Important Notice

Designed as a large faceted peridot, weighing approximately 68.70 carats, with a two-tiered surround of round, full-cut diamonds, an openwork reverse, to a bail set with three round brilliant diamonds, mounted in gold


Peridot

Peridot or the 'golden stone', originally known as topazion, is a variety of the mineral olivine and is transparent and bright yellow-green in colour. The earliest reference to the gem is in the Historia Naturalis written by the Roman historian Pliny in the 1st century. Pliny gives a detailed account of a gem named 'topazion' and dates its discovery to approximately 300 BCE. He writes: “Juba says that there is an island in the Red Sea called 'Topazion,' at a distance of three hundred stadia from the main land; that it is surrounded by fogs, and is often sought by navigators in consequence; and that, owing to this, it received its present name, the word 'Topazion' meaning 'to seek'."

Pliny's island of 'Topazion' later known as Zabargad, was the largest of a group of islands off the south-eastern coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. Zabargad was once an oceanic volcano, which became visible above sea level after Africa and Asia's tectonic plates collided. As a result of its unique mineral forming conditions, the Island of Zabargad once possessed large deposits of the gem forsterite-olivine or Peridot. The ancient Egyptians treasured this beautiful green-gold gem and some of Cleopatra's famed emeralds are now believed to have actually been peridots.

The origin of the word Peridot itself is unclear. In fact, fascinated by its radiant green colour, the Romans nicknamed it 'the evening emerald'. The gem assumed the name peridot sometime in the 13th century, a term perhaps derived from the Arabic word faridat meaning 'gem' or the French word 'peritot' meaning 'unclear'. From the 18th century onwards, the name peridot alone was used.

Considered to be a sacred gem, the peridot was a symbol of purity and virtue. The stone was believed to have magical properties and was worn as protection against evil. Peridot is said to protect the body's aura and bring its wearer success, peace and good luck.
Other ancient sources of the stone include Burma, South Africa and Brazil. In recent times, the United States, Pakistan and Kashmir are the largest producers of peridot. A gem associated with success, power and good luck, peridots feature in the collection of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Mahboob Ali Pasha, the sixth Nizam was particularly fond of the gem and had them set into belt buckles, rings and coat buttons.

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