Jewel__A_Celebration_of_Earth_s_Treasures

PERIDOT 255

Settings

Necklace | Beads of peridot were threaded

together into chains and then twisted to

form thick, textured bands to make up

this gold-clasped necklace.

Ring | This unusual ring makes a feature

of asymmetry, with three peridot segments

set off by a contrasting wedge of diamonds,

encased in a gold band.

Caterpillar brooch | This quirky brooch

maximizes the contrast of complementary

colours, pairing coral with peridot and adding

diamond eyes for good measure.

Gold pendant | Here a flawless, octagonal

step-cut, bottle-green peridot is surrounded

by diamonds, with a diamond-encrusted

suspension loop.

Signet ring | The central bezel of this

striking gold ring is set with a large, bright,

central peridot, surrounded by a circle of

smaller diamonds.

Edwardian pendant | This early 20th-century gold pendant

in the form of leaves and flowers is set with numerous pearls

and diamonds, and features a central stone and drop of oval

brilliant-cut peridots.

The August

born without

this stone,

’tis said, must

live unloved

alone

Traditional birthstone

rhyme for peridot

Coral

setting

Flawless

stone

Twisted strands

of peridot beads

Double refraction

of back facets

Brilliant-cut

diamonds

Gold mounting

Pearls

Oval brilliant peridot

Peridot and emerald

Green gemstones in history

Peridot has long been confused and

compared with its famous fellow

green gemstone. Cleopatra’s

collection of emeralds is now

thought to have been peridot, and

the ancient Romans described the

gem as “emerald of the evening”

for the way it caught the dimmest

of light. For centuries, the

200-carat peridots topping the

lavish shrine of the Three Holy

Fathers in Cologne, Germany

were also taken to be emeralds.

Shrine of the Three Holy Fathers The five

huge peridots along the top of this cathedral

shrine were once prized as emeralds.

254-255_PRO_Peridot_Final.indd 255 18/05/2016 11:00