Peridot (rare locality gem)

Item Description

A beautiful Peridot gem from the famous San Carlos Reservation, which has produced some of the finest faceted Peridot in the world. Keep in mind that Peridot is not found from too many localities in such fine color and clarity as the San Carlos material. These stones are much rarer on the market than they were a few decades ago, and they remain the best gem quality Peridot from any locality in the US, and likely all of North America, and possibly the Western Hemisphere. This stone is have a traditional "Cushion" cut with nearly eye-clean clarity and a lovely green hue. A fine classic example of this iconic material.
Peridot is an ancient gemstone, and well-documented as one of the oldest known stones through history. There are records that the ancient Egyptians mined Peridot stones on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea which was known historically as Topazios (or Zabargad), but it's called St. John's Island today. These mining endeavors date as far back as 1500 BCE. Peridot was referred to as the “gem of the sun,” by the Egyptians, as they believed the stone protected its wearer from terrors of the night. Today, Peridot is the traditional birthstone for August.