About Peridot

Peridot: Earth-Born—and Sometimes Space-Forged

Peridot isn’t just a pretty green gem—it’s one of the only gemstones that forms deep in the Earth’s upper mantle, between 20 and 55 miles down. It rises to the surface in basaltic magma flows, especially from ocean island volcanoes (OIBs). And if that’s not cool enough, some peridot actually arrives here on meteorites—specifically, pallasites, a rare type of nickel-iron space rock.

Peridot is the gem-quality variety of olivine, a mineral named for its olive-green hue. It’s been treasured for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians mined peridot from Zabargad, a tiny island in the Red Sea that was lost for centuries due to fog and remoteness. Mining there only stopped about 80 years ago.

In the U.S., Arizona’s Native American communities have long mined peridot—and in some places, ants bring it to the surface while building their colonies. It’s so abundant there’s even a town named Peridot.

Quick Facts:

• Hardness: 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale – durable enough for everyday earrings and pendants

• Color: Vivid olive green to golden-green, from iron content

• Birthstone: August

• Origins: Earth’s mantle, Arizona’s deserts, Egypt’s islands—and sometimes, outer space

Peridot is one of the only gems that’s almost always green—and one of the few that doesn’t form in the Earth’s crust. Whether you’re drawn to its glow, its geologic rarity, or its cosmic origin story, peridot is a living link between our planet and the stars.

💚 Shop all our Peridot and hold the mantle—or the cosmos—in your hand.