Peridot
Peridot is my birthstone. I never liked it as a child, but now I have a fondness for it.
Peridot's history begins on a small desert Island 50 miles off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. Southwest's pronunciation of peridot is PEAR-a-doe instead of the French pronunciation PEAR-a-doe.
Today there are 4 major sources of peridot. Burma, Pakistan, Arizona & New Mexico and China.
Color is typically medium to light yellow-green. The more saturated & pure the green, the more valuable. Peridot is one of the more affordable green gems.
Peridot's are durable. They have a hardness of 7. Use a soft cloth to wipe off to prevent scratching. Steam cleaning is not recommended.