What exactly are Peridots?
Learn about the gemstone before you buy Turquoise jewelry and gifts. The definition of a Peridot is as follows: • The word Peridot is derived from the Greek word “faridat ” which means “gem”. The peridot (pronounced pear-a-doe) is a pale green variety of chrysolite and used as a gemstone • The crystal structure of the Peridot (magnesium iron silicate) the August birthstone, is orthorhombic • The Peridot is one of the few gemstones that come in only one color • Like diamonds, gemstones are graded by color, cut, clarity and carat weight • The depth of green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure. It is also often referred to as “poor man’s emerald”.The Colors of Peridots Peridots come in a wide range of natural green colors and shades. The favored color is sparkling pale green color but it also occurs in lime, yellowish green, olive green or medium dark green. Color is mainly caused by the gemstones’s selective absorption of certain wavelengths of light called the
