Peridot
Peridot is the gem variety of forsteritic olivine, a magnesium iron silicate that forms deep in the mantle and reaches the surface in basalt flows and in exposed mantle rock. It is one of the very few gemstones that occurs in a single colour, a yellowish green whose exact tone is set by its iron content rather than by a trace impurity, so the colour cannot be improved by treatment and virtually all material on the market is untreated. It is used in fine and commercial jewellery, in large statement stones where clean material allows, and in collector specimens, including the rare peridot recovered from meteorites.
Listed peridot markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Peridot is bought on colour and size, and on the fact that it is effectively always untreated. The species, the colour description and the clarity are the terms the price is agreed against, with origin relevant only where the material carries a recognised provenance.
Species, variety and identification
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| SpeciesForsteritic olivine, confirmed by gemmological testing | Confirmed against the constants of the species. Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, with the composition sitting toward the magnesium end of the series. |
| Refractive indexReported, with the birefringence | Measured on a refractometer. The high birefringence produces visible doubling of the back facets, which is a definitive identification. |
| Specific gravityReported | Measured hydrostatically, confirming the species. |
| HardnessReported on the Mohs scale | Moderate, which makes peridot suitable for most jewellery but sensitive to abrasion and to sharp knocks. |
| Optical characterDoubly refractive, biaxial | With the doubling of the back facets noted, which is the field identification. |
| Iron content indicationDeclared, where determined | Iron sets the exact tone of the green. Lower iron material reads a purer green and higher iron material reads more yellow or brown. |
| Toughness and thermal sensitivityDescribed | Peridot has cleavage directions and is sensitive to thermal shock and to acids, which governs setting and repair instructions. |
| Inclusion signatureDescribed, where used for identification | The lily pad discs and chromite crystals characteristic of the species. |
Colour
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| HueDescribed, from yellowish green to green to brownish green | The single colour range of the species. The purer the green the more the market pays. |
| ToneDescribed, from light to dark | Medium tone carries the colour best. Very light material reads washed out and very dark material reads brown. |
| SaturationDescribed, from weak to vivid | The dominant value term. |
| Brown modifierDescribed, as present or absent | The presence of brown is the most commercially significant single observation in peridot. |
| Colour consistencyDescribed | How evenly the colour reads across the stone, which matters in the large sizes the species produces. |
| Lighting conditionDeclared | Assessed under daylight equivalent lighting. Peridot holds its colour well under incandescent light, which is a selling point and is noted where relevant. |
Clarity and inclusions
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Clarity typeType two, under the standard clarity classification | Peridot is expected to carry some inclusions, though clean material is available at commercial sizes. |
| Inclusion suiteDescribed | Lily pad discs, chromite and biotite crystals, and fingerprints. The lily pads are diagnostic of the species. |
| Eye clean assessmentDeclared, at the stated viewing distance | The working commercial threshold. |
| Fractures and cleavageDescribed, by position and reach | Peridot has cleavage directions, so surface reaching breaks are a durability term as well as a clarity term. |
| TransparencyDescribed, from transparent to translucent | Faceting and cabochon material are separate products. |
Rough form, size and yield
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Rough weightCarats, per piece and per parcel | Weighed on a calibrated balance. |
| DimensionsMillimetres, length by width by depth | Measured on the crystal or preform. |
| Estimated yieldPercentage of rough weight, declared as an assessment | An opinion rather than a warranty, with the cleavage directions taken into account. |
| Shape and formDeclared, as crystal, water worn pebble, cobbed piece or preform | Basalt hosted nodules and mantle xenolith material work differently on the wheel. |
| OrientationDeclared | Where the table sits, chosen to keep the doubling of the back facets out of the face up view. |
| Size distributionDeclared, as the count within each stated weight band | For a sorted parcel, the distribution across sizes. Clean peridot above ten carats is where the price steps up. |
Treatment and disclosure
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Treatment statusDisclosed, as untreated or treated | Peridot is effectively always untreated, because its colour comes from its own chemistry rather than from a trace impurity that heat can move. The declaration is still made explicitly. |
| Fracture fillingDisclosed, with the filler identified | Any oil, resin or glass in a surface reaching break, with the extent stated. |
| Coating and surface treatmentDisclosed | Any applied layer, with its coverage and durability. |
| Assembled stone screeningDeclared | Confirmation that the stone is not a doublet or a composite. |
| Synthetic and imitation screeningDeclared, against the named laboratory method | Separation from green glass, synthetic forsterite and the other green simulants. |
| Disclosure recordDocument, per stone or per parcel | The written treatment disclosure on the invoice and with the parcel. |
Parcel, documentation and settlement
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Parcel compositionDeclared, by piece count and total carat weight | What is actually in the lot. A rough parcel is sold as a parcel, so the count, the weight and the size distribution are the contract. |
| Weight basisCarats, to the stated decimal place | Weighed on a calibrated balance, with the weighing certificate and the tolerance named. |
| Sealing and markingDeclared | Parcels sealed in the presence of both parties or their agents, numbered and photographed, so the goods that arrive are the goods that were inspected. |
| Laboratory reportDocument, per stone or per parcel | Issued by a named laboratory operating to the international testing competence standard, covering species, treatment and, where commissioned, origin. |
| Origin determinationDeclared, where commissioned | A laboratory origin opinion is an opinion based on inclusion suites and trace element chemistry. It is stated as such and never as a guarantee. |
| Export and import documentationDeclared | Export permit or certificate from the producing country, customs classification under the harmonized system, and any royalty or clearance certificate the origin requires. |
| Responsible sourcingDeclared | Mine or source, chain of custody, and the due diligence statement, including artisanal and small scale mining status where it applies. |
| Viewing and rejectionDeclared | Where and when the buyer may view, the memo or consignment terms if any, and the window and grounds for rejection after the laboratory report. |
| Insurance and carriageDeclared | Valuation for transit, the specialist carrier or secure courier named, and the point at which risk passes. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Afghanistan | Central Asia | Origin and destination |
| Myanmar | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Cutting centre and destination |
| Viet Nam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Kenya | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Ethiopia | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Madagascar | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Mozambique | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| Norway | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Russian Federation | Eurasia | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Cutting, treatment and trading centre |
| India | South Asia | Cutting and trading centre |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Israel | Middle East | Cutting and trading centre |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Trading hub and free zone |
| Switzerland | Europe | Trading, laboratory and vaulting centre |
| Germany | Europe | Cutting centre and destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Trading centre and destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Hong Kong | East Asia | Trading centre |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Trading and finance |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Republic of Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Turkey | Western Asia | Origin and destination |
| Nepal | South Asia | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Production is when the stone comes out of the ground at origin, which follows the mining season, the water level at an alluvial working and the rhythm of artisanal digging rather than a crop calendar. Arrival is when material from that origin typically reaches a cutting or trading centre. The gap between them is sorting, export clearance and the journey to the market.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Sep, arrival Aug to NovKohistan and the Sapat area at high altitude, producing the largest clean stones of the modern market in a short summer season limited by snow. | ||||||
| Myanmar | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecMogok production alongside the wider coloured stone output, with export documentation and sanctions position established before any commitment. |
| China | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Jul to DecHebei basalt hosted production, worked outside the winter. | ||||
| Vietnam | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Sep, arrival May to NovBasalt hosted production in the central highlands, following the dry months. | |||
| Tanzania | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Nov, arrival Aug to JanProduction alongside the wider East African coloured stone output, weighted to the dry season. | ||||
| Ethiopia | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Mar, arrival Dec to MayProduction from the highlands, mined outside the main rains. | ||||
| Egypt | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecZabargad island, the classical source that supplied the ancient world, now producing only occasionally and largely of historic interest. |
| United States | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival May to NovArizona production on the San Carlos lands, worked through the warmer months and supplying the volume commercial sizes. | ||||
| Australia | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecQueensland and New South Wales basalt hosted production, shipping year round. |
| Norway | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Jun to OctSmall production from mantle rock at Aheim, limited by the season. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including forward commitments against a mine run, parcels already sitting in a cutting centre, and material held in a free trade zone or bonded vault.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for peridot. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading7103.10 Precious and semi-precious stones, unworked or simply sawn or roughly shaped
7103.99 Semi-precious stones, otherwise worked - PackingSealed and numbered parcels under a valuation certificate. Never containerised.
- Container loadingNot containerised. Moves by insured secure courier or hand carry against a declared valuation, with customs presentation at both ends.
- Contract and arbitrationCIBJO Blue Book nomenclature, with a GIA, Gubelin or SSEF report where the value warrants it. Sale on viewed and approved parcel terms with weight and treatment disclosure. Arbitration under the rules of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses or the ICC.
- Destination limitsOrigin declaration and OECD due diligence for minerals from conflict affected and high risk areas, US OFAC sanctions on Burmese ruby and jade under the JADE Act, anti money laundering registration and reporting for dealers in precious stones, and full disclosure of heat, diffusion, fracture filling and any other treatment.
Common questions
What grades of peridot does SIP Global trade?
We quote 40 published grades of peridot, including Species - Forsteritic olivine, confirmed by gemmological testing, Refractive index - Reported, with the birefringence, Specific gravity - Reported, Hardness - Reported on the Mohs scale, Optical character - Doubly refractive, biaxial and Iron content indication - Declared, where determined. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is peridot graded?
Peridot is bought on colour and size, and on the fact that it is effectively always untreated. The species, the colour description and the clarity are the terms the price is agreed against, with origin relevant only where the material carries a recognised provenance. Grading runs on 6 systems: Species, variety and identification, Colour, Clarity and inclusions, Rough form, size and yield, Treatment and disclosure and Parcel, documentation and settlement.
Where does SIP Global trade peridot?
We trade peridot in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Viet Nam, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia and 25 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is peridot harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Pakistan: harvest jun to sep, arrival aug to nov; Myanmar: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; China: harvest may to oct, arrival jul to dec; Vietnam: harvest mar to sep, arrival may to nov; Tanzania: harvest jun to nov, arrival aug to jan. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for peridot?
Peridot is normally classified under HS 7103.10 (precious and semi-precious stones, unworked or simply sawn or roughly shaped) and HS 7103.99 (semi-precious stones, otherwise worked). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for peridot?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed peridot market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.