With each month there comes a beautiful birthstone which, when set into jewellery, makes the perfect gift for someone special. Those born in the wonderful summer month of August get the fascinating green stone Peridot!
The beautiful gemstone we know as peridot is named after the French word peritot, meaning gold, because the mineral can vary towards this colour and is made up from the mineral Olivine. We mostly know of peridots to be that lovely yellowish green colour, with the highest quality peridots are often found to be a stunning grass green, and are often cut into a wide variety of shapes and styles for jewellery. As well as being the birthstone for those lucky enough to be born in August, the stone is often also given to celebrate the 16th year of marriage.
Peridot is often know as an ancient gemstone, with early papyri recording the mining of these gems as early as 1500BC. Peridot had been dubbed by ancient Egyptians as the gem of the sun and they frequently mined it on the Red Sea island of Topazios (another early name used for peridot). Many of the largest and fine peridots have been found here and placed in museums all over the world. This special stone can also truly be called out of this world, with traces of peridots having been found within meteorites!
There are many interpretations as to where Peridot's name originates, such as the Arabic word faridat meaning 'gem', but some believe the name to be rooted in ancient Greek - in particular the word peridona which means 'giving plenty', aligning well with the idea of peridots bringing the wearer prosperity, good fortune and was often worn by nobility. In Hawaiian folklore, it was told that the gems were a gift from the Goddess Pele to bring healing, wealth and growth. Other traits often associated with peridot are compassion, bringing good health, focus and happiness. It was also thought that wearing the gem could alleviate anger and fear as well as brightening the wit.
Although a rather durable stone and good for everyday wear, when compared to some other common stones, peridot is considered a relatively soft gem. Therefore, when storing it, we recommend keeping your peridot jewellery safe in its own little box or bag so not to risk any scratches from it coming into contact with other pieces. It's also important not to let it get any hard blows as this could cause fractures. To keep your jewellery looking as fantastic and sparkly as the day you got it, gently clean with a soft brush or cloth simply using warm soap water or a professional jewellery cleaning solution (but nothing too abrasive!).
While we do not have many makers who work using this lovely stone, there are still some stunning options carefully handcrafted by the one and only Fi Mehra. Below I have popped together a small list of her peridot pieces that would make brilliant gifts as a set or standalone. Here are just a few of our favourites.
This beautiful handcrafted organic silver ring has been handmade by Fi Mehra. It has been set with a faceted peridot gemstone. The band has a melted texture creating the matt, slight bubbling texture. The faceted gemstone, which glistens beautifully in the natural light, is held in a raised silver setting.This charm has a beautiful peridot cabochon stone in a simple silver setting. It comes hung on an extendable 16-18 inch silver chain. The charms are all crafted by Fi, so you know that each one has a special handmade touch that you just don't get with many pendants on the high street.
This gorgeous pair of handcrafted silver earrings by Fi Mehra feature cabochon peridot stones set into silver. They would make a lovely gift, or even a treat for yourself! These earrings come hung on silver hook backs. This is a timeless piece of jewellery that can be worn day or evening.
If you'd like to view our current collection of beautiful peridot jewellery, check it out in our August category here...
For our full selection of birthstones jewellery, you can take a look at all twelve months here...
And finally, to view more of Fi Mehra's incredible jewellery, you can see the full collection here...