Varying in coloration from a yellow-green color mix to a green with a brown tint, the standard clarity of the peridot is eye-clean. This gem is one of the few that only comes in one basic color. A magnesium iron silicate, the gemstone’s final coloration is frequently decided by the quantity of iron in its crystalline structure. The more iron the stone contains, the more golden the green tint’s appearance will become.
It is interesting to note that this gemstone has even been found in meteorites. Since the quantities of these stones are far too minimal to make them suitable for the jewelry trade, it is virtually impossible to purchase celestial gems. Terrestrial mining sources for peridot gems include Arizona’s San Carlos Apache Reservation, China, Myanmar and Tanzania. Some of the rarest stones, and therefore the most valuable, come from St. John’s Island.
Ancient Egyptians associated the peridot with the sun god. This association may have been due to the stone’s qualities of maintaining the same color hues under all types of light sources. When this gemstone was set in gold, ancient folklore suggested that it would protect the wearer at night. Tying the gems to a left arm was a practice associated with protection against evil spirits. Those worried about otherworldly influences would frequently request priestly blessings on their amulets.
Due to the stone’s appearance, there has been some confusion between this gem and the emerald or topaz. Because of this misunderstanding, it is likely that some of the stones that were historically deemed to be unusually yellow-green representations of the latter two gems might actually have been examples of the peridot. Case in point is Pharaoh Cleopatra VII, who famously collected emeralds. There is now a belief that these stones were in fact peridots.
Unlike other stones that have enjoyed a somewhat steady admiration by collectors and jewelry aficionados, the peridot is more of a faddish gem. Ancient Egyptians routinely included it in their amulets and other wearable art in the second millennium BCE. Ancient Romans appreciated the color qualities that would remain the same in natural and candle light.
Its availability made it a favorite of church builders in the Middle Ages. One example is the Cathedral of Cologne, where the stone served as ornamentation for many of the shrines, chattel and artful displays of worship. In the Baroque, the stone once again developed a loyal following. Surprisingly, it was not a big hit with the crowned heads of Europe, which may account for the lack of mentions in the important jewelry collections of nobles.
The last notable rediscovery of the peridot took place in the 1990s. This latest fad coincides with the discovery of a gem-rich mine in Pakistan, which offers quality gems as well as a large quantity of the stones. Clever marketers were quick to name them Kashmir peridots, which is a play on the Kashmir sapphires.
Peter Suchy Jewelers is located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut and we invite you to stop by our showroom to see some of our stunning vintage and estate pieces.
If you enjoy buying estate and vintage jewelry online, please do so by visiting our eBay store where you can purchase with confidence.
We also invite you to like us on Facebook and follow our Pinterest Boards to see what’s exciting in vintage, antique and estate jewelry!
No comments:
Post a Comment