Gemstone Spotlight: Peridot

Jewelry CareGemstone Spotlight
Written By Michelle Pajak-Reynolds
A collection of tumble polished peridot beads. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

A collection of tumble polished peridot beads. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Peridot History and Lore

Peridot’s signature juicy green apple color has been desired since ancient times.  Peridot (pronounced pair-uh-doe or pair-uh-dot) is a French word derived from faridat, an Arabic word meaning “gem.”  Ancient Egyptians considered peridot to be a “gem of the sun” and many early civilizations used peridot as a talisman for protection, healing, increasing abundance in one’s life and bringing peaceful sleep. 

Hawaiians believe peridot, especially the gems found at Papakolea Beach, one of only four green sand beaches in the world, is the tears of Pele, Goddess of Fires and Volcanos and often refer to peridot as “Hawaiian Diamonds.”

Peridot is the National Gem of Egypt and the historical birthstone for September and zodiac sign of Libra. In 1912, peridot become the modern birthstone for August.  Peridots are also commonly given as gifts for 16th wedding anniversaries.

 

Origins and Gemology

Varying in shades from yellow-green, lime green, to deep olive green, peridot is the gem-quality form of the mineral olivine, a magnesium iron silicate mineral with the iron being the element responsible for peridot’s signature color range.  Peridot is only one of two gemstones, the other being diamond, that form in the molten rock of the Earth’s upper mantle, rather than in its crust, and brought to the surface via the force of volcanos and earthquakes. While the majority of peridots are from our planet, the rarest of these gems have extraterrestrial origins in meteorites.   

Slice of meteorite containing traces of the mineral olivine. Peridot is the gemstone quality form of olivine. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Slice of meteorite containing traces of the mineral olivine. Peridot is the gemstone quality form of olivine. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Documented tales of peridot’s mining origins trace back over 4,000 years to the Ancient Egyptian island of Topazios, now known as Saint John’s Island or Zabargad (the Arabic word for Olivine), in the Red Sea.  Peridot was so beloved by the Egyptians that this mining site, designated for mining gems exclusively for Egyptian royalty, was keep a secret for over 3,500 years before it was abandoned during the fall of the Egyptian empire and then rediscovered in 1905.  Years of heavy mining has depleted the gem resources there, but, fortunately peridot is also found in China, Kenya, Myanmmar (Burma), Pakistan, Sri Lanka and United States, which has the world’s richest peridot mine located within the San Carlos Apache Reservation, 90-miles east of Phoenix, Arizona.

 

Caring for peridot jewelry

Peridot jewelry can be cleaned with warm water and gentle soap.  Let your jewelry pieces soak for a few minutes and then gently scrub with a soft brush, like an old toothbrush, rinse and let dry on a soft lint free cloth.  Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaners on peridot gems, these methods will damage peridots. Peridots can also be scratched by harder stones, including diamonds, rubies and sapphires, so it’s best to store peridot jewelry separately from jewelry pieces featuring these gems.




Please note, all metaphysical and healing properties listed are collected from a variety of sources and shared for educational, historical and entertainment purposes only. The authors and Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Studios LLC do not guarantee the validity of such statements nor is any of this information meant to treat medical conditions. If you have a medical concern, please consult your medical provider for appropriate treatment options.

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

The creative journey of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds—from childhood spark to timeless, handcrafted treasures.

“My love story with jewelry began before I was born. My parents met across a jewelry counter—my mother, a jewelry department manager; my father, a police officer working loss prevention in his off-duty hours. That moment of serendipity set everything in motion.

By five, I was working on my first designs in pop-beads and jelly bracelets, completely captivated by Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman—especially those iconic power bracelets and her gleaming tiara. I didn’t want to just wear magic, I wanted to make it. With babysitting money and a fierce sense of purpose, I bought beads and wire from the local craft store and taught myself the fundamentals. That curiosity turned into a calling.

I took my first metalsmithing class in high school and never looked back. I went on to earn a BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Kent State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University—equipping me to build a business rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, and soul.

Since founding my namesake jewelry company in 2001, I’ve focused on creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind designs—each one handcrafted using traditional metalsmithing techniques and ethically sourced materials. My work is intimate and intentional: forged in fire, shaped by hand, and designed to stir something deep within you. Every gemstone, every metal, every story that inspires a collection is carefully chosen, researched, and refined. This is slow jewelry with a purpose: to help you mark what matters most.

My pieces have graced red carpets at the Emmy Awards, runways at New York Fashion Week, and exhibitions around the world—including aboard the United Nations Peace Boat. Collectors, stylists, and editors seek out my work, but what means the most to me is when a client says, “This feels like it was made just for me.”

Because it was.

Jewelry, to me, is personal mythology made tangible. It’s a way of preserving the past, celebrating the present, and passing something meaningful into the future. So when you open your jewelry box, you're not just looking at beautiful objects—you're holding pieces of your life’s story. And maybe, just maybe, you're beginning a new chapter.” - Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

michellepajakreynolds.com
Previous

Gemstone Spotlight: Sapphire
Next

Gemstone Spotlight: Ruby