About PeridotThe out-of-this-world gemstoneCleopatra may have worn them. Pirates loved them. They attract wealth and drive away evil spirits. And they’ve even been found in meteorites that hurtled to Earth from outer space. Peridot is the August birthstone. Color and pedigreeWhile peridot can come in brown or yellow shades, the brilliant green color is by far the most popular. Olive, golden lime, yellowish green, and greenish yellow are a few of the variations you can see. Some are born in the USA–specifically, Arizona–and most others come from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Taking it homePeridot rates 6 1/2 to 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Peridots are not especially hard, so they’re only moderately resistant to scratches. Their resistance to chipping and breaking is fair-to-good. Avoid liquid jewelry cleaners, but mild soapy detergent and water are fine. Never use ultrasonic cleaners and avoid sharp temperature changes. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on peridot. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
