Zabargad Island
Peridot – The Name
Peridot is named after the French word peritot, meaning gold. Some variations of the stone are indeed more gold than green. Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August and is the stone given for a sixteenth anniversary.
First mining
Peridot has a long written history. Ancient papyri record the mining of these stones as early as 1500 BC. The main source of peridot in the ancient world was Topazo Island (now Zabargad or St. John’s Island) in the Red Sea.
Slavery
It is thought that the mining occurred at night because the gems were difficult to see during the day. The raw gems were virtually transparent and were hard to find unless it was dark enough for the rock’s reflection to be seen easily.
In ancient times, peridot stones were used as carved talismans. Island dwellers were forced into slavery to collect the gems for the Pharaoh’s treasury. Legend says that soldiers guarding the island had orders to kill any trespassers on sight.
Gem of the Sun
Peridot is the official national gem of Egypt. In Ancient Egypt it was known as “the gem of the sun.” Peridot was mined for over 3,500 years on St Johns Island. As late as the 19th Century, Egypt had a monopoly on the mines. For a time, the island’s exact whereabouts became a mystery. It was rediscovered in 1905.
From the Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones 2nd Edition:
“Zabargad is an island in the Red Sea that is often shrouded in fog, making it difficult for ancient navigators to find. The location has been lost in fact, for centuries, and was rediscovered in about 1905. The island is located 35 miles of the Egyptian coastal port of Berenica.”
In the 19th Century, the mines on Zabargad Island produced millions of dollars worth of peridot. After 1905, production of the gems peaked, but by the late 1930’s it tapered off to practically nothing and reached a virtual standstill in 1958, when the mines were nationalized.
The mineral hardness scale was established by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in the early 1800’s. He based the scale on ten common minerals ranging from talc, the softest mineral on the scale, to diamond, the hardest. Each mineral on the scale will scratch the mineral below it and will be scratched by the mineral above it.
Fingernails have a hardness of about 2.5. Knife blades and glass show up on the scale at about 5.5. Metal files have a hardness of about 6.5. Quartz stands at 7 on the scale.
Peridot gems have a hardness of about 6.5, which makes them very suitable for use as gemstones in peridot earrings, peridot necklaces, and in most other peridot jewelry. The use of peridot gems as ringstones requires some extra care to prevent abrasion and loss of polish.
| Hardness |
Material |
Absolute Hardness |
| 1 |
Talc (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) |
1 |
| 2 |
Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) |
3 |
| 3 |
Calcite (CaCO3) |
9 |
| 4 |
Fluorite (CaF2) |
21 |
| 5 |
Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH-,Cl-,F-)) |
48 |
| 6 |
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8) |
72 |
| 7 |
Quartz (SiO2) |
100 |
| 8 |
Topaz (Al2SiO4(OH-,F-)2) |
200 |
| 9 |
Corundum (Al2O3) |
400 |
| 10 |
Diamond (C) |
1500 |
The correct answer is Egyptian
The Egyptians believed that those who prospected for peridots could not do so during daylight hours because peridots were thought to be invisible in sunlight. Consequently, peridot miners worked in darkness, relying on torchlight to locate the lambent gems. Often they would mark the location of the find, then return to mine the gems in daylight hours.
Peridot gemstone earrings have a long history. Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones. Possibly the earliest deposits were mined on the Isle of St. John (Topazos Island), and the Crusaders first introduced peridot to Europe. The Isle of St. John is now called Zabargad and is in Egypt, and peridot is no longer mined there.
Spirituality
Catholic Bishops still wear the Ecclesiatical gold ring with amythyst and peridot stones. The stones in the ring are intended to echo the miraculous quality of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest found in the Old Testament.
Care
You should always clean your peridot gemstone jewelry, as all gemstone jewelry, with warm water, a mild detergent, and a clean soft cloth. Keep your gemstone jewelry away from heat and avoid abrasive contact. If well taken care of, your jewelry can last a lifetime.
Whether you are looking for a tennis bracelet for everyday wear or that special pair of peridot gemstone earrings that only come out once a year, you will be thrilled with the addition of breathtaking peridot gemstone jewelry to your collection.
High Quality Brand New Earrings With 6.65ctw Genuine Peridots Well Made in 18K Yellow Gold Length 43.5mm – Certificate Available.
Attractive Brand New Earrings With 2.60ctw Genuine Peridots Made of 14K White Gold Length 25mm – Certificate Available.
Gorgeous Earrings with Precious Stones – Genuine Clean round Diamonds, Ruby, Sapphire, Peridot, Topaz, Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet and 3.5 mm Pearls
We have an incredible selection of peridot gemstone jewelry for you to peruse and choose.
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Luxurious Stauer Jewelry
Peridot Gemstone Bracelets are the perfect accessory for any occasion from casual to formal. Its chemistry puts it in the same category as the diamond.
Peridot is a gem-quality forsterite, a member of the Olivine group. Olivine is a mineral series that ranges in composition from forsterite (magnesium silicate) to fayalite (iron silicate). The name Olivine comes from the Latin oliva, in reference to the mineral’s olive-green color. Olivine is the simplest of the dark minerals. It occurs in basalts and gabbros, igneous rocks rich in magnesium and low in quartz, and makes up the primary part of the mantle of the earth. It forms in the upper mantle in the magma, anywhere from 20 to 50 miles deep. Volcanic eruptions often blow out bombs of this material. Olivine is also contained in meteorites.
You should always clean your peridot gemstone jewelry, as all gemstone jewelry, with warm water, a mild detergent, and a clean soft cloth. Keep your gemstone jewelry away from heat and avoid abrasive contact. If well taken care of, your jewelry can last a lifetime.
Whether you are looking for a tennis bracelet for everyday wear or that special necklace that only comes out once a year, you will be thrilled with the addition of breathtaking peridot gemstone jewelry to your collection.
Here are a few choices to whet your appetite!
GIORGIO VISCONTI! Made in Italy! Luxurious Brand New Bracelet 3.35ctw Super Clean FG/VVS Diamonds, Citrines, Peridots, Rhodolite Garnets and Topazes Made of 18K
Fashionable Brand New Bracelet With 20.90ctw Precious Stones – Genuine Peridots and Topazes Made in 14K Yellow Gold. Total item weight 9.7g Length 7.5in – Certificate Available
Wonderful Brand New Bracelet With 5.00ctw Precious Stones – Genuine Peridots and Topazes Beautifully Crafted in Yellow Gold. Total item weight 5.9g Length 7.25 inches.
Salavetti! Made in Italy Luxurious Brand New Pave Hand Set Bracelet 5.93ctw Super Clean FG/VS Diamonds, Citrines and Peridot Made of 18K White Gold
We have an incredible selection of peridot gemstone jewelry for you to peruse and choose.
Please see our full selection here for up to 85% off all brand name jewelry:
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and more exquisite selections here:
Luxurious Stauer Jewelry
Peridot Gemstone Necklaces date back to the pharoahs and Cleopatra and have a strong connection to Egypt. There are records that indicate that peridot was mined as early as 1500 B.C.E.
History
Gem quality crystals of peridot are not easy to find. Peridot hardness ranges between 6.5 and 7. It is now mined in Myanmar and Norway and in Hawaii and Arizona in the US. Cleopatra supposedly wore peridot, and both Chrysolite and Emeralds are thought to have historically been peridot, and it also may have been originally called topaz.
Historically, peridot has long been used as a talisman. It is thought to keep men from being tongue-tied when talking to women – a truly desirable gift! It is a birthstone for the month of August, but its gorgeous yellow-green beauty is attractive for any occasion. Its hues cause it to be well-suited for white and yellow gold, or for settings in silver.
Care
You should always clean your peridot gemstone jewelry, as all gemstone jewelry, with warm water, a mild detergent, and a clean soft cloth. Keep your gemstone jewelry away from heat and avoid abrasive contact. If well taken care of, your jewelry can last a lifetime.
Whether you are looking for a tennis bracelet for everyday wear or that special necklace that only comes out once a year, you will be thrilled with the addition of breathtaking peridot gemstone jewelry to your collection.
KREMENTZ Attractive Brand New Necklace With 2.65ctw Precious Stones – Genuine Clean Diamonds and Peridot in 14K Yellow Gold Length 16in – Certificate Available.
We have an incredible selection of peridot gemstone jewelry for you to peruse and choose.
Please see our full selection here for up to 95% off all brand name jewelry:
Join Bidz.com for FREE
and more exquisite selections here:
Luxurious Stauer Jewelry
Peridot Gemstone Rings are breathtakingly beautiful and appropriate for any occasion. The peridot gemstone is of the same origin as the diamond, and its clarity and lustre make it the perfiect stone for a ring setting.
Mystical Properties
Historically, peridot has long been used as a talisman. It is thought to keep men from being tongue-tied when talking to women – a truly desirable gift! It is a birthstone for the month of August, but its gorgeous yellow-green beauty is attractive for any occasion. Its hues cause it to be well-suited for white and yellow gold, or for settings in silver.
Care
You should always clean your peridot gemstone jewelry, as all gemstone jewelry, with warm water, a mild detergent, and a clean soft cloth. Keep your gemstone jewelry away from heat and avoid abrasive contact. If well taken care of, your jewelry can last a lifetime.
Whether you are looking for a tennis bracelet for everyday wear or that special necklace that only comes out once a year, you will be thrilled with the addition of breathtaking peridot gemstone jewelry to your collection.
KREMENTZ Wonderful Brand New Ring With 2.45ctw Precious Stones – Genuine Diamonds and Peridot Made in 14K Yellow Gold
Nice Brand New High quality Ring With 2.85ctw Precious Stones – Genuine Clean Diamonds and Peridot Well Made in 18K White Gold. Total item weight 5.1g
We have an incredible selection of peridot gemstone jewelry for you to peruse and choose.
Please see our full selection here for up to 95% off all brand name jewelry:
Join Bidz.com for FREE
and more exquisite selections here:
Luxurious Stauer Jewelry
