Peridot Drop Earrings in 18ct Gold-Plated Sterling Silver

Two of them, so subtlety isn't really on the table.
The green moves every time your head does.

What these earrings are

The Peridot Drop Earrings from House Of The 18th are a pair of hook earrings, each holding one 4x6mm faceted peridot in an irregular, hand-formed bezel at the base of a slim textured drop. Each earring measures approximately 3cm from the top of the hook to the base of the stone. Ear wires, drops and bezels are solid 925 sterling silver finished with 18ct gold plating. The earrings are nickel-free and suitable for sensitive skin.

What is peridot?

Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, a magnesium iron silicate rating 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Peridot occurs in one colour only — green — because the colour comes from iron within the crystal structure rather than from trace impurities. Peridot forms in volcanic basalt from the earth's mantle and is also found in pallasite meteorites, one of only two gemstones known to arrive here from space.

Is peridot treated?

Peridot is sold essentially untreated. There is no standard heat, irradiation or dye process applied to peridot, so the green in these earrings is the stone's own colour. Very few coloured gemstones on the market can make that claim.

Why a hook rather than a stud

A stud pins a stone flat against the earlobe and kills its movement. On a hook the drop swings, and peridot's high double refraction means the stone reads differently at every angle — soft and oily in low light, sharp lime when it catches a window. The bezel is formed to wrap each stone unevenly, so the two earrings are close but not identical. That is the intended result, not a fault.

How the pair matches the necklace

The Peridot Drop Earrings share the stone size, bezel and drop of the Peridot Drop Necklace from House Of The 18th and are made to be worn with it. Because peridot is unenhanced, the two pieces may sit a shade apart in depth of green. Natural stones do that.

How to care for 18ct gold-plated sterling silver and peridot

Take the earrings off before showering, swimming and sleeping, and put them on after perfume and hairspray. Peridot is sensitive to acids and to sudden temperature change, so keep it away from ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners and household chemicals. Wipe with a dry soft cloth only — polishing cloths and silver dips remove gold plating. Store the pair flat and dry in a soft pouch.

How long the gold plating lasts

Gold plating is a finish, not a material. Earrings hold plating longer than rings or bracelets because they take almost no friction — the usual wear point is the ear wire itself. The 925 sterling silver underneath does not wear out, and the plating can be renewed by a jeweller.

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

What is peridot and is it natural?

Peridot is the gem-quality form of olivine, a magnesium iron silicate formed in volcanic rock. The peridots in the Peridot Drop Earrings from House Of The 18th are natural stones and, unusually for coloured gemstones, are not heat-treated, irradiated or dyed.

Why are the two stones slightly different?

Peridot is untreated, so colour varies naturally from stone to stone, and each bezel in this pair is formed by hand rather than machine-cut. Small differences between the left and right earring are a property of the material and the making, not a defect.

What does 18ct gold-plated mean?

18ct gold-plated means a layer of 18 carat gold has been bonded over solid 925 sterling silver. The 18ct describes the purity of the gold in the plating and has nothing to do with the carat weight of the stones.

Can these earrings be worn every day?

Peridot rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and hangs clear of contact on a hook, which makes daily wear straightforward, though the earrings should come off before sport and sleep. Peridot must never be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.

Are the ear wires suitable for sensitive ears?

The ear wires are solid 925 sterling silver with 18ct gold plating and contain no nickel, which makes them suitable for most people with sensitive ears.