It is most unusual to find a gemstone that comes in only one color and that is why peridot rings are popular as a special summer jewelry item. Peridot’s rich green hues are a perfect complement to summer fashions. The gemstone is also the birthstone for those born in August.
The depth of the green coloration is tied to traces of iron that are within the stones. Chemically, Peridot is called an iron magnesium silicate. The more iron in the stone, the more intense the green color. It is a not a very hard stone, however it is not fragile like the opal and can stand up to most daily wear and tear.
Peridots, while always green, can vary in this color. There are stones that are sort of olive in color, some that have more of a yellowish cast, and some that even lean towards the brown family. The rarest of these gemstones are cat’s eye and star Peridots.
