A 0.85 carat emerald-cut peridot — 0.93 ratti — at Rs. 2,100, about Rs. 2,100 per carat.

A genuine step cut, which is unusual in peridot

The emerald cut is a step cut: rectangular facets arranged in parallel rows running round the stone, with the corners cut off to give an octagonal outline. It is not a brilliant cut and does not try to be — where a brilliant chops light into small flashes, a step cut returns it in broad flat planes, producing the long mirror-like gleams the cut is known for.

Facet share here measures 9.7%, the second highest of the fifteen stones in this collection, against a low of 1.9% for a smooth dome. Those are the sharp junctions where one step meets the next.

The cut that hides nothing

Step cuts are demanding because they conceal neither inclusions nor poor colour. A brilliant's scattered flashes distract the eye; a step cut's flat planes let you look straight into the stone. Cutters only use it on material that can take the scrutiny, which is why the emerald cut carries a certain reputation.

It also interacts with peridot's strong double refraction. The long parallel facet edges make the doubling easy to see from the side — which, far from being a fault, is the quickest proof that the stone is peridot rather than green glass.

Colour, stated plainly

Green covers 25% of this stone, the lowest in the collection, where the purest reads 99%. This is a decidedly golden-green, warm and bright rather than grass-coloured. If you want a strong green, the stones at the other end of this collection are the ones to look at. If you want the golden end of peridot in a cut that shows it off, this is it.

Care

Peridot is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The sharp corners of a step cut are its most vulnerable points, so a four-claw setting that covers them is sensible. Never an ultrasonic cleaner or steam, and avoid sudden temperature change and household acids.

Recorded as an Afghan stone. Treatment has not been tested on this piece, which we record plainly rather than calling it untreated. Dimensions and clarity are not recorded yet; ask and we will measure.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural peridot, known in Urdu as Zabarjad, with a weight of 0.85 Carat. Its price is Rs. 2,100 — roughly Rs. 2,471 for each carat. Origin: Afghanistan. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000343 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Under two carats, a stone like this sits neatly in a slim ring, a stud or a delicate pendant and does not snag on sleeves. It is also where many first-time buyers begin when a stone is recommended for astrological reasons, because the total cost stays modest.

On the Mohs scale peridot rates 6.5 to 7. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy peridot from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every peridot for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Peridot is usually untreated. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.