Natural Peridot: Complete Guide for Trade, Jewelry, and Collections

This comprehensive guide provides everything you need to know about natural rubies, for trade partners, jewelers, and collectors alike.

Overview

Natural Peridot, a gem-quality variety of olivine, is cherished for its beautiful olive to lime green colors. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, Peridot is durable and suitable for various types of jewelry, including rings, necklaces, and earrings. This gemstone is often associated with light and warmth, making it a popular choice for both fashion and fine jewelry. Its historical significance and unique characteristics have established Peridot as a sought-after gemstone in the market. Understanding its properties, sources, and market dynamics is essential for anyone involved in its trade or collection.

Physical Properties and Specifications

  • Chemical Composition: (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄

  • Hardness: 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs scale

  • Crystal System: Orthorhombic

  • Refractive Index: 1.654 - 1.689

  • Specific Gravity: 3.27 - 3.37

  • Pleochroism: Weak, typically shows slight color variations

  • Fluorescence: Generally inert, but some specimens may fluoresce weakly

  • Cleavage/Fracture: Perfect cleavage in one direction, conchoidal fracture

Color and Quality Classifications

Available Color Ranges

  • Primary hues: Green

  • Secondary modifications: Yellowish-green, brownish-green

  • Tone and saturation ranges: Light to dark tones with vivid saturation

  • Premium colors: Bright lime green and olive green

  • Commercial grades: Light shades and less saturated colors

Clarity Characteristics

  • Typical inclusion types: Iron inclusions, crystals, and color zoning

  • Clarity grading standards: Eye-clean to included

  • Source-specific features: Unique inclusions that may indicate origin

  • Eye-clean criteria: No visible inclusions to the naked eye

Source Locations and Material

Historic sources

  • Egypt, Myanmar (Burma), and the USA (Arizona)

Current production

  • Significant production is currently from the USA, China, and Pakistan.

Source-specific characteristics

  • Each location imparts distinct characteristics in color and clarity.

Production trends

  • Increasing demand for Peridot has led to rising prices, especially for high-quality specimens.