Also referred to as Chinese peridot, Hebei peridot glows a distinctive deep chartreuse or olive with golden undertones.
Peridot's vibrant green color leads many to mistake this gem for emerald. In fact, royal emeralds from esteemed crown jewel collections in several different countries have later been discovered to be peridot instead. Hebei peridot can be a real task for gemcutters, because its uneven crystals are fairly easy to break. To work around this challenge, gemcutters shape the stone based on its crystal structure producing round, emerald, and antique or oval-shaped cuts. Gems with heavy inclusions are better viewed as cabochons.
LOCATION: China
Peridot deposits can be found in Pakistan, Myanmar, the United States, parts of Africa and Australia. While most sources of peridot boast rich reserves, this is not the case with Chinese mines. Only 15 to 20 percent of China's total harvest is gem quality. Premium Chinese peridot makes up less than two percent of the global peridot supply, making this a fairly rare variety.
The Zhangjiakou mine in the Hebei province of China faces many challenges. Severe rains and subzero temperatures limit peridot mining to only the months of April, May and June. We are pleased to be able to offer premium Hebei Chinese peridot gemstone to our customers at a low everyday value.