A Deep Dive Into The Value Of Peridot

What is Peridot?

Peridot is a gemstone known for its vibrant grass green or lime green colour. While topaz, sapphire, tanzanite & diamond for example come in a variety of colours, peridot is only found in a variety of shades of the green/yellow colour.  

It is a member of the Olivine mineral family. Peridot and Olivine are very much the same mineral. Peridot is used to refer to gem quality specimens whereas olivine refers to non-gem quality which is much more abundantly found. Olivine is rich in magnesium and iron, which contribute to the stone's bright colour. 

It is a gem that is beautifully in position as one of the world's most popular gemstones, in very high demand. The gem is relatively hard and scores a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale making it durable enough for regular wear. 

It is a brightly coloured, yellow-green gem that's been prized since the age of the Ancient Egyptians. The stone is naturally formed in magma and is brought to the surface by volcanic activity. Some rare and valuable forms of this gem can also be found inside of meteorites.  

The Discovery Of Peridot

Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones, discovered by the ancient Egyptians around 1500 BC. It is mentioned several times in the Bible, although referred to by its original title, Chrysolite. The name Chrysolite of Ancient Greek origin means ‘golden stone’, as there are often flashes of golden brilliance seen within the gem. An English bishop used the word Peridot as early as 1245  in his will when he left the stone to St Albans Abbey. 

Cultural Significance 

For many years peridot has held significant value and symbolism across many cultures. 

In Ancient Egyptian culture, they believed that the stone was created by the sun’s rays & that it was a talisman that protects against nightmares and evil spirits. They believed the stone could bring good fortune, wealth, and power to its wearer and frequently incorporated it into their royal jewellery. 

In both Greek and Roman cultures it was believed that peridot was a stone of protection and healing.. They believed  it could bring luck and success to its wearer. While in Roman culture, peridot is associated with the goddess Venus, symbolizing love and beauty.

These historical beliefs have somewhat shaped the present cultural significance of peridot further increasing its perceived value. 

The price of peridot is largely determined by the carat weight, cut, clarity & its colour which we now explore. 

Colour 

Unlike many gemstones, peridot’s colour comes from the mineral itself rather than from impurities.

Peridot’s colour ranges from pure green to a green/yellow colour. The finest hue is green without any hint of yellow or brown. Pure lush grass green stones are rare, and most peridots are more yellowish green. Lower-quality peridot is brownish. 

The gem’s colours tend to be at their finest in stones weighing 10 carats and above. The higher-quality stones have an intense colour. Most of the stones with the finest colour come from Myanmar and Pakistan. 

The best peridots have a medium to dark tone and intense saturation, with even colour distribution & no dark or light patches. These stones with optimal hue, saturation and tone are much rarer and will command the highest prices. 

Clarity 

Clarity refers to the presence of inclusions or blemishes within the gemstone. Peridot is usually a clean gemstone, often with few inclusions.

Readily visible inclusions, especially the dark spots, lower the value of peridot. There’s a dramatic drop in value for light coloured material with obvious large dark inclusions. The black spots are minute mineral crystals. 

Inclusions known as “lily pads” are reflective, disk-shaped and commonly found in peridot. While these inclusions can be visible, they often add to the gemstone’s unique character without significantly detracting from its beauty. 

Most fine peridot stones are eye clean but tiny black spots might be visible with magnification. The fewer the inclusions, the higher the clarity grade, and consequently, the more valuable the stone. 

Cut

Peridot is cut in a wide variety of shapes and cutting styles. Production includes all the standard gem shapes such as round, oval, pear, cushion, triangle, and marquise shapes. The two most popular styles are round and emerald, which work well with the stone's delicate crystal structure.

The cut of a peridot affects its brilliance and overall appearance. A well-cut peridot will display maximum sparkle and colour. Each different cut brings out different aspects of the stone’s beauty. For instance, a round cut maximizes brilliance, while an oval cut can make the peridot appear larger than its actual carat weight.

The precision of the cut is crucial because it influences how light travels through the stone and is reflected back to the eye. Look for peridots with symmetrical cuts and well-polished surfaces. 

Carat weight

As with any gemstone, an important determining aspect of peridot value is the carat weight or size of the gem. 

The gem is less expensive in smaller sizes. Larger peridots (over 5 carats) are rare and can be quite valuable, especially if they possess excellent colour and clarity. The gem's colour is at its best when in stones that are 10 carats or more, further increasing the value of larger stones. 

The finest large peridots come from Myanmar, more recently, from a source high in the Himalayas of Pakistan. Large crystals of peridot have been cut into gems more than 50 carats in size from these regions. Although the largest cut peridot weighing over 300 carats was found on Zabargad island, Egypt where it was originally discovered. 

A smaller stone with superior colour and clarity will often be more visually appealing and valuable than a larger stone with poor colour or visible inclusions.

While peridot is relatively more abundant than other gemstones such as sapphires and rubies, it is still considered a rare gemstone, especially peridot of higher qualities. While peridot can be found at more affordable prices, these finer varieties command higher prices which we will now explore in more detail.

Varieties of Peridot

There are several varieties of peridot that come from different places where the geological conditions create stones with a different look and consequent value.  Most notably Burmese & Pakistani peridot are regarded as a cut above the rest. 

Burmese Peridot

Burmese peridots are considered some of the finest in the world. Known for their exceptional colour and clarity, these peridots often display a vivid, pure green hue with no brown or yellow undertones. They are typically eye-clean, meaning they have few or no visible inclusions. Burmese peridots stones are also known for availability in large carat cuts.

Pakistani Peridot

Peridot was first discovered in Pakistan in 1994. It was found in a mountain pass some 4,000 metres high, further complicating the supply chain. Mined in a part of Kashmir, due to the high altitude and extreme weather conditions, the mine can only be accessed in the summer. 

Peridots from Pakistan are renowned for their availability in larger sizes and excellent colour; exhibiting a bright, vibrant green color. It could perhaps best be described as a lime or apple green, with subtle golden undertones. Pakistani peridots are also known for their high clarity and minimal inclusions. Often regarded as one of the finest varieties. 

Chinese Peridot

While Chinese peridot are typically lighter in colour and often with more inclusions certain regions have varying qualities and value as discussed below: 

Hebei Peridot 

The Hebei variety comes from a northern province in China. This variety has a distinctive chartreuse colour with strong yellow undertones, which helps differentiate it from other varieties of the gem. 

Hunan Peridot 

From the south eastern province of China. Hunan  Peridot offers two things: excellent clarity and minimal presence of yellow tones but rather deep golden tones. While these features are greatly admired in Peridot, they are rarely found in sizes above a carat. 

Changbai Peridot

This Peridot variety is named after the Changbai mountain range in the northeast of China. Changbai peridot are mined from a beautiful area, from a landscape featuring many lakes, rivers and mountains, many of which peak at over 2,000 metres above sea level. 

This Chinese variety is considered to be the most valuable, and of the finest quality. With a characteristic deep organic green hue, with vibrant lime flashes of brilliance. The gemstones from this area are relatively free of inclusions too, and they rarely come in sizes greater than a carat. 

Changbai Peridot is a touch darker in tone than the Hunan variety & from elsewhere in China, but it loses none of the glow and sparkle associated with some of the finest Peridot in the world. 

Natural Peridot vs Natural Treated Peridot 

A major factor in determining the worth and value of peridot is how it is produced and mined. Natural varieties are the most rare and the most expensive. A great deal of this gem goes through heat treatment, which is a widely accepted practice to improve the color and clarity of the stone. Heat-treated peridot is still considered natural & a great variety of mined gems are often heat treated, such as sapphires, rubies & tanzanite. If you want to confirm whether your gemstone has been heat treated or not you can get it certified by the GIA amongst other establishments. 

Synthetics Peridot 

Lab made peridot is more affordable than natural peridot. The result is a stone that is visibly identical to its natural counterpart, with the only difference being the origin of the stone. You can get your stone tested by the GIA to certify if you have natural or lab grown peridot. 

Lab grown peridot will always be found cheaper than natural peridot. Some natural peridot too can be enjoyed at very reasonable prices at the commercial end of the scale but large stones of the highest quality will set you back into the tens of thousands pounds. 

 

 

 

 

 

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