--- title: Can you tell your Emeralds from your Peridots? date: 2018-08-09T13:44:00+01:00 author: Alison Bull canonical_url: "https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/emeralds-from-peridots/" section: News --- Our Customers Love Us! Jewellery Insurance [Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/assetsure.com) ### Get a Quote. Choose from our range of insurances below [Home](/) › [Jewellery Insurance](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/) › [Can you tell your Emeralds from your Peridots?](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/emeralds-from-peridots/) # Can you tell your Emeralds from your Peridots? First coined by the ancient Egyptians as the ‘gem of the sun’, peridot’s gold-tinted citrus hue has long-since been celebrated across many cultures as a symbol of vitality, renewal and even Mother Nature herself. ## A case of mistaken identity Yet despite being one of the few gems to come in only one colour, the August birthstone has endured a history of misidentification, being commonly confused with its equally-green May look-alike: [emerald](/jewellery/precious-stones-insurance/sophisticated-emerald/ "sophisticated emerald"). Many historians now believe that Cleopatra’s famous emerald collection was in fact peridot, while for centuries the fabulous 200-carat peridot gems adorning the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, has also been mistakenly admired as emeralds. Though the Romans were more skilled at distinguishing between the two, they commonly referred to peridot as the ‘emerald of the evening’ in reference to the stone’s ability to catch the light, even in the dimmest surroundings. ### Early origins The earliest mining records date back 4,000 years to when peridot was first used in Egyptian jewellery. The stones came from the tiny, once snake-infested volcanic island of Topazios (around 4.5km2) just off the Aswan coast in the Red Sea, known today as St. John’s Island or Zabargad. It was from here that peridot was introduced into Europe; brought back by early Christian crusaders returning from battle, and later used to decorate countless medieval churches, as well as the fingers of Catholic bishops, as a symbol of purity. References to the stone appear throughout the Bible. ### Fire and brimstone Peridot is often called the ‘extreme gem’, found in volcanic lava or basalt rock originally formed deep inside the earth under intense pressure. In Hawaii (a group of islands formed from continuous volcanic activity) there are dark sand beaches containing hundreds of peridot crystals, and the gem is treasured within the indigenous religion as the tears of Pele; goddess of fire and volcanoes. ### Stone from out-of-space As well as forming down below, Peridot is the only known gem to also come from outer space. This very rare, extra-terrestrial variety of the stone falls to earth in iron-rich meteorites called pallasites. Peridot of this origin is unlikely to be found in commercial jewellery. The famous [Fukang meteorite](https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16422/lot/9042/) (containing peridot) was offered for auction at Bonhams in 2008 at nearly $3M, as ‘The World’s Most Spectacular Meteorite – A Magnificent Space Gem Discovery’; and later donated to the American Natural History Museum in New York. ### Back down to earth Though few of us may be pallasite collectors, peridot’s bright sparkle and fresh summer tones makes it a valuable addition to any jewellery collection, and is certainly worth [insuring](/jewellery/jewellery-insurance/ "jewellery insurance"). ## Latest News & Advice [![Jewellery News Round-up Sept 26](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/jewellery-news-round-up-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/jewellery-insurance/jewellery-news-round-up-sept-26/) ### [Jewellery News Round-up Sept 26](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/jewellery-insurance/jewellery-news-round-up-sept-26/) Jewellery news round-up: a £59,000 discovery, a river rescue and a real-life jewellery heist... [![Jewellery you'll probably own by the age of 50](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/jewellery-box-news-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/jewellery-you-will-probably-own/) ### [Jewellery you'll probably own by the age of 50](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/jewellery-you-will-probably-own/) By the time you reach 50, your jewellery box has probably been decades in the making. Some pieces may have been with you since your teens or twenties.... [![Why Diamonds Fall Out of Rings](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/diamond-out-ring-news-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/diamond-ring-insurance/why-diamonds-fall-out-of-rings/) ### [Why Diamonds Fall Out of Rings](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/diamond-ring-insurance/why-diamonds-fall-out-of-rings/) Why diamonds fall out of rings and how to help prevent it. A missing diamond from your engagement ring can come as a nasty surprise. One day your ring looks exactly as it should; the next, you notice an empty space where a stone used to be.... [More News](https://assetsure.com/news) ## Why choose our specialist insurance cover? ### Extensive Cover Our policy provides all-risks cover as standard. This means events such as loss or damage are covered with fewer exclusions and warranties. ### Worldwide Cover You are covered anywhere in the world for trips up to 60 days. ### Single Pieces or Collections We can insure single items of jewellery such as rings, earrings & pendants or whole collections. For smaller items you can insure on an "Unspecified basis" ### Protect your no claims bonus This is a "stand-alone" policy, any claim will not affect any no claims bonus you may have under your home insurance ### Excellent friendly claims service We are here to help you if you need to make a claim. We will liaise between you and the insurers to help settle your claim as quickly as possible. ### Members of BIBA We are members of the British Insurance Brokers Association,the UK's leading general insurance intermediary organisation. [Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/assetsure.com) [ View All ](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/assetsure.com)[ Get Quote ](#quickQuote) [Most Popular](#tabs__tabmost-popular)[Jewellery](#tabs__tabjewellery)[Leisure](#tabs__tableisure)[Collectables](#tabs__tabcollectables)[Events](#tabs__tabevents)[Hearing Aids](#tabs__tabhearing-aids)[Property](#tabs__tabhomes) [#### Engagement Ring Insurance ![Engagement Ring Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/engagement-ring-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/) [#### Watch Insurance ![Watch Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/watch-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/watch-insurance/) [#### Camera Insurance ![Camera Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/camera-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/leisure/camera-insurance/) [#### Home Insurance ![Home Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/home-insurance-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/homes/home-insurance/) [#### Collectable Insurance ![Collectable Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/collectables-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/other/) [#### Bicycle Insurance ![Bicycle Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/bike-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/bicycles/bicycle-insurance/) [ All Insurances](https://www.assetsure.com/insurance/) [#### Engagement Ring Insurance ![Engagement Ring Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/engagement-ring-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/) [#### Insurance for Jewellery Collections ![Insurance for Jewellery Collections](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/jewellery-collection-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/insurance-for-jewellery-collections/) [#### Watch Insurance ![Watch Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/watch-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/watch-insurance/) [#### Wedding Ring Insurance ![Wedding Ring Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/wedding-ring-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/wedding-ring-insurance/) [#### Diamond Ring Insurance ![Diamond Ring Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/diamond-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/diamond-ring-insurance/) [#### Earrings Insurance ![Earrings Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/Earing-emerald-shutterstock_1156023577-mid.jpg)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/earrings-insurance/) [#### Standalone Jewellery Insurance ![Standalone Jewellery Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/Standalone-Jewellery_-Shutterstock_2493208421.jpg)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/jewellery-insurance/) [#### Ring Insurance ![Ring Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/ring-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/ring-insurance/) [#### Rolex Watch Insurance ![Rolex Watch Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/rolex-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/rolex-insurance/) [#### Single Item Insurance ![Single Item Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/single-item-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/single-item-insurance/) [#### Safe Deposit Box Insurance ![Safe Deposit Box Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/safe-box-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/safe-deposit-box-insurance/) [ All Insurances](https://www.assetsure.com/insurance/) [#### Camera Insurance ![Camera Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/camera-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/leisure/camera-insurance/) [#### Musical Instrument Insurance ![Musical Instrument Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/Guitar-thumb.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/leisure/musical-instrument-insurance/) [#### Bicycle Insurance ![Bicycle Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/bike-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/bicycles/bicycle-insurance/) [ All Insurances](https://www.assetsure.com/insurance/) [#### Antique Insurance ![Antique Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/Antiques-thumb.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/antique-insurance/) [#### Coin Insurance ![Coin Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/coins-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/coin-collections/) [#### Fine Art Insurance ![Fine Art Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/fine-art-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/fine-art-insurance/) [#### Handbag Insurance ![Handbag Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/handbag-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/handbag-insurance/) [#### Militaria & Military Collectables Insurance ![Militaria & Military Collectables Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/military-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/militaria-insurance/) [#### Stamp Insurance ![Stamp Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/stamps-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/stamp-collections/) [#### Wine Insurance ![Wine Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/wine-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/collectables/wine-insurance/) [ All Insurances](https://www.assetsure.com/insurance/) [ All Insurances](https://www.assetsure.com/insurance/) [#### Hearing Aid Insurance ![Hearing Aid Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/hearing-aid-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/hearing-aids/hearing-aid-insurance/) [ All Insurances](https://www.assetsure.com/insurance/) [#### Home Insurance ![Home Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/home-insurance-feature.webp)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/homes/home-insurance/) [#### High Net Worth Home Insurance ![High Net Worth Home Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/High-net-worth-thumb.jpg)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/homes/high-net-worth-home-insurance/) [#### Listed Buildings Insurance ![Listed Buildings Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/Listed-building-thumb.jpg)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/homes/listed-buildings-insurance/) [#### Holiday Home Insurance ![Holiday Home Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/Holiday-home-thumb.jpg)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/homes/holiday-home-cover/) [#### Buy To Let Insurance ![Buy To Let Insurance](/assets/uploads/images/_tabLinkThumbnail/Buy-to-let-thumb.jpg)Get an instant quote](https://www.assetsure.com/homes/buy-to-let-insurance/) [ All Insurances](https://www.assetsure.com/insurance/)