ENGAGEMENT RING

Peridot Engagement Rings – Good or Bad Idea?

Peridot engagement ring

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Known for its distinctive color, Peridot (pronounced either peri-doh or peri-dot) has been used in jewelry for hundreds of years. As the August birthstone and the gemstone for the 15th wedding anniversary, Peridot is a sought after stone. But the question remains, Peridot may be good for jewelry, but does that mean it’s good for an engagement ring?  In this article, we go over what Peridot is, pros and cons of choosing peridot for your engagement ring as well as stunning Peridot engagement ring designs.

Bottom Line

Peridot engagement rings are a unique choice and ideal if you’re after a non-traditional engagement ring. The distinctive color and brilliance of the stone makes it stand out. However, Peridot is a softer gemstone and requires more maintenance than popular engagement ring stones like diamonds, sapphires and ruby. Only choose Peridot if you’re willing to give it the care it requires.

What Is Peridot?

Peridot is a mineral composed of gemstone-quality olivine, as well as other silicate minerals. It’s one of the very few precious stones that occur in a single color: a beautiful olive-green.

The shade of the color r depends on the iron content of the stone. Some Peridot gems contain secondary tints and can appear yellow-green to a dark, brownish-green while others are pure green in color without any secondary hues.

Although olivine is a mineral that’s can be found in abundance, gemstone-quality peridot is rare. Known as ‘the gem of the sun’ by the Ancient Egyptians, it was first found on St. John’s Island in the Egyptian Red sea 3,500 years ago and has been mined for various purposes since then. Fun fact – the Ancient Egyptians believed that the Peridot was sent to Earth by a star that exploded and believed that it carried healing powers.

Pros and Cons of Peridot Engagement Rings

Peridots make for unique engagement ring and they’re perfect for couples who love their bright, rich green color. However, the gemstone comes with a few downsides, that can make them unappealing for engagement rings. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of peridot engagement rings:

Pros:

  1. Peridot is ideal for a non-traditional engagement ring because of its unique color.
  2. Peridot is the official birthstone for the month of August, so if your wedding, engagement or birthday falls in August, there’s an added layer of symbolism in choosing Peridot.
  3. Every Peridot stone is unique because of its inclusions. When looked at very closely, you’ll see that each is different.
  4. Peridot suits a range of ring styles and pairs well with most other gemstones.
  5. Peridot suits all skin tones, but especially flatters warm skin tones.

Cons:

  1. A major downside is that Peridot isn’t very durable, ranking only 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that its prone to getting scratched and may lose its sparkle over time.
  2. Since it’s base composition is iron, the stone is fairly sensitive to heat and certain household cleaners. This means that heat can damage Peridot and extra care needs to be taken to protect the stone from damage.
  3. Peridot requires extra care and maintenance, compared to stones that are tougher and harder, like diamonds, sapphires and rubies.

Peridot Engagement Ring Designs

Even though Peridot isn’t the best gemstone for daily wear, some brides still choose it for its unique look and color. If you’re thinking to go down that route, here are some unique Peridot engagement ring designs to inspire you. 

  • Twig Peridot Engagement Ring: Made from sterling silver, this Edwardian-style engagement ring is unique and elegant. It contains a gorgeous Peridot gemstone set in the middle, with silver oak leaves and a cubic zirconia stone surrounding it. This ring is perfect if you’re looking for a nature-inspired rustic, bohemian style ring, different from traditional engagement rings.
Peridot rustic ring

Twig Peridot Ring by Wedding Rings Store. Check price here.

  • Rose Gold Peridot Ring: Side stones emphasize the center stone and add more sparkle to the design. The ring below is handmade from sterling silver with a rose gold plating and a natural peridot in its center, held in place by simulated diamonds on both sides. The result is a ring that’s affordable, brilliant and with perfect color contrast.
Peridot ring diamond side stones

Rose Gold Oval Peridot Engagement Ring by Xoxo Jewelry Shop. Check price here.

  • Rough Natural Peridot Ring: Another unique piece that’s sure to grab everyone’s attention. This ring is made from solid gold with a natural, uncut and unheated peridot gemstone held in its center by four large prongs. The band has a stylish, hammered finish to give it a distinctive, rugged look. Perfect for brides after a rustic, natural look.
Raw Peridot ring

Rough Natural Peridot Engagement Ring by Luxezen. Check price here.

  • Bohemian Style Peridot Ring: Peridot gemstones go well with various designs including bohemian and hippie styles. This Bohemian ring comes with an irregular Peridot stone wrapped in  silver-plated wire with a non-tarnish coat. Simple and elegant.
Simple bohemian Peridot ring

Simple Bohemian Style Peridot Ring by Bubbly Hoops. Check price here.

  • Antique Peridot Ring: A Peridot and diamond ring from the 1940s, this simple design features an emerald cut Peridot is set in a bezel to protect the stone from damage. The two old cut diamonds add a touch of sparkle and contrast to the Peridot. Ideal for the bride who wants something from the past to take her into the future.
Antique Peridot ring

Antique Peridot Ring by Mitaine Shop. Check price here.

  • Emerald Cut Peridot Ring: Peridot gems look great in classic pieces of jewelry like this gorgeous engagement ring. Made of solid gold, the ring features a stunning emerald cut Peridot stone with diamonds on either side of it, giving it a rich and classy look. The stones complement each other perfectly, the diamonds highlighting the deep green of the Peridot gemstone.
Peridot emerald cut ring

Emerald Cut Peridot Engagement Ring by By Aras Jewellery. Check price here.

  • Rose Gold Peridot Ring: This one-of-a-kind engagement ring is perfect if you’re looking for a design that’s simple and dainty. It contains a rough, natural, dark green Peridot stone in the center of a recycled, rustic copper setting. An excellent choice for minimalists.
Peridot rustic small ring

Rough Peridot Ring by Juni Bloom Design. Check price here.

  • Claddagh Peridot Engagement Ring: This is a traditional Irish design which represents friendship (the hands), love (the heart) and loyalty (the crown). It features diamond accents and a sterling silver band which highlight the heart-shaped Peridot in the center. An excellent choice for an engagement or even friendship ring.
Claddagh ring

Claddagh Irish Peridot Ring by Joon Jewelry Shop. Check price here.

  • Ruby and Peridot Pairing: Sometimes the most unlikely colors go perfectly well together. Peridot pairs well with other gemstones, as evidenced in this simple yet stylish ring featuring ruby accents and a peridot center stone.
Peridot and ruby engagement ring

Peridot and Ruby Ring by Etty Jewelry. Check Price Here.

Peridot Engagement Ring Meaning

The Peridot is believed to enhance health, success and peace, while also providing protection and good fortune to its wearer. It’s also believed to improve your emotional health and help you to discover your hidden talents that can lead you to your ultimate purpose in life. Peridots have been considered a symbol of strength and love for centuries and it’s also said that they have the ability to protect the wearer from any negative emotions and evil.

Disclaimer: Wedding KnowHow does not guarantee or validate any of the claims related to the metaphysical and alternative healing powers of this or any other gemstone. This information should in no way be used as a substitute for medical advice.

Choosing the Best Peridot

If you’re planning to go ahead with a Peridot engagement ring, this will help you to pick the right stone:

  • Peridot Color

The natural color of a Peridot ranges from a pure green to greenish yellow. It’s finest and most valuable hue is a dark, olive green without the slightest hint of brown or yellow, with less than 15% of iron. As the iron content reduces, the color of the stone becomes intense and much darker.

High quality Peridots are usually of a grass green color without secondary brownish or yellowish hues, but these are quite rare and are usually found in large gemstones. The lower-quality stones have a more brownish or yellow-green color to them.

  • Peridot Clarity

The highest quality Peridot has ‘eye clean clarity’ which means that its surface has no imperfections that are visible to the naked eye and its appearance is flawless. If there are any visible imperfections in the stone, the value of the Peridot will decrease. Some Peridots  have tiny mineral crystals in the body of the stone and when magnified, they look like black spots. Others have inclusions shaped like disks and are called ‘lily pads’.

The clarity of Peridot stones is graded from AA, AAA, AAAA to B.

  1. B – Peridots given this grading have more inclusions and their color is less engaging. The gemstones with brownish-green color and very visible flaws belong in this category.
  2. AA (good grading) – means that while the stone is of good quality, it will have more inclusions in it. The color of the stone is muted and less brilliant than the higher quality ones.
  3. AAA (better grading) – this means that the stone has good color and excellent quality, with very few inclusions.
  4. AAAA (best grading) – only the very best Peridots are given this grade – the ones with stunning color and very few inclusions.  
  • Peridot Cut

Peridot gemstones come in a large variety of cuts and shapes. In fact, the options are limitless. Some of the most popular cuts are the princess cut, ovals, emerald cut, heart shapes and rounds. The gemstones are also made into cabochons and beads. Cabochon cut Peridots are domed, instead of having a flat surface, and polished which gives them a brilliant shine.

  • Peridot Carat

Natural Peridots don’t cost very much, starting at around $25 per carat. However, if the stone is larger and the color is of exceptional quality, a single carat can cost as much as $500 or more. This is because larger Peridots are rare whereas smaller ones can be found in abundance. Therefore, the bigger the Peridot stone, the more expensive the price of a carat will be.

  • Treatments and Enhancements

The color of Peridot stones is natural and treating them with heat to enhance their color isn’t commonly done as with other gemstones. The color of the Peridot is stable, meaning that it doesn’t change in artificial light or sunlight. In some cases, the stone is treated with resins, wax or oils to enhance the surface and improve clarity. However, in general, Peridot treatments are rare.

Cleaning and Caring for Peridot Rings

How to take care of Peridot rings

When buying a Peridot engagement ring, its essential that you know how to take care of it. Peridot rings aren’t ideal for daily wear, especially if your work involves using your hands a lot of if your ring is likely to be exposed to detergents and chemicals. If this is the case, take your ring off when you’re working and keep it in a safe place like in your pocket. However, it might be best to avoid taking it to work at all, just to be on the safe side.

You’ll need to clean your stone at least once a month to maintain it. Just use lukewarm water with mild soap and brush the ring with a soft bristle brush. Remember to be gentle when doing this or you’ll risk scratching the stone. Once cleaned, dry it with a soft cloth and store it carefully, preferrably in a cotton box. Don’t place any cosmetics, sharp objects or chemicals near your ring.

Peridots are highly sensitive to heat and if exposed to it, the color of the stone can fade. Therefore, it’s best to keep it away from anything that can cause temperature changes.

How to Tell a Fake Peridot from a Real One

Make sure how buy your Peridot engagement ring from a trusted jeweller, to avoid purchasing an imitation. Common Peridot imitations include green glass and cubic zirconia

One of the easiest ways to tell if a Peridot stone is fake is by looking at it under different lights. If it changes color at all, turning brown, yellow or a different green, then the stone is most likely glass.

Peridots also have cracks or inclusions so if the stone you’re looking at has these, it’s most probably real. However, if it has bubbles, it’s probably glass and not the real thing.

Where to Buy Peridot Engagement Rings

Peridot engagement aren’t difficult to find but if your local jewelry store doesn’t have any, we recommend purchasing online to avail yourself of a large variety of designs and great prices. However, when buying online, make sure that you’re provided with clear images or videos of the stone you want to buy so that you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.

James Allen is known for its range of diamonds and diamond engagement rings, which are among the best on the market. However, they also have a small but select collection of Peridot jewelry at reasonable prices and of exceptional qualit.

Etsy is an ideal online marketplace if you’re interested in an artisan, handcrafted piece or a vintage ring. There’s a wide range of designs available so take time to look through them and find the best one for you. Always communicate with sellers if you have any concerns and have a look at the customer reviews which will give you an idea of the service and product.

Amazon offers a range of peridot engagement rings often by the same retailers that also offer their products on Etsy. Ensure you carefully check each product and ask any questions from the seller.