Peridot is a gemstone with a fascinating history, both in nature and culture. Most gems are formed in the earth’s crust. The two exceptions are peridot and diamond, which are formed much deeper in the earth, in the earth’s mantle. The main source of peridot in the ancient world was Topazos Island, now known as Zabargad or St. John’s Island, in the Egyptian Red Sea. Peridot has been mined on Zabargad almost continuously for over 3,500 years. Today there are five major sources of fine peridot.
For centuries, gemstones have played a significant role in the everyday lives of people. Today, birthstones are used to represent the birth month of individuals. Some believe that birthstones hold special powers for the wearer.
During the 8th and 9th centuries, gemstones were also connected to the 12 apostles. The actual wearing of birthstones probably originated in Poland in the 15th or 16th century. This list is still used today to identify particular stones.