Peridot Drop Necklace in 18ct Gold-Plated Sterling Silver

The Peridot Drop Necklace from House Of The 18th is a pendant necklace holding a single 4x6mm faceted peridot in an irregular, hand-formed bezel that tapers into a textured drop. The pendant hangs from a fine cable chain measuring 40cm with a 5cm extender, adjustable between 40cm and 45cm. Pendant, chain and clasp are solid 925 sterling silver finished with 18ct gold plating. The necklace is nickel-free and suitable for sensitive skin.

What is peridot?

Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, a magnesium iron silicate that rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Peridot is one of the very few gemstones that occurs in a single colour — every peridot is green, because the colour comes from iron inside the crystal structure itself rather than from trace impurities. Depth of green varies with iron content, from pale lime to deep olive. Peridot forms in volcanic basalt, deep in the earth's mantle, and is also found in pallasite meteorites, which makes peridot one of only two gemstones known to arrive on earth from space.

Is peridot treated?

Peridot is one of the small group of gemstones sold essentially untreated. There is no standard heat, irradiation or dye process for peridot — the colour in this necklace is the colour the stone came out of the ground with. Most coloured gemstones on the market cannot say that.

Why peridot looks slightly blurred when you get close

Peridot has unusually high double refraction: light entering the stone splits into two rays, and at close range the back facets appear doubled. Gemmologists use this to identify peridot on sight. In wear it reads as a soft, oily depth rather than the hard glitter of topaz or cubic zirconia — the stone glows instead of flashing. The bezel on this House Of The 18th necklace is formed to wrap the stone unevenly so the gold reads as poured rather than machined, which keeps a 4x6mm stone from disappearing on the chest.

How the 40+5cm length wears

At 40cm the pendant sits just below the hollow of the throat, above most necklines. At 45cm it drops to the top of the sternum and clears a collar or a crew neck. The two settings layer cleanly with each other — wear this one short and a longer chain beneath it, and the drop stays visible.

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

Gold-plated sterling silver lasts longest away from perfume, hairspray, chlorine and prolonged water contact. Put the necklace on last when dressing and take it off before showering, swimming and sleeping. Peridot is sensitive to acids and to sudden temperature change: never clean it with ultrasonic or steam cleaners, and keep it away from household acids. Wipe with a dry soft cloth only — polishing cloths and silver dips strip gold plating. Store flat and dry in a soft pouch so the chain does not knot.

How long the gold plating lasts

Gold plating is a finish, not a material. With daily wear it typically holds one to two years before thinning at high-contact points, and considerably longer on pieces that come off before water, perfume and sleep. 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 a natural stone?

Peridot is the gem-quality form of the mineral olivine, a magnesium iron silicate that forms in volcanic rock. The peridot in the Peridot Drop Necklace from House Of The 18th is a natural stone, and peridot is one of the few gemstones that reaches the market without routine heat treatment, irradiation or dyeing.

Why is every peridot green?

Peridot owes its colour to iron built into the crystal structure itself, not to trace impurities, so peridot occurs in green and only green. Stones range from pale lime through olive depending on how much iron the crystal contains.

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 refers to the purity of the gold in the plating and has nothing to do with the carat weight of the stone.

Can peridot be worn every day?

Peridot rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, softer than sapphire or topaz, which makes peridot well suited to a pendant that hangs clear of hard contact but worth removing before sport, cleaning or gardening. Peridot also dislikes acids and sudden heat, so this necklace should never go into an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.

How long is the chain and where will it sit?

The chain measures 40cm with a 5cm extender. At 40cm the pendant sits just below the throat; at 45cm it sits at the top of the sternum.