Peridot (rare locality gem)

Item Description

Peridot is honestly not considered a rare gem, but it's a bit misleading because fine gem grade material is really only found in a few places around the world. Going back to the mid 20th century, you can trace some of the finest and most well-known gem quality Peridot stones to the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona. Keep in mind that the majority of the world's supply of gem quality Peridot (especially before anything came out of Pakistan) comes from this locality. These wonderful and highly sought after stones are well known for their vibrant green color and great clarity. Most of the stones you'll see from this locality are under 1 carat in weight, and this gem is certainly larger than most you'll see on the market, if you can even find them to begin with. One rarely finds confirmed San Carlos gems in this size for sale. The stone has a beautiful saturated yellow-green hue, with only very very slight inclusions, and a standard "Step Round" cut. The San Carlos stones are by far the most famous and finest quality Peridot gems from any locality in North American, and quite possibly the Western Hemisphere.
This stone is from the estate of former Phoenix area dealer Marvin Rockey. Rockey's Gems was a significant business in the early days of Arizona lapidary material, and he was a prominent dealer and buyer in the Arizona area of local lapidary and carving material from throughout the state, including Bisbee, the Ray Mine, Miami mines, and the Peridot finds on Indian lands in the 1950s-1970s. This stone was kept back from the retail stock for its quality and beauty, in a tray of special material, and was found in his estate (sold to us only recently). Today, these are not only rarely seen but of a highly desirable old quality, and sought after by collectors and gem / jewelry enthusiasts alike.