Peridot - Color, quality and care

Peridot is a natural green gemstone (olivine), known for its fresh lime to olive green color with a slight golden tinge. It is typically clear and beautiful in facets, but may have small natural inclusions - this is normal. Peridot is great for everyday wear, but it thrives with a little care: avoid knocks, hard cleaning, perfume and chemicals, and take it off for showering, sports and cleaning. If you want a stone that adds color without being too dark, peridot is a strong choice - especially in gold/gold plated for warm tones or in silver for a cooler look.

What is peridot?

Peridot is a gemstone grade of the mineral olivine. Unlike many other stones where the color can range widely, peridot is almost always green - but it can vary from lime green to more olive green, depending on how saturated the color is and how clear the stone is.

Peridot is often seen faceted (for sparkle), but it can also be used as a cabochon, especially if you want a softer and more organic look.

Colors and expressions

The classic peridot look is a bright green with a warm undertone. Some stones lean more towards lime and look very "crisp", while others are deeper olive green and appear more calm.

What typically makes peridot extra beautiful is the combination of:

a pure green color without gray/brown tones
good transparency to make the stone appear bright and vibrant
a "clean" shine, especially in faceted grinding

Quality: what makes a peridot delicious?

Color is still the most important, but peridot is often judged on color, clarity and polish.

Color a more saturated, bright green is often perceived as more exclusive. If the color becomes too yellow, it can appear a bit flat; if it becomes too dark, it can lose its fresh look. The sweet spot often lies in a vibrant green with a slight warmth.

Clarity peridot can have small natural inclusions. This is normal, but a stone that looks clean in normal light typically appears more elegant.

Grinding a good cut goes a long way for peridot because it can make the color look more intense and bring more life to the stone. Facets can really make peridot pop, while cabochon brings out the soft glow of the color.

Peridot vs. other green stones

Peridot can resemble many green stones, but it often has a special "golden" tinge that keeps it from being cold in tone.

Typical comparisons:

Emerald: often deeper green and more "intense" in expression, but typically also more expensive and with more natural inclusions
Prehnite: more milky and foggy, with a soft glow rather than clarity
Green tourmaline: can be very bright and deep, but often a different type of green (more "pure" or darker)
Green chalcedony: more uniform, soft and semi-transparent without the same sparkle

Caring for peridot

Peridot can be worn everyday, but it benefits from regular jewelry care - especially because the stone can get small scratches if it bumps into hard surfaces.

Avoid wearing peridot during sports, cleaning, gardening, bathing and swimming. Perfume, hairspray, hand sanitizer and cleaning products should also avoid direct contact with the stone.

Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth (possibly a very soft brush at the socket). Rinse gently and dry completely. I would generally avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning, especially if the jewelry has a more delicate setting.

Store peridot separately so it is not scratched by harder stones or metal edges.

Styling: when does peridot look best?

Peridot is really easy to style because green goes with both neutral colors and warm tones.

Silver and rhodium-plated make the look more cool and modern. Gold plated and gold bring out the warm undertone and can make peridot more "glowing". It also plays well with pearls or clear stones if you want to keep the look light and elegant.