Colors
- Vivid green with slight golden undertones
- Golden green
- Lime
Browse other gems by color: Green · Yellow
Where Peridot comes from
- Arizona (US)
- Pakistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- China
- Egypt
Peridot meaning and history
It was mined on Egypt's Zabargad Island in the Red Sea and called the "gem of the sun".
Meanings and powers attributed to gems are history and folklore. We report them; we do not claim a stone can do anything.
How hard is Peridot?
Peridot is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, where talc is 1, quartz 7 and diamond 10. Toughness, its resistance to chipping and breaking: fair to good. Wear with care to avoid scratches and hard blows.
See every birthstone on the hardness chart
How to clean and care for Peridot
| Warm soapy water | Safe (the best method) |
|---|---|
| Ultrasonic cleaner | Not recommended |
| Steam cleaner | Not recommended |
Heat, light and chemicals: Stable to light; rapid or uneven heat can cause fractures; attacked by sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, and slowly by acid perspiration.
Can you wear Peridot every day?
Wear with care Can chip, crack or scratch. Protective settings, pendants and earrings are safer than everyday rings. Check other stones.
Compare Peridot
Peridot vs Spinel · Peridot vs Sardonyx · Emerald vs Peridot
Frequently asked questions
What is Peridot?
A gem form of the mineral olivine, one of the few gems found in only one color family: green.
What month is Peridot the birthstone for?
August. It shares the month with Spinel and Sardonyx.
How hard is Peridot?
6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: fair to good. Wear with care to avoid scratches and hard blows.
How do you clean Peridot?
Warm soapy water: safe (the best method). Ultrasonic cleaner: not recommended. Steam: not recommended.
What does Peridot symbolize?
It was mined on Egypt's Zabargad Island in the Red Sea and called the "gem of the sun". These are traditions and history, not claims about what the stone can do.
Sources
- GIA: Peridot care and cleaning (hardness, toughness, stability, cleaning, treatments)
- AGS: Peridot (what it is, colors, sources, history)
- American Gem Society: Birthstones (birthstone months)
Checked October 16, 2026.