Interested in Burmese Peridot? Read on for facts & information about this gemstone from Burma…
The Burma peridot is a gorgeous stone, which was thought to give special power to its wearer. It was believed that the peridot could ward off evil spirits, only if it was hung on a donkey’s hair and wore on the left hand. It was also believed that it could be the anecdote to black magic. People not only religiously stuck to this belief but also practiced it well into the middle ages.
Color
The peridot has a distinct green color and the gem can be easily identified when displayed with other green stones. The color is sometimes referred to as the greenest and freshest of grass greens. The Burma peridot gets its distinct color from ferrous iron, which is an essential part of the stone’s composition. The stone that contains about 10 to 15 % of ferrous iron is considered to have the best coloring. Although, owing to the fact that they are a combination of minerals and a varying amount of ferrous iron, the color of the stones can sometimes differ from the grass green they are so well known for. The most common variations of the peridot include yellowish green, brown or greenish yellow.
Lighting and Clarity
Unlike other gems, the Burma peridot does not need to pass any light test to be considered a good stone. Also, the stone looks good in all sorts of lighting besides not being as light dependent as red and blue gems. The peridot is not a very expensive stone, so the measures taken to determine its clarity are not of the highest orders. The only fixed way to determine a gem’s clarity is by looking at it through the naked eye, if it is clear, it is a good stone. Sometimes the Burma peridot has minute platelet inclusions, which give the stone a haze. However, no matter how hazy a stone is, it is not enhanced. It might not be cut but it will never be enhanced.
Cut
Since the stone is one that is not highly priced and does not need the criteria of lighting and clarity to be considered to be good quality stones, the gem is not limited to any particular cuts. The stone can be cut into many stunning designs or even beads. However, this in no way means that great symmetry and perfect proportions are not to be expected. Sometimes stones are cut into rough shapes, however, this can only be done for stones that are large. This ensures that they can be cut again, into sleeker shapes.
Stone Sizes
The size of the peridot is commonly measured in melee to faceted stones of 10 cts and sometimes more. Stones of sizes greater than 300 carats do exist but are very rare.
