Buy a Peridot

Peridot is the birthstone for August, as well as a popular alternative to emeralds when shopping for green gems. They come in a variety of shades, so matching the color to your preference is an important first step. From there, considering its cut, clarity, and weight will help you make a smart purchase. And, whenever you buy gems, researching both the product and the seller before buying is always a smart thing to do.

Steps

Examining the Color

1. Look at a variety of stones. Expect peridot to come in various shades of green. Visit a respectable jeweler to browse a number of samples, all at once. Familiarize yourself with the different shades that it comes in, from olive to rich green to slightly yellowed.
   • The iron content in each gem determines its color. The deeper the green, the more iron is present.
2. Check for consistency. Although peridot comes in a variety of shades, make sure the shade of each gem is consistent throughout its body. Inspect all sides of loose stones to see if they match each other in color. With jewelry, check all exposed sides.
   • If possible, view it under different sources and levels of light, as well. Expect the gem’s color to remain consistent regardless of changes in lighting.
3. Decide on a shade. This is a matter of taste, of course, so go with your gut. However, bear a few things in mind. Expect many people to consider green gems free of any other tints to be the finest specimens. At the same time, be aware that imitations are usually free of these tints as well.
   • Imitations include apatite, green garnets, green sinhalite, green tourmaline, green zircon, and moldavites.
   • If authenticity is an issue, go with a gem with a yellowish tint, since this never occurs in imitations.

Factoring in Cut, Clarity, and Carat

1. Check how clear the gem is. Hold the peridot up to a light source. Note how clear the body of the gem appears as light passes through it. Discard any that appear cloudy.
   • Quality gems may have very small lines or marks running through them, but this is common.
   • Although there are gems out there that are completely free of any blemishes, these are very rare.
2. Look for expert cuts. Expect peridot to come in a variety of shapes, from round to oval to square and beyond. Whatever shape it has been cut in, inspect the surface for imperfections in its symmetry or design. Discard any that appear to be cut irregularly.
   • Peridot is not a rare stone, so a poorly cut one has far less value than another with more precise cuts.
   • One exception might be a gem that is totally transparent under a microscope, without any of fine lines that run through most specimens. Such stones are very rare.
   • Alternately, if you can afford it, you could purchase a large, roughly shaped stone and hire a jeweler to recut it more precisely.
3. Decide on a carat. Check the gem’s weight, or “carat.” Expect most to range from 0.5 to 4 CTW (carat total weight). Expect the price to rise along with its weight, so for a stone with a higher value, go with a higher carat.
   • Remember, though, that peridot is a very common stone. Because of this, more emphasis is placed on a perfect cut.
   • Therefore, a misshapen peridot with 1.0 CTW isn’t necessarily worth more than a perfectly symmetrical one at 0.5 CTW.

Being a Smart Shopper

1. Only deal with trusted sellers. Although no man-made imitations exist, be aware that other naturally occurring materials are sometimes passed off as peridots. Always look into who you’re buying from before making a final purchase. Research their history by:
   • Checking customer reviews and ratings.
   • Joining online forums and asking about sellers to avoid.
   • Favoring those with warranties, return policies, certification of products, and other forms of buyer protection.
2. Ask about how the gem has been treated. Check to see if the seller includes this in their product description, whether it’s in-store or online. If not, ask them directly how they have treated the stone while it’s been in their possession. Know that:
   • Peridot should only be cleaned a couple of times a year at most.
   • It should only been cleaned with mild soap and water and a brush with soft bristles.
   • Unlike other stones, it should never be cleaned with ultrasonic cleaners.
3. Be discriminating with private owners. If you are looking to buy a specific piece from a private owner, rather than a seller, be extra diligent about judging how they treat their jewelry. Ask if they have any certification from the seller they bought it from originally. Also keep in mind that peridots are soft stones, which means they can be damaged easily. Make sure the owner:
   • Keeps their jewelry in a temperature-controlled environment, since fluctuations in temperature and prolonged heat can cause the stone’s color to fade over time.
   • Stores their peridot in a soft padding, such a pouch or a box lined with cotton or velvet, to protect it from scratches.
   • Cleans their peridot appropriately, with soft soap and brushes, no more than once or twice a year.

Sources and Citations

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