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GIA 4Cs Diamond Blog

GIA 4Cs Diamond Blog

Famous Birthstones: Peridot – The Green Goddess

The August birthstone is sometimes referred to as the extreme gem due to the fact that peridot is found in volcanic rock and meteorites. The word peridot comes from the Arabic faridat which means gem.

Do you have an August birthday and call peridot your birthstone? Celebrate this month in style with a look at one of the world’s finest peridot gems, The Green Goddess. (more…)

Peridot Buying Guide

Known to Egyptians as the “gem of the sun,” the yellowish green peridot has been treasured since the earliest times, and is the birthstone for August. It’s thought that this gemstone is 4.5 billion years old, as it’s found in meteorite remnants dating to the solar system’s birth.

If you’re shopping for August’s birthstone, our Peridot Buying Guide offers tips and advice on what to look for, particularly as it relates to cut, one of the most important factors in a peridot’s appearance.  (more…)

Discover the Powers of Your Birthstone

Think of every passing year as an opportunity to celebrate with your birthstone. In fact, people have been wearing birthstone jewelry since the 15th century in Poland, when they were encouraged to own all 12. And while birthstone secrets and lore can be found right here on our blog, today we share what makes YOUR birthstone a powerful statement of your finest qualities. (more…)

Peridot: The Extreme Gem

August’s fascinating birthstone may be called the “extreme gem” because it is formed in the most extreme conditions, found in lava, meteorites and deep within Earth’s mantle. Peridot has been found in pallasite meteorites, which contain remnants of our solar system’s birth. In 2006, peridot was found in comet dust brought back from the Stardust robotic space probe. (more…)

GIA Celebrates Birthstones – Peridot, the Gemstone Born From Fire

Peridot, the August birthstone, is the gem variety of the mineral olivine. Instantly recognizable with its distinctive lime green color, peridot is known as the “extreme” gem because it is only found in harsh conditions. It is mined from rocks created by volcanoes and even found in meteorites that fall to Earth. (more…)

August Birthstone: Peridot, from Earth or from Space

Hailing from the olivine group of minerals, the peridot is a mysterious and thought-provoking gem. Peridot was valued in many ancient and medieval cultures, first in the second century BC in priests’ jewelry and later in the chalices and churches of medieval Europe. Peridot has also been used for centuries as a protective talisman, shielding the owner from evil spirits and “terrors of the night.” (more…)