PERIDOT, AUGUST’S PRECIOUS STONE
Peridot is the gemstone of August, known for its olive-green or yellow-green color, which often led to confusion with topaz and emerald, both also green in color.
It was discovered in 300 BC in the Red Sea, specifically on the Island of Topaz, from which it erroneously took its name.
Contrariè ring with brilliant-cut peridot and diamonds
Only in the 1800s, thanks to the Bretons, was peridot given its true value and therefore its uniqueness. This gemstone was extracted for over 2,000 years by order of various sovereigns, including Cleopatra herself, an avid collector always searching for emeralds who was deceived by peridot’s green color.
For a long time, historians believed that 200 carats of emeralds were set in the precious sanctuary of Cologne Cathedral, when in fact they were peridot.
The gemstone was worn throughout many eras as a talisman to ward off evil spirits and keep its wearer safe during the heart of the night when darkness was deepest.
Even in “De Lapidibus pretiotis Encheridion” by the Gallic poet Marbodei, peridot is mentioned, and it is told that to benefit from its magical power, the gemstone had to be in direct contact with the skin or attached to the left arm.
Today, the areas where peridot is most widely found are in China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and the United States.
Ring from the Masterpieces collection