The birthstone of August, peridot’s mellow green glow earned it the nickname Evening Emerald. Prized for not only its stunning appearance, peridot was also thought to relieve sickness and bring good fortune on its wearer.
In Hawaii, peridot is said to be the tears of Pele, the goddess of the island’s volcanoes. In many cultures and times, peridot has been used as a means to see the brilliance lying beneath the mundane appearance of the everyday, from the Hebrews to the Roman Empire and beyond.
Believed to ward off depression and fear, peridot was also rumored to keep its wearer form feelings of jealousy, leading ancient Egyptian high priests to include them in their ceremonial dress to prevent envy of the pharaoh.