Olivin

Strength | Balance | Creativity

Gem-quality olivine, known as peridot, owes its vivid color to trace amounts of nickel and iron within its atomic structure, making it one of the few idiochromatic gems (colored by its essential elements rather than impurities). When cut, its high double refraction (0.036) creates a subtle doubling of facet edges, while its glassy luster amplifies the stone’s inner glow. The finest specimens exhibit a luminous transparency, with rare "evening emerald" peridot displaying a dusky green reminiscent of twilight.

Historically treasured since ancient Egypt, peridot was mined on the Red Sea’s Zabargad Island and believed to harness the power of the sun, symbolizing peace and vitality. Today, notable sources include Myanmar, Arizona, and China’s Hebei Province, where crystals form as mantle-derived xenoliths in volcanic rocks