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August Birthstone Jewelry
Peridot is one of the oldest, most popular gemstones, found set into ancient Egyptian jewelry as early as circa second millennium B.C. This particular Peridot was found by the ancient Egyptians, off the island of what was called Topazios or Zebirget (know named St. Johns), located in the Red Sea, about 50 miles off the Egyptian coast. Legends say that this island was covered in snakes, making it impossible to mine, until a pharaoh drove them into the sea. The name Peridot is said to be derived from the Arabic word, faridat, meaning gem.
In ancient times, Peridots were used as currency and accessories for the pharaohs. Egyptians coined this stone as the "gem of the sun." The ancient Romans coveted its springy yellowish-green tones, calling it the "Evening Emerald." Peridot was used in many medieval churches as beautiful decoration, found in the Cologne Cathedral, as well as throughout Europe.