Peridot Gemstones – Colors, Origin, Properties, and Value

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occurs exclusively in shades of green. Particularly rare and fascinating are peridots with natural ludwigite inclusions, which create unique internal structures and patterns.

Peridot is one of the world's best-known green gemstones, captivating with hues ranging from fresh yellow-green and vibrant olive green to rare, darker shades of green. Its natural freshness, high transparency, and vivid brilliance have made it a popular gemstone for jewelry and collections for thousands of years.

High-quality peridots from Pakistan, Myanmar, and China are particularly sought after. Peridots with natural ludwigite inclusions are an extraordinary rarity. These dark, needle-like structures create fascinating patterns and give each stone a distinctive visual identity.

Even in antiquity, peridot was considered the "gemstone of light." Today, it is prized both for its natural beauty and its extraordinary collector varieties.

Go directly to our large selection of Peridot gemstones in the shop

What is Peridot?

Peridot is the gemstone variety of the mineral olivine (forsterite-fayalite series).
Chemical composition: (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄.
The color impression is caused by iron, the content of which also determines the color intensity.

Special Properties of Peridot

Peridot displays a warm, very fresh play of color that distinguishes it clearly from other green gemstones.

Characteristic yellow-green color
High refractive index → lively sparkle
Good transparency in quality stones
Distinct birefringence → creates depth and slightly "doubled" facet edges
Very "clean," clear crystals
Good hardness (6.5–7) → suitable for jewelry

Colors & Varieties of Peridot

Peridot covers a harmonious spectrum of natural green tones:

Lime Green
Bright and fresh. The most modern and popular variety.
Olive Green
Classic peridot green. The ideal shade for higher value.
Golden Green
Green with a slight yellow-gold undertone. Very elegant and warm.
Brownish Green
Rare, but less sought after – more of a collector's secondary color.
Kashmir Peridot (very rare!)
Crystal-clear, intensely green stones from Pakistan. Extremely popular among collectors.

Origin of Important Peridots

Peridots from Pakistan are now considered the benchmark for top quality. The most significant deposits:

Pakistan (Kaghan / Suppat)
Known for some of the world's finest, clearest peridots.
China
Main source of modern jewelry qualities.
Myanmar (Mogok)
Historical deposit, yields particularly beautiful shades.
Vietnam
Increasingly reporting high-quality grades.
USA (Arizona)
Produces very pure lime-green peridot.
Egypt (St. John’s Island)
Historical source from antiquity.

Peridot from Meteorites (Pallasite Peridot) – The Extraterrestrial Peridot

One of the most fascinating characteristics of peridot is its connection to space.

While most gemstones form deep within the Earth, peridot has also been found in rare iron-stony meteorites called pallasites. These extraordinary meteorites consist of a mixture of iron-nickel metal and naturally grown olivine crystals, whose transparent sections can be cut as peridot.

Pallasites are considered some of the most spectacular meteorites in existence. Scientists believe they originate from the boundary region between the metal core and the rocky mantle of early planetoids. This makes them some of the few materials that provide a direct glimpse into the internal structure of a long-destroyed world.

What is Pallasite Peridot?

Pallasite peridot is natural peridot obtained from transparent olivine crystals within a pallasite meteorite.

extraterrestrial origin
natural peridot from meteorite material
extremely rare collector material
some crystals are several billion years old
combination of gemology and space history
available worldwide only in very small quantities

Origin of Meteoritic Peridots

The most famous pallasite finds come from:

Esquel (Argentina)
Famous collector pallasite with exceptionally transparent crystals.
Fukang (China)
One of the most well-known pallasites with spectacular golden-green olivine crystals.
Imilac (Chile)
Historical pallasite with high scientific significance.
Brenham (USA)
One of the most important sources for facetable meteoritic peridot.

Are Pallasite Peridots rare?

Yes. They are among the rarest peridot varieties in existence.

While terrestrial peridot is found in various deposits worldwide, pallasite peridots originate exclusively from a very limited number of suitable meteorites. Furthermore, only a small portion of the crystals possess enough transparency and stability to be cut as a gemstone.

Faceted pallasite peridots are therefore among the most extraordinary collector stones in the field of extraterrestrial gemstones.

Pallasite Peridot for Collectors

For many collectors, pallasite peridot unites two fascinating worlds:

Gemology
Meteoritics
Planetology
Space exploration history
Rare natural wonders

Every cut pallasite peridot originates from an object that traveled through the solar system for billions of years before reaching Earth.

Treatment of Peridot

A natural gemstone in its purest form – ideal for collectors. Peridot is generally untreated. There is:

no heat treatment
no irradiation
no fillings

Value Factors of Peridot

1. Color

The decisive factor:

rich olive green → highest-quality color
fresh, bright lime green → very popular
too yellow or too brownish → lower value

2. Clarity

Peridot is usually clear, however:

eye-clean stones → valuable
black chromite inclusions → typical, but slightly reduce value

3. Cut

A good cut enhances:

light reflections
brilliance
depth
color impact

4. Size

Peridot forms relatively large crystals.

over 5 ct → popular and collectible
over 10 ct → rare in good color
over 20 ct → valuable & sought after

Is Peridot a good gemstone for collectors?

Definitely – especially for lovers of warm green tones. Peridot is a stone with personality and tradition.

Advantages:

natural, untreated gemstone quality
very characteristic color
good availability in beautiful sizes
rising demand for top-quality Pakistani material
exciting geological history (also found in meteorites!)

Peridot in Macro Art

Ideal for macro artwork in acrylic, aluminum, or 3D – especially when clear, sunny colors are requested. Under macro photography, peridot shows impressive effects: