HOW CAN YOU TELL IF PERIDOT IS REAL?



Peridot is a beautiful green gemstone with shimmering light tones and unique properties. It's a popular choice for jewelry due to its eye-catching color and durability. But with the abundance of fake or lab-created peridot on the market, it can be difficult to tell if peridot is real or not. So how can you tell if the peridot is real? Read on to learn some tips for identifying genuine peridot and avoiding fakes.



1. THE COLOR TEST


One of the easiest ways to tell if you have a genuine peridot gemstone is to examine its color body. Natural peridot is one of the few gemstones that are found in only one color - green. It ranges in hue from yellowish-green to olive green, with deep yellow-green being the most common and vivid. A peridot gemstone with hues other than green is most likely not real.

 


2. EXAMINE UNDER A LIGHT SOURCE


Natural peridot is usually bright, olive green with yellow undertones, and its color remains the same in natural or artificial light, making it unique among gems. In contrast, imitation jewelry (made of low-end materials such as glass, plastic, and quartz) may have slightly different tones when illuminated by various light sources.


Hold your "natural peridot" up to a lamp for the first test, and then check its color under natural light. If the color changes, the gemstone is most likely a fake peridot.



3. THE REFRACTION TEST


Hold your peridot gemstone against a light source and look into it with a magnifying glass. You should be able to see its color and internal structure.


Peridot gemstones typically have a strong birefringence or double refraction. That is, the light that enters them divides itself into two rays. If you only notice a single beam of light emanating from the gemstone, it's probably not a genuine peridot gemstone.



4. CHECK FOR INCLUSIONS


Most peridot gemstones are eye-clean, meaning they do not include any impurities visible to the naked eye. You must view eye-clean stones under 10x magnification to see these flaws. Peridots that are completely flawless are extremely unusual and not readily accessible.


Examining the stone's surface is the easiest method to tell a fake from a genuine peridot gemstone. If you notice tiny cracks or other visible flaws on your stone, that is a good sign that it is genuine peridot. The manufacturers of faux stones are eager to move their product; hence inclusions or flaws are usually carefully hidden for fast sales.



5. CHECK THE FACETS


Take a close look at the facets of your questionable stone. If it has uneven edges, chances are it's not real peridot because peridot gemstones are pricey, so their cut is very precise. A badly-cut stone indicates that the jeweler wasn't too concerned about damaging its quality (meaning it is not a costly stone). This is usually the case with fake peridots (which aren't, of course, rare).



6. CONSIDER THE PRICE


The most obvious difference between natural and lab-made peridot is price. The other differences--based on origin and chemistry--require a trained gemologist's or jeweler's instruments, lenses, and experienced eye to detect.


Natural peridot is more expensive than lab-made peridot. The reason is simple--natural gems are rare, and lab-made gems are not. In most cases, you'll pay about double the price for natural peridot compared to a lab-made one of similar size and quality.


Beware, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is not genuine peridot!



7. MEASURE THE WEIGHT


You can spot a fake peridot stone if the weight is too dense. For example, CZ is very dense, from 5.5 to 5.9 times as heavy as water for equal volumes, while natural peridot weighs in at 3.4. So, a piece of jewelry with lots of small stones is likely to be CZ if it feels extra hefty.



8. USE A GEM TESTER


Use a gem tester to test your peridot. In the world of colored gemstones, current testers on the market can distinguish sapphire from tanzanite, iolite, spinel, citrine, topaz, and tourmaline; and distinguish ruby from spinel and garnet. Topaz, amethyst, and citrine are distinguishable from each other. They can also distinguish emerald stones from jadeite and garnet, topaz from aquamarine, amethyst, and citrine. Even though gem testers can't always identify the type of gemstone you have, they can reliably tell you if it is glass.



9. PURCHASE FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE


When buying peridot, it's important to purchase from a reliable source. Buying from a reputable jeweler or gem dealer will ensure that you're getting a genuine peridot gemstone. Avoid purchasing peridot from street vendors, online auction sites, or other sources where the dealers cannot guarantee the authenticity of the stone. 



10. CHECK THE CERTIFCATE OF AUTHENTICITY


If you are purchasing a peridot gemstone, it is important to ensure that it comes with a certificate of authenticity. The certificate should be issued by a qualified gemologist or an independent lab, stating that the gem is genuine. It should also include information about the size, cut, and quality of the stone. Additionally, the certificate should include a written description of the stone’s unique characteristics, such as its color, clarity, etc. Finally, a legitimate gemstone dealer will happily provide you with a certificate of authenticity for any gemstones they sell.

 


11. HAVE IT CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL GEMOLOGIST


Many people have difficulty telling the difference between real peridot and imitation stones. As such, having your peridot examined by an expert gemologist if there is any doubt about its authenticity is important.


The benefits of a gemological inspection:


1) A professional gemologist can examine the questionable stone closely and accurately identify its characteristics, such as color, clarity, and cut, to determine if it is a genuine peridot gemstone or an imitation.


2) Additionally, the gemologist can grade the peridot according to its quality and provide you with an appraisal for insurance purposes.


3) Lastly, a professional gemologist will be able to tell you how best to care for your peridot in order to ensure its longevity.


By having your peridot examined by a professional gemologist, you can be sure that it isn't fake peridot.



WRAPPING UP


When it comes to identifying a real peridot stone, there are many ways to tell the difference between a genuine gemstone and an imitation. Look for signs of wear and tear, refer to its weight, use a gem tester or loupe to inspect the stone, purchase from a reliable source, check for any certificates of authenticity, and have it examined by a professional gemologist. With these tips in mind, you can be sure that your peridot is the real deal!