Emerald is one of the most widely used precious gemstones around the world along with diamonds and rubies. In-fact, emeralds are often the first choice of royals and celebrities. Needless to say that it is also one of the most expensive gemstones available in the market.
As is the case with every precious gemstone, there are semi-precious substitutes for emerald as well. Peridot, green tourmaline and green onyx are the famous ones. And out of these, the most widely used substitute is Peridot.
In this comparative analysis guide, we will take a look at how these stones (emerald vs peridot) stack up. We will specifically cover their formation and origins, difference in symbolic meaning, price and physical properties like hardness.
Differences between Emerald and Peridot – Tabular Overview
| Aspect | Emerald | Peridot |
| Color | Best-quality stones have a bluish-green hue | Best-quality stones have a deep dark olive color |
| Birthstone | For the month of May | One of the several birthstones for the month of August |
| Symbol | Represents peace, abundance, and rebirth | Talisman against negative energies and nightmares |
| Hardness | Respectable toughness and rank between 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. | The hardness level is slightly lower than Emeralds, ranging from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. |
| Clarity | Typically possess noticeable inclusions or flaws that are visible to the naked eye. | Eye-clean clarity in most high-quality Peridots |
| Treatments | Emeralds undergo to enhance their clarity | Peridots are rarely subjected to artificial treatments. |
| Price | Starts from $75 a carat and there is no upper limit | Starts from $15 a carat |
Peridot Stone vs Emerald: Details
Formation & Origins
Emeralds
Emeralds (also known as “Panna” in Hindi) belong to a family of minerals called Beryl which is composed of beryllium aluminum silicate with chemical formula of Be3Al2Si6O18.
Pure beryl is colorless but due to the presence of impurities, different colors like green, blue, yellow, pink etc are obtained. Thanks to these impurities we have got a beautiful gemstone emerald.
Emerald is found in a lot of countries but is generally sourced from Russia, Madagascar, Brazil, USA, Zambia and Colombia.
Peridot
Peridot, also called “Money stone” in Hindi, comes from the family of Olivine mineral (Magnesium Iron Silicate) with chemical formula (Mg, Fe)2SiO4. It is yellowish green in color with good transparency.
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur only in one color. Another interesting trivia about Peridot is that it is the only stone (other than diamond) that is formed in earth’s mantle and not at the crust.
Smaller sizes of Peridot are mainly sourced from Arizona and China; whereas large sizes are generally sourced from Myanmar (earlier Burma) and Pakistan.
Symbolic Meaning
Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May and is known to strengthen planet mercury. Emerald brings the wearer the enhanced intellectual capabilities, reasoning abilities and good communication skills. It is suggested to those who are very shy and are hesitant to start a conversation.
It is also believed that emeralds bring in abundance and peace of mind. It is also known to provide relief against skin diseases, respiratory problems and nervous disorders.
Peridot, on the other hand, is the birthstone for the month of August and is known to have great healing powers. It provides the wearer positivity and dispels anxiety and fears. It helps cure diseases related to lungs, breasts, intestinal tract, spleen and lymph. It is also beneficial for asthma and sinus. Its nursing powers have many magical effects on the eye, stomach, thyroid, liver and other body parts.
Hardness
Emeralds have an eight rating on the Mohs scale, indicating a fair to good toughness. Compared to sapphires or rubies, Emeralds need more careful handling. With proper care, these excellent gemstones can endure for generations.
Peridot Mohs’s scale hardness rating ranges between 6.5 to 7. It exhibits fair to good toughness and is sufficiently durable for jewelry use. However, wearing Peridot necessitates careful attention as it is susceptible to scratching or fracturing.
Price
Emeralds are much more expensive than peridots. A standard emerald price starts from $75 a carat and there is no upper limit to the rate. Emeralds with very few inclusions can cost up to $3000 a carat as well.
Peridot on the other hand is much cheaper. It starts from $15 per carat and can go up to $400-$500 a carat.
Interesting Fact: At our jewelry store, the most expensive emerald that we have sold cost $1400 a carat. And the most expensive Peridot cost $100 a carat.
Clarity, Inclusions & Treatments
As for clarity, Emeralds are known for their visible impurities and inclusions that are easily noticeable to the naked eye. These impurities and inclusions add to Emerald’s unique beauty, and it is rare to find a natural Emerald without any such characteristics.
On the contrary, Peridots are valued for their clarity, especially if they are eye-clean. Inclusions in Peridots only accentuate their beauty. But superior-quality Peridots are eye-clean, and the best ones exhibit no visible inclusions to the naked eye, with only tiny black spots that may be visible only under a microscope.
It is also a known fact that almost all the emeralds undergo some sort of treatment before they make it to the market, however Peridots have to seldom undergo such treatment.
Final Word – Emerald vs Peridot
In terms of authenticity, Emeralds with minor flaws are preferred over flawless ones. But if you seek a 100% flawless Emerald, be prepared to shell out a higher price. On the contrary, Peridots do not need artificial treatments and usually possess vibrant color and excellent clarity naturally. For those seeking heirloom-quality gems, Peridots have a captivating hue and guarantee brilliant clarity.
As for affordability, Peridots are much less pricey than Emeralds, even when opting for the larger sizes, say three to four carats. Thus, if you have a limited budget and still wish to embrace a burst of fresh and vivid color, Peridot is an excellent choice. But if you need a truly exquisite gem worthy of being cherished across generations, an Emerald is undoubtedly the gemstone to select.
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