Of All The Beads Newsletter
August
2008
Peridot (pronounced "pair-uh-doe"), is August's birthstone.
The gemstone form of the mineral olivine, it has been mined for over 4
thousand years. There are references to it in the Bible, it was used in
ancient Egyptian jewelry, and some of Cleopatra's "emeralds" were
actually peridots. The ancient Romans nicknamed it "the emerald of the
evening."
One of the few stones that is found in a single
color -- green -- peridot's color does not change even in artificial
light. The slight variations in shade from lime to yellow-green are due
to the amount of iron in each stone deposit.
Properties of peridot are warmth, friendliness,
understanding, and openness in love and relationships. It has been used
(in a powdered form) to treat asthma, to protect against evil forces,
and those who wear peridot are said to have the power of
eloquent speech and strong emotional and physical strength.
Today, Arizona is one of the largest suppliers
of peridot to the jewelry industry worldwide. However, in the 1990s, a
deposit of peridot, found at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Pakistan,
created a sensation. The quality of the stones from this site far
surpassed any other known peridot deposits, even though it's location
made mining an option only during the summer months. Peridot remains
very affordable, even in gem-quality stones. It beats the August heat.
Take 15% off any peridot necklace on the website or custom order placed before August 15th. Please note most items are one-of-a-kind.
In ancient Egypt, the color green in jewelry was worn to signify fertility and growth for new crops. Click to read more about Egyptian jewelry.
The International Gem
and Jewelry Show is coming to town in mid-August. This is the perfect
opportunity for me to shop for you -- if you're looking for something
new, something to match, or something completely different.
Call me or send an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you!
-- Hazel