Peridot

Peridot from Pakistan

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occurs in only one colour: green. The shade ranges from yellowish-green to olive-green to pure vivid green, determined by the iron content in the olivine crystal. Pakistan’s Kohistan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosts one of the world’s most prolific peridot deposits, discovered in the early 1990s in the Suppat Valley at elevations of 3,000-4,500 metres along the western slopes of the Nanga Parbat massif. The deposit occurs in ultramafic rocks of the Kohistan island arc complex, producing peridot crystals of exceptional size, clarity, and colour. Pakistani peridot quickly became the dominant origin in the global market, supplying the majority of fine-quality peridot used in jewelry worldwide.

Specifications

• Mineral: Olivine ((Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄), peridot variety

• Colour Agent: Iron (Fe²⁺)

• Colour Range: Yellowish-green, olive-green, pure vivid green, lime-green

• Hardness (Mohs): 6.5-7

• Specific Gravity: 3.27-3.37

• Refractive Index: 1.654-1.690

• Crystal System: Orthorhombic

• Lustre: Vitreous to oily

• Transparency: Transparent (fine grades typically eye-clean)

• Birefringence: 0.036 (strong, visible doubling of back facets in larger stones)

• Inclusions: Lily-pad inclusions (disc-shaped), chromite crystals, ludwigite needles

• Treatment: Untreated (peridot is never heat-treated or enhanced, all colour is natural)

• Origin Certification: Gemmological laboratory certificates available

Colour Grades

Yellowish-Green
Lighter colour with visible yellow secondary tone. The most common and affordable grade. Popular in fashion jewelry and silver settings. Available in large, clean stones at accessible pricing.

Olive-Green
Classic, balanced olive-green with warm undertones. The standard fine jewelry grade and the colour most associated with peridot. Good balance of colour richness and availability.

Vivid Green (Pure Green)
Intensely saturated green with minimal yellow or brown secondary tones. The most valuable peridot colour. Pakistani Kohistan peridot is famous for achieving this vivid, pure green in larger sizes than most other origins can produce. Premium pricing.

Lime-Green
Bright, fresh green with cool undertones. A niche colour preferred in contemporary and fashion-forward jewelry design. Eye-catching and distinctive.

Three Product Forms

Rough Peridot
As-mined crystals and fragments in their natural state. Pakistani peridot rough is known for producing large, clean crystals with excellent cutting yields. The Kohistan deposit yields rough pieces regularly exceeding 50-100 carats, with exceptional pieces above 500 carats. Rough is purchased by gem cutters, lapidaries, and dealers for cutting and polishing.

• Sizes: 1-500+ carats per piece

• Grades: Gem (clean, vivid green), commercial (lighter or included), mine-run lots

• Sorting: Colour-graded, clarity-sorted, or unsorted mine-run

• Large clean rough is a Pakistani specialty

Faceted Peridot
Custom-cut gemstones with polished facets for maximum brilliance and colour display. Peridot’s strong birefringence creates a lively, sparkling appearance. The characteristic oily lustre and warm green glow make faceted peridot instantly recognizable.

• Sizes: 0.5-50+ carats (large faceted stones are a Pakistani specialty)

• Shapes: Oval, cushion, round, emerald cut, pear, trillion, marquise, briolette, fantasy cut

• Quality grades: AAA (top gem, vivid green), AA (fine olive-green), A (good), B (commercial)

• Matched pairs and suites for earring and necklace production

Calibrated Peridot
Precision-cut to exact standard millimetre sizes for mass jewelry production. Calibrated stones are essential for jewelry manufacturers who need consistent size, shape, and colour across production runs of rings, earrings, pendants, and bracelets. Pakistan’s gem cutting centres in Peshawar and Gilgit produce large volumes of calibrated peridot in all standard sizes.

• Standard calibrated sizes: 3x3, 4x3, 5x3, 5x4, 6x4, 7x5, 8x6, 9x7, 10x8, 12x10 mm (oval/pear/cushion)

• Round calibrated: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 mm

• Shapes: Oval, round, pear, cushion, emerald cut, trillion, marquise, heart

• Quality grades: AAA, AA, A, B (colour and clarity-graded within each size)

• Minimum lots: Typically 100-500 pieces per size/shape/grade

• Tolerance: +/- 0.2 mm

Industrial Uses

• Fine jewelry: Peridot is set in gold, platinum, and sterling silver jewelry. It is the August birthstone and one of the most popular coloured gemstones in the mid-price range. Pakistani peridot dominates the global supply of fine-quality stones for the jewelry industry

• Mass jewelry production: Calibrated Pakistani peridot is the backbone of the global peridot jewelry supply chain. Jewelry manufacturers in China, India, Thailand, Turkey, and Italy purchase calibrated lots for ring, earring, pendant, and bracelet production

• Fashion and commercial jewelry: Peridot’s vivid green colour, good hardness, and competitive pricing make it a strong seller in fashion jewelry, particularly in sterling silver and gold vermeil settings

• Designer jewelry: Large faceted peridots (10-50+ carats) are used as statement centre stones in designer rings, pendants, and cocktail jewelry. Pakistani peridot’s availability in large, clean sizes enables designs that other origins cannot supply

• Gem cutting and lapidary: Rough peridot from Pakistan is the primary cutting material for gem cutters worldwide. Clean rough with good colour commands steady demand at competitive pricing

• Gem dealing and wholesale: Pakistani peridot is traded at all major international gem shows and through dealer networks. Calibrated lots move in high volume through the trade

• Birthstone jewelry: As the August birthstone, peridot sees strong seasonal demand for birthday gifts and birthstone collections. Calibrated stones in popular sizes (6x4, 7x5, 8x6 mm oval) are essential inventory for birthstone jewelry lines

• Healing and metaphysical: Peridot is associated with prosperity, growth, and the heart and solar plexus chakras in crystal healing traditions

Quality Assurance

Each lot or individual stone can be accompanied by a gemmological laboratory report confirming natural olivine (peridot), Pakistan origin, colour grade, clarity, measurements, and carat weight. Peridot is never treated (no heat, no irradiation, no coating), so all stones are sold as natural and untreated by default. Calibrated lots are checked for size tolerance (+/- 0.2 mm), colour consistency, and clarity grade uniformity. Pre-shipment photos, videos, and detailed descriptions are provided for buyer evaluation.