Did you know that peridots were claimed to be Cleopatra’s favorite gemstones? Or was it emerald? We know that she loved her green gemstones, but which one? This is a never-ending question, as during Cleopatra’s era, or ‘ancient times’ as we now say, these two gems were often confused, resulting in no clear answer as to which was her favorite.
Emerald is one of the four precious gemstones in the world, along with sapphire, ruby, and diamond. Today, emeralds, said to be reminiscent of mother nature with their varying green hues, and garden-like inclusions definitely distinguish themselves from peridot. It comes from the mineral beryl and achieves its brilliant colors due to the presence of vanadium and chromium. Time has only strengthened the emerald’s popularity in society, and many people continue to seek this green beauty in different forms.
Peridots on the other hand are one of the rarest gemstones in the world and can be found in only one shade, which is the olive green hue. It comes from a mineral called olivine. What makes peridot unique is that it is one of the only gemstones in the world that is found in the molten rock of Earth’s upper mantle, rather than the crust.
Excited to know the distinguishing features of these beautiful gemstones? Let’s explore peridots vs Emerald, their unique qualities, differences, color saturation, etc.
| Topics | Emerald | Peridot |
| Color | The most desirable color in an emerald is bluish-green to pure green hue | Peridots with a deep dark olive green shade are known to be valuable |
| Mohs Scale of Hardness/Durability | 7.5-8/10 making it a very durable gemstone that can be used in jewelry worn on a day to day basis | 7/10 though not the hardest gemstone, it is certainly durable enough to be used in everyday jewelry |
| Symbolism | A symbol of love, rebirth, abundance, peace, and renewal | Peridots are believed to have special powers to keep nightmares and negative energy at bay and bring good luck to their wearer. |
| Clarity | High-quality emeralds also have eye-visible inclusions. Inclusion free emeralds are hard to find | High-quality peridots are usually eye-clean |
| Origin | The best emeralds can be found in many parts of the world like – Columbia, Zambia, Brazil, etc. | Peridots are mined in various locations around the world. Pakistan and Burma are said to produce high-quality peridots. |
| Affordability | Emeralds, being one of the precious gemstones are known to be expensive | Peridots on the other hand are economical and affordable even if one chooses a bigger stone. |
| Popularity | One of the most sought after gemstones, the emerald has made a special place in people’s heart | Peridot, in comparison with emerald, is not as popular |
| Treatments | Emeralds do undergo various treatments in order to improve their clarity. | Currently, there are no known treatments or enhancements that the peridot goes through |
| Birthstone Month | May | August |
After going through these differences, you must have understood how both these gemstones are just so unique and different and marvelous at the same time.
Emeralds have righteously acquired a special place in everyone’s heart. They are definitely gemstones that are comparatively expensive and tend to have minute inclusions even on high-quality stones.
On the other hand, peridots are the rarest gemstones that are usually confused to be emeralds due to their hues. They are economical and affordable and often come without eye-visible inclusions.
To answer the question, ‘which is better between Peridot vs Emerald? It is a tough choice to make as both gemstones are unique in their own right.
Both green gemstones have a list of pros and cons but to give a verdict as to which is better, would definitely be unfair. Everyone has different preferences and styles and fashion ideologies and one should believe in those and then make a decision.
GemsNY is a bespoke jewelry brand that has the finest quality gemstones and has been creating marvels in the jewelry industry for more than 30 years. We have a collection of more than 50,000+ natural gemstones to choose from. Emerald and peridot are some of the gemstones that we pride ourselves on working with. Visit our website to know more – Click here
Click on emerald and peridot to learn more about these gorgeous green gemstone
