Nature’s Green Masterpiece — The Story of Peridot

The Peridot birthstone, for August, stirs the slumbering earth, peridot heralds the first whisper of spring (well, here in the Southern Hemisphere at least).

This verdant gem needs no coaxing — no heat, no dye, no man-made touch. Its colour is a gift from within, vivid as fresh lime and wholly unaltered, just as nature dreamt it.

In ancient lore, peridots were bound to the light. Even now, their story expands beyond Earth — the 2006 NASA Stardust mission returned with particles from the heavens, tiny crystalline peridots thought to be as old as the solar system itself. Found at meteorite crash sites, these green gems remind us that beauty is not just born of Earth, but scattered across the stars.

They are mined across the globe — Arizona’s desert heart, South Africa’s mineral veins, the steppes of China, the fjords of Norway, the glowing lands of Myanmar, Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, and even here in Australia.

The Ancient Egyptians, ever enraptured by the divine, named peridots “gems of the sun”, believing they had fallen from the sky. Others call them “Evening Emeralds”, for they retain their glow even beneath moonlight and flame.

"peridot is one of the only gemstones which come in one colour"

A marvel of consistency, peridot glows only green — no spectrum, no indecision. Where sapphire dances in many hues, peridot sings a single, vibrant note. It forms not in the Earth's crust like most gems, but far deeper, in the mantle, shoulder to shoulder with diamonds. Volcanic eruptions carry it skyward, scattering green droplets into lava flows and beaches. There are only four green sand beaches on Earth — in Hawaii, Guam, the Galápagos and Norway — where the sand glitters with peridot’s golden-green shimmer.

Peridots have created some extravagant pieces of jewellery over the Millennia. Cleopatra's famed emerald collection is often debated by historians as to whether it was actually peridot. 

The popularity of peridots grew in the mid-1800s, peaking in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, when flamboyant jewels set with colourful gemstones were the height of fashion. Edward VII of England, loved peridots so much that he declared they were his favourite gemstone. His nine-year reign on the throne might have been short, but the peridot’s popularity continued throughout the 20th century.

"the Hapsburg parure is one of the famous examples of extravagant peridot jewellery"

Among the most magnificent: the Habsburg Peridot Parure, once owned by Grand Duchess Isabella of Austria. Crafted around 1825 by the imperial jeweller Kochert, this suite of jewels includes a tiara, necklace, and earrings — five immense peridots crown the tiara, while the necklace boasts seven drops that can be affixed atop the tiara for theatrical flourish. The parure was sold at Sotheby’s in 2001 to Fred Leighton, who famously lent it to Joan Rivers for the 2006 Golden Globes. It later passed to philanthropist Lily Safra, who auctioned pieces at Christie’s in 2012.

At the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., you’ll find the world’s largest faceted peridot: 311 carats of green fire, cut in a regal cushion shape, mined on Egypt’s ancient Zabargad Island where the Pharaohs began extracting this gem as early as 1500 B.C.

Other storied peridots reside in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Turkey and the Shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Cologne, where they gleam in sacred settings.

"With a rich history and a unique composition, peridot is truly Nature's green masterpiece"

Durable enough for daily wear, peridot cuts and facets like light through leaves. While smaller stones remain accessible, peridots above two carats rise swiftly in value, especially those clear and unclouded — rare green flames frozen in time.

Long associated with health, joy, and renewal, the peridot birthdstone is thought to encourage vitality, spiritual growth, and a profound connection to the natural world. Its energy is gentle yet persistent — a balm for the soul and a whisper of new beginnings.

Though it is the traditional birthstone for August — beloved by Leos and heralds of spring — peridot’s beauty and origin make it worthy of any collection. A gem of fire, earth, and sky — radiant, ancient, and forever green.

Browse Vermilion's Peridot Jewellery and celebrate August with nature’s luminous green gem.