August Birthstone - Peridot

The peridot, a vibrant green gemstone was once called the "gem of the sun,"
Because the iron which creates the color is an integral part of its structure, it is found only in green, ranging from a summery light yellowish green to a dark bottle green .

Peridot was already used in Antiquity; it can be found in Egyptian jewellery from the early 2nd millennium B.C.. The stones used at that time came from a deposit on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea, some 45 miles off the Egyptian coast at Aswan .
The ancient Romans were fond of this gemstone too. Due to its radiant green shine, they named it  "emerald of the evening'.
Peridot was also used to decorate medieval churches, maybe carried back to Europe by the Crusaders. Large peridots, more than 200 carats in size, adorn the shrine of the three magi at the Cologne Cathedral.

The peridot is cut in accordance with its crystal shape, mostly faceted or in classical table cuts, or round, antique, as an octahedron or oval. Smaller crystals are cut into standardised series stones, larger ones into imaginative one-offs. Cabochons are made if the material contains more inclusions, for the domed cut brings out the fine silky shine of the inclusions to their best.

Click to see a selection of peridot fine jewellery