A 2.5 carat peridot — 2.75 ratti — at Rs. 11,630, about Rs. 4,652 per carat.

Peridot is one of the few green stones you can actually wear on the hand

At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale peridot sits above the quartz in ordinary household dust, which is the practical threshold for a ring stone. Compare it with the other green stones people ask for: nephrite is 6 to 6.5, malachite 3.5 to 4, and emerald, though hard at 7.5 to 8, is so often fractured and oiled that jewellers treat it as fragile. Peridot is the straightforwardly practical choice.

It is not invulnerable. Its weakness is sensitivity rather than softness — thermal shock and acids, not scratching. That rules out ultrasonic cleaners and steam, but it does not rule out daily wear.

Sizing a men's ring

Two and a half carats sits at the lower end of what a broad silver shank carries comfortably. It reads as a deliberate accent rather than a statement, which suits a ring worn every day; larger stones look better but catch more. If you want presence instead, the 8.5 carat stone in this collection is the other end of the scale.

Colour and cut

Green covers 56% of the stone — toward the warmer, more olive end of this collection, which reads well against silver and reads warmer still against yellow gold. Facet share measures 6.1%, placing it among the faceted stones here rather than the smooth domes.

Care

Take the ring off before anything involving heat or chemicals. Never an ultrasonic cleaner, never steam. Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid leaving it on a sunny windowsill or near a stove — sudden temperature change is the thing most likely to damage a peridot.

Recorded as an Afghan stone. Treatment has not been tested on this piece, which we record 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 2.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,630 — roughly Rs. 4,652 for each carat. Origin: Afghanistan. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000339 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

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.