As we reach the end of the Summer, we enter the peacefully warm month of August, and therefore reach the uniform stone of Peridot.
Peridot is a stone that has been admired and used within jewellery for over 5000 years. It comes from the mineral 'Olivine' and this is perhaps why it somewhat resembles the colour of a green olive. The yellowish - green colour of Peridot makes it quite a unique choice of stone if you are looking for a green stone, but do not like that of the emerald or aventurine. The colour of the peridot actually makes it rather unique in the world of semi -precious stones, because it's one of the few stones that doesn't differ in colour or tone between each stone; it's very much the same across the board.
Originally, the peridot was only found and mined on St. Johns Island in the Red Sea, and this was the most important source for the stone. However, much more recently, have sources of peridot been found in Hawai and South Africa. During the 17th century, where pirates were rife amongst the coastlines and island ports, the peridot became an important stone of superstition. With easy access to the stone via St. Johns Island, pirates made sure to pick them up to take on their sea faring travels, under the pretense that the stone would protect them from all the hazards the sea could throw at them. Ironic given how soft the peridot actually is, but you can't blame a pirate for trying.
The softness of the peridot does cause a problem with its use within jewellery, as everyday wear can definitely cause damage to the stone. This is why you won't often see peridot in jewellery settings, because by modern standards, the stone simply causes too many problems within jewellery. This doesn't mean that it should be considered as a great option for a gem set piece of jewellery, as the colour of the stone is incredibly beautiful. However, it just requires a little care and knowledge for the stone, to ensure that you don't accidently cause and damage to the stone or integrity of it.
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