliance hardly occur in any other Peridot, due to its Rarity, it usually sells for 5 to 10 times the price of a comparable size of different origin. Pakistany Peridot is to Gem Collectors as Kashmir Sapphire; they hunt for its large pieces knowing that one day they will have the best return on their investment.

In he past few years, China started to mine Peridot in the Region of Hunan, producing up to 10ct sizes faceted materials that seem to be lighter in color or more of a golden green color but amazingly less costly than comparable Peridot.

As recently as 1993, San Carlos, AZ was producing from 80 to 95% of the World’s Gem-Grade Peridot, according to the U.S. Gemological Survey.

Although, these days, Arizona is facing a stiff competition from Burma, Pakistan, and China, its deposit is more than plentiful and fits in somewhere in the middle between the superior size and quality of Pakistany and Burmese materials from one side, and the massive production of lighter Chinese Peridot from the other side.

If you do not know Peridot, you will never understand this Dilemma?!

In the past Tucson Show of this year, few shoppers wondered "How come some wholesalers were selling lots of calibrated small size Peridots for under $3 or $5 per ct, while some other sellers sold their single show pieces for as high as $175 per ct, an almost 30 to 40 times the price?! Mining Peridot is very different than most of the other Gems, explosives and dynamites are the common tools, and since Peridot grows as layers of crystals on black Basalt or Lava Rocks, mining with explosives leaves no way to get any large pieces of rough.

Many of us that may be born in August do not like Peridot as their Birthstone, Why??? The answer is simple, because you may have never seen a good one that makes you like it. Most of the Peridot offered in the Market by Jewelers or in Trade Shows is of Commercial Grades. Hardly ever will you find a true Gem-Grade Peridot unless you conduct an extensive search, then you may be shocked by the price, then confused, and you may end up not buying and being disappointed about your own Birthstone. A frustration that you may avoid if you try to learn more about this Beautiful Gem. Peridot is an Olive Green Beauty not to be eaten, but to be enjoyed.

If you are buying a center piece for your Jewelry, stay away from heavily included or fractured Peridot. Internal black carbon spots are common inclusions, however only the lily pads type inclusions are admitted and do not really affect the Peridot Beauty, on the contrary, lily pads in Peridot appear as internal Natural Flowers. But Large Flawless or Near Flawless pieces are known to be Investment Grades. The best color is the perfect moderate olive green, not too dark and not too light, brilliance, and vividness are important, a velvety appearance may be of a Beauty if the stone is clean and well cut.

Peridot is a Royal Gem with a magnificent green that has thousands of years of history. It mixes well with white Diamonds and makes a unique and special gift to special ones.