Mini 5mm round peridot cabochon. Warm olive green with internal flashes of volcanic olivine.
Item Details
| Mineral |
Peridot (olivine var. gem; Mg₂SiO₄) |
| Dimensions |
5 mm diameter |
| Shape & Back |
Round, flat back |
| Finish |
Mirror polish |
| Hardness |
6.5 Mohs — we recommend bezel setting |
| Origin |
Material acquired from lapidary wholesale market |
| Treatment |
Untreated |
| Item Type |
In-stock · standard round format |
This specific format
The 5mm diameter is standard for stud earrings with a single central stone. A plain round 925 silver bezel with a push-back clasp is the most common setting and best showcases the olive green without visual competition. The round format also works well in micropavé: several 5mm pieces create a uniform green surface with great impact in band rings or bracelets.
For wire wrap, the 5mm round is a good accent size: small enough not to dominate the composition, large enough for the color to be legible from a normal wearing distance.
Volcanic olivine as a gemstone
Peridot is the gemological variety of olivine, a magnesium iron silicate (Mg₂SiO₄ with partial Fe substitution) that forms the main mineral of the upper Earth's mantle. Peridotite xenoliths—mantle fragments transported by basaltic lavas—contain olivine crystals that, if sufficiently transparent and of adequate size, are classified as gem peridot. This means that each peridot cabochon is, literally, a fragment of the Earth's mantle. The iron that gives it its green color is the same iron that colors hematite oxides red, but in a ferrous state (Fe²⁺) and in a different crystal structure that produces the characteristic selective absorption of olive green.
What setting it works for
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Stud earrings in 925 silver bezel — the 5mm round format is the reference size for fine jewelry studs. Discreet, classic, and versatile.
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Minimalist solitaire rings — a thin band ring with a 5mm round peridot is an elegant piece for everyday wear if the setting protects the perimeter.
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Micropavé and clusters — several 5mm pieces create continuous green color textures on the setting's surface.
Peridot in lapidary tradition
Peridot appears in gemstone trade records since the 9th century BC. Zabargad Island, in the Red Sea, was the primary source for over two millennia; its mines were not rediscovered in the modern era until 1900. In the European Middle Ages, peridot was called "oriental topaz" or "chrysolite" in gem treatises—modern mineralogical terminology was not unified until the 19th century—and was used in episcopal pectorals and reliquaries.
The symbolic properties attributed to minerals belong to cultural and historical traditions. They are shared for educational purposes, not as medical advice.
How to recognize genuine peridot
Warm olive green with yellow undertones: no other gem has exactly this color without treatment. High birefringence visually doubles internal edges when turning the stone. Green glass and tsavorite are the most common imitations: glass does not show double refraction and tsavorite has a colder, more intense green.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it natural and untreated?
Yes, natural. No detectable treatment: statement based on lapidary observation; the piece does not include formal gemological certification.
Is the diameter exactly 5mm?
Nominal dimension of lapidary stock. Variations of tenths of a mm may exist between pieces from the same batch. Verify with a caliper before preparing the bezel.
For a stud earring, what clasp system do you recommend?
Standard butterfly clasp (push-back) with a 925 silver post soldered to the back of the bezel. For greater security in everyday wear pieces, the screw-back clasp is more robust.
See also: cabochon collection · shop earrings.
