Peridot is the birthstone of August, and comes in an iconic olive green. Another favorite of the Egyptians, peridot gems enjoyed a spectacular resurgence of interest in the 1990’s after a major find in Pakistan was unearthed.
Also known as chrysolite or olivine, peridot’s characteristic green color is due to trace elements of iron within the crystal structure. Peridot is one of the few gems that is found in only one color, though the hue can vary with changes in the concentration of iron. This can lead to peridot to often be confused for emerald or other green gemstones.
In Hawaii, peridot is thought to be the tears of the volcano goddess Pele. Appropriately, peridot is a rather soft gemstone, and should be handled with care with both temperature and potential scratching.