Gemstone Spotlight: Peridot - Earth’s Green Flame

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

With a hue as vivid as spring’s first unfurling leaves and the crisp sweetness of green apples, peridot has captivated hearts for millennia. Its name—peridot (pronounced PAIR-uh-doe or PAIR-uh-dot)—is thought to stem from the Arabic word faridat, meaning “gem,” and the stone has lived up to that legacy in cultures across continents and centuries.

To the ancient Egyptians, peridot was the “gem of the sun,” a radiant talisman believed to ward off nightmares, soothe troubled minds, and bring abundance to those who wore it close. Mined under the shimmer of moonlight on the island of Topazios (modern-day Zabargad), peridot was so precious it was kept secret, reserved solely for pharaohs and royalty. The mine itself vanished into myth until it was rediscovered in 1905—though its finest treasures had long since been claimed.

In Hawaiian lore, peridot holds a more fiery origin. Found glinting in the sands of Papakōlea Beach—one of only four green sand beaches in the world—these tiny gems are believed to be the crystalline tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Islanders sometimes call them “Hawaiian Diamonds,” a poetic nod to their fierce and sacred beauty.

Once the traditional birthstone for September and Libra, peridot now glows as August’s modern birthstone and is a cherished gift for 16th wedding anniversaries—an emblem of love’s enduring light.

 

Origins and Gemology

Peridot is the gem-quality variety of olivine, a mineral forged not in the Earth’s crust, like most gemstones, but deep within its mantle. Alongside diamond, it is one of the only two gems born of molten rock from our planet’s fiery heart, carried to the surface through volcanic eruptions and tectonic upheavals. In rare instances, peridot arrives to us not from this world, but from the stars—encased in ancient meteorites that fell from the heavens.

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

Its color palette ranges from golden lime to the deep green of moss after rain, with iron content influencing the saturation and hue. The purest specimens glow with a vibrant green untouched by brown or yellow undertones—a color as alive as the landscapes they emerge from.

While Egypt’s storied mines have been depleted, peridot continues to be unearthed in Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, China, and the United States. The richest modern deposit lies in Arizona’s San Carlos Apache Reservation, where generations of Apache families have carried on the tradition of peridot mining. There, under desert skies, the Earth still offers up its green fire.

 

Caring for peridot jewelry

Though peridot is a stone of ancient strength, it requires a tender touch. To keep your jewelry gleaming:

  • Gently clean with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush.

  • Rinse thoroughly and dry with a lint-free cloth.

  • Avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaners, which can damage the stone’s structure.

  • Store peridot separately from harder gems like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies to prevent surface scratches.

Treat your peridot pieces as you would any ancient talisman: with reverence and care, honoring both the craftsmanship and the earth from which they came.

Final Reflections: A Gem of Light and Legacy

Peridot is more than a beautiful green stone—it is a whisper from Earth’s molten core and a flicker of starlight from beyond our sky. Whether worn for its folklore, its luminous beauty, or its symbolic power, this gem invites us to remember the ancient magic embedded in every facet of the natural world.

Peridot Jewelry




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
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