The Poor Man's Emerald

Peridot, often referred to as the “poor man’s emerald”, is a gem that is formed in volcanoes and has been cherished since the time of the ancient Egyptians. It is the colored birth stone for August and is ideal for summer wardrobes as the color ranges from shades of yellowish green to olive and brownish green.

Peridot has been used in fashion and ritual for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians utilized Peridot stones in religious rituals and used it to adorn Cleopatra’s and other Pharaoh’s treasures. To them it was the gemstone of the sun and was thought to reveal insights and embellish dreams as well as protect against the evil eye.

Ancient Romans called it the “emerald of the evening” as it does not change color even in artificial light. Ottoman Sultans had a large array of Peridot in their vaults and it adorns many treasures in European cathedrals, medieval churches and prized possessions. As a testament of his undying love, Napoleon gave a Peridot ring to Josephine. Legend also has it that pirates favored Peridot as a form of protection and setting it in gold would defend the wearer from terrors in the night.

Peridot’s popularity faded for a while until the 1990s when a rich deposit of the finest Peridots the world had seen was found in Pakistan, rekindling the world’s interest in the gemstone. Since their discovery, gemstone cutters have become increasingly creative in cutting Peridots (a fragile stone which can be quite complicated to work with) with elaborate facets and designs.