A truly ancient gemstone that dates back to the Egyptian pharaohs, the peridot is among the most highly desirable colored gemstones in the world. Uniquely light green in color, this gemstone was first mined in the Red Sea on the Isle of Serpents (present day St. John Island), where Egyptian pharaohs prized the magnificent stone, calling it the “gem of the sun.” Ancient Romans were likewise fond of the stone, calling it “the emerald of the evening” due to its radiant green shine in all lighting conditions. Yet, the peridot is also a thoroughly modern stone, experiencing an incredible upsurge in popularity in the 1990s due to a newly discovered mine in Kashmir. For this reason, these verdant beauties are highly prized in in modern jewelry pieces, considered the perfect complement for springtime ensembles.
With a color that evokes the lightness of springtime, it is no surprise that the peridot is a popular pick for Art Nouveau designs. Crafted by the legendary artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co., this extraordinary peridot and plique-à-jour enamel necklace is a rare and unique masterpiece of jewelry design. Delicately crafted, the necklace boasts finely executed enameling in shades of blue and green that fill an exquisite filigree design formed from 18k yellow gold. Two perfectly hued green peridots weighing approximately 2.00 carats each accent the enamel, adding the perfect amount of shimmer to this enchanting design.
While peridots can come in a wide range of natural green hues, the most valuable and rare are a vivid, pale green. This 45.60-carat peridot pendant necklace embodies the sparkling green color so prized in this precious stone. Set in an 18K gold setting, this magnificent stone is accented by 117 white diamonds totaling 1.06 carats. Equally stunning is this complementary peridot ring. At 30.87 carats, the dazzling stone is accentuated by 218 diamonds totaling 1.85 carats. As equally monumental in size as meaning, these peridots are sure to please any audience.
