ShangrilaGems

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REDUCED FROM $150

8" 3mm to 6mm Peridot facetted beads roundelles from Afghanistan AAA Grade PER005
Superb, clean untreated and truly organic gemstone Peridot. From the high Himalayas of Afghanistan which can only be mined for 2 months a year maximum. Peridot is very much the stone of the moment and it is very popular with top designers. See Theo Fennel's latest collection. Don't miss it!

PERIDOT GEMSTONE INFORMATION
Peridot is the gem variety of the mineral Olivine, it is a iron magnesium silicate. The hue of the green depends on how much iron content is in the crystal structure. The colors range from a bright limey yellowish green to a deep luscious leaf green of the stones from the High Himalayas of Pakinstan. It is in my opinion a very undervalued gemstone at the moment.

Peridot History
Peridot is the official birthstone of August. It is said to possess magical powers and healing properties. It can be found in Egyptian jewellery from the early 2nd millennium B.C, when the stones came from Aswan. The Romans called it ‘the emerald of the evening'. 

Peridot Visuals
It is only ever green. Peridot from Arizona tends to be lime green with a brown tinge, from China it is lime green, from Pakistan it is lime green to deep leaf green and from Burma it is Apple Green. Cats eye stones and star stones are rare. Peridot has strong birefringence: also known as double refraction (where the decomposition of a ray of light is split into two rays) More evident in larger stones, so through the table the back facets may be doubled.

Specfication of Peridot
Hardness on Mohs Scale: 6.5 Toughness: Fair to Good 
Luster: Vitreous Specific Gravity: 3.32-3.37
Refractive Index: 1.65-1.69 Birefringence*: 0.036 - biaxial
Cleavage: Poor 
Chemical Formula: (Mg, Fe)2 SiO4
Crystal Habit: Prismatic well formed crystals come from Pakistan. Elsewhere it tends to be crystal fragments or rolled pebbles. Crystals have orthorhombic prisms with a rhombus shaped cross section, broken or rounded surfaces, with a dull, vitreous/greasy luster. 

Common Inclusions in Peridot
In Pakistani stones look for ludwigite hair, ‘silk’ and rod like inclusions. Also black chromite crystal inclusions surrounded by small stress fractures that resemble water-lillies, finger print inclusions. Brown Mica flakes are more evident in Arizona gems.

Peridot Mines
ShangrilaGems source rough stone from the Saydan, Dar, Manrka-Kheil and Kurri mines in Pakistan. The Saydan and Dar mines have recently closed due to glacier slides. Burmese Peridot: Pyaung Gaung, Hebei province - China & Peridot Mesa, San Carlos in Arizona. 

Peridot Value
Small stones are very reasonable but when the stones pass four carat they become more expensive. The 4C’s apply as always. Depth and richness of color greatly affects value. Prices have increased since the Chinese started buying it – still it is a great investment!

Treatment of Peridot
Occasionally we have found epoxy resin filling, but it is not common place.

ShangrilaGems observation
Peridot is such an underrated gemstone. Like many gemstones, it is not played with by the ‘hot houses’ in Thailand to change the color. We have found peridot with a more sumptuous green color than the best green Tourmaline. To me there is nothing better. A great value gemstone that is oh so beautiful. 

Information provided for Gemrockauctions.com by ShangrilaGems

Peridot Healing Properties

Peridot is a great healer and mops up bad toxins in the body.  It is good to quell negative personality facets such as greed, spite, hate and resentment.  Good for alcoholics and addicts.  It makes the mind more aware and gives us the confidence to grow and change;  It banishes feelings of lethargy and apathy.  

It is a good stone for mental health conditions by balancing bi-polar depression and decreasing anxiety.   It is good for the heart, gall bladder, intestinal tract, spleen and thymus - also good for the immune sytem and the metabolisms and the skin; treats ulcers and strengthens eyes.  

Disclaimer:  Please note this is information obtained by ShangrilaGems from the public domain.  We do not guarantee these results.